THIEVES have broken into a post box in Quadring and taken all of the post from inside.

Police say the post box in North Drove is one of two targeted between Christmas and New Year.

A similar post box, which is mounted on a wooden pole in Milestone Lane, Pinchbeck, was the first to be attacked between Christmas Eve and December 28.

Officers say they believe bodily force was used to fracture its door but the offender did not get inside.

The attack in North Drove happened some time between December 27-28.

Sgt Stuart Hurst said: “This is a very serious offence and we would be interested to hear from anyone who has information.

“I would like to reassure the public that anything they put in a post box 99.9 per cent of the time, it will get to its destination.”

The theft has been reported to Royal Mail.

POLICE say Spalding’s cells were at full capacity on New Year’s Eve – but that the celebrations passed without any major incidents.

Sgt Stuart Hurst, of Spalding Police Station, said a number of people were taken into custody for domestic matters, drink-driving and minor incidents on the streets.

He said three men were also arrested in connection with a disturbance on Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Investigations into the matter are continuing.

Sgt Hurst said: “It was busy. We managed to apply a sensible policing approach and there were a lot of revellers out and about.”

Suspected offenders were taken to cells in Boston and Grantham when Spalding reached full capacity.

Spalding’s custody suite was reopened temporarily over the Christmas and New Year period. A cost-cutting closure trial is still ongoing.

FIRE crews have been tackling a blaze at the B&Q warehouse in Wyberton.

Emergency services were called out to the building in New Hammond Road at about 2.40pm today.

Two appliances from Boston, one from Kirton, one from Leverton and one from Donington, along with a hydraulic platform from Boston, were at the scene where there is believed to have been a fire in the canteen.

It was closed to customers while emergency services dealt with the incident.

A police spokesman said they believe the fire was a relatively minor one, but precautions were taken amid the current windy conditions, to prevent the fire from rapidly spreading.

A TOWN crier competition which attracts entrants from all across the country has been cancelled.

Market Deeping Town Council has decided not to hold the competition next year to save money and to allow the new crier time to settle in.

Amanda Bosworth officially took over the post at the Market Deeping Christmas festival on November 27.

The previous crier, Brenda Willison, stepped down after moving to Matlock in Derbyshire.

Mayor of Market Deeping, Coun Bob Broughton, said the competition, which usually takes place in the spring, would be back in 2013.

“It has been a well attended event. We always mix it with a market and a children’s competition.

“But the council felt that there was not enough time to organise a competition.

“We are going to give the new crier time to settle into the role.”

Scrapping next year’s competition will save the council £700. Councillors last month agreed to increase the town’s precept to help keep the Deeping St James Youth Centre open.

The council has also taken on an extra park keeper and needs £7,500 to pay their wages next year.

But Coun Broughton did concede that the competition would have brought extra trade to Market Deeping.

He added: “It brings a bit of trade into the town and people spend money while they are here.

“You never know how much people are going to spend but it does put us on the map. I certainly hope we can bring it back.”

The town crier competition has traditionally brought many visitors to the town, with criers from across the world arriving to take part.

Contestants’ voices bellow out throughout the day as they compete for a number of prizes, including the overall winner, best-dressed crier, best-dressed escort and best cry. The event also features a junior crier competition.

Amanda said: “Not having the competition works out very well because I am new to the role.

“It will give me the chance to participate in some competitions elsewhere and get a feel for how they are organised.

“I want to put my own stamp on it and I can’t wait for the competition in 2013. It’s a great opportunity for me.”

Town criers came from as far afield as Australia and Canada to take part in the international competition held in the town in 2010.

AN OVERHEATED electrical appliance has been blamed for causing a house fire in Deeping St James.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue say no one was hurt in the blaze on Wednesday but the upstairs of the property has suffered heat and smoke damage.

Firefighters from Market Deeping and Crowland were first on the scene just after 4.25pm, with a third crew later called in from Bourne.

The fire was extinguished using two sets of breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet.

POLICE are asking parents to take on a New Year’s resolution to stop putting children’s lives at risk.

Sgt Stuart Hurst says parents are putting children in danger by parking inconsiderately on the zig zag lines outside schools.

He says help will be at hand for those feeling weak when it comes to keeping this resolution – with officers out in force from this week when the school term begins.

Particular problem areas include outside St John’s Primary School in Hawthorn Bank and Monkshouse Primary School, although the “resolution” applies to all schools.

Sgt Hurst said: “The zig zag lines are designed to keep school children safe. There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who is running late or cannot be bothered to park further away for their children to alight.”

A FIVE-month-old baby has died at her home in Thurlby.

Lucy Brannan, who was born on July 3, was found dead by her mum at her Causeway home on December 27.

A post mortem has been carried out and an inquest into her death is expected to be opened this week.

LITTLE fixes, helping people and “random acts of kindness” seem to be the way for 2012.

Council leader Gary Porter said there are lots of little things he would like to put right.

He said: “From a council perspective, I hope we can push harder at coming up with some ideas where the council can actually make money and save getting into people’s pockets a bit more.”

He wants the company that runs admin services for South Holland and East Lindsey to get more councils as clients so it makes more money for South Holland.

Another big wish is to see more businesses move to the district.

The Vicar of Spalding, the Rev John Bennett, said: “I hope that everyone will realise how much better life is when we help each other and that we won’t forget this when the economy gets better.”

In 2011 Lincolnshire churches were targeted hundreds of times by lead thieves and Mr Bennett said he would be grateful to see a stop to the this.

Pinchbeck Baptist minister the Rev Tony Kinnersley said: “I would like to see more random acts of kindness. We can’t change the world but we can help one person at a time.”

Spalding police inspector Chris Davison said: “I would like everybody to be safe and happy.

“I would like to get us on the front foot and address crime issues.”

MP John Hayes said: “Like everyone else I wish for the big things – peace in the Middle East, the end of world troubles and a good future for my country – but part of my job revolves around doing things to help individual constituents and I want to do more of that.”

George Scott, chairman of Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum, is keen to see more early morning and late night train services between Spalding and Peterborough and Spalding and Lincoln.

He’s also keen to see Sunday services from Spalding to the cities.

Chamber of Commerce president Jason Rooke wished for the economy to show signs of improvement, and even if it doesn’t, for the media to be less gloomy about it so people’s confidence improves.

He wanted South Holland District Council to consult with businesses and the public regarding important issues such as economic development.

And he hoped for peace, goodwill, and people, businesses, towns, cities and countries to work together to weather these difficult times.

A MAN who absconded from a bail hostel in Derbyshire has been found in South Holland following a police appeal.

Greig Parkin had disappeared from the hostel he was staying in, which formed part of his bail conditions.

Following an appeal to the public, officers arrested him on December 29.

Parkin (32) has now been remanded into custody and is awaiting trial relating to an allegation of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

HOMEOWNERS are being urged to tighten security for their sheds and outbuildings following a spate of thefts in South Holland.

Police say both urban and rural areas have been hit, with metal, diesel and heating oil tanks being targeted by thieves.

Sgt Stuart Hurst, from Spalding Police Station, said officers have been particularly focusing their efforts around Holbeach and Whaplode.

He said four arrests have been made so far relating to separate matters, with all four suspects currently on bail pending further inquiries.

Sgt Hurst said: “We would ask homeowners to keep things secure; do not make it easy for them and report suspicious matters.”

Details of suspicious vehicles should include the registration number. Anyone with information should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.

TV licence dodgers received fines ranging from £35 to £350 at Spalding Magistrates’ Court.

Heavier fines were given to those who failed to enter a plea, leaving their cases to be proved in absence by TV Licensing, and to those with previous convictions for the same offence.

As well as being fined, each person was ordered to pay £60 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Those fined were: Paula Abreu (30), of Johnson Avenue, Spalding (£350), Emma Bartley (34), of St John’s Road, Spalding (£35), Adam Briggs (21), of Edward Road, Spalding (£75), Mary Brown (57), of Cekhira Avenue, Moulton Chapel (£175), Roger Buttery (35), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping (£300), Jacki Crowson (49), of Wellington Way, Market Deeping (£175), Pavel Dratuve (29), of Ayscough Avenue, Spalding (£175), Nigel Flynn (49), of Wood View, Bourne (£65), Nikki Harrington (23), of Spalding Common (£300), Steven Herbert (47), of Honeysuckle Way, Spalding (£175), Justin Howells (24), of Pennygate, Spalding (£175), Clive Lewsey (60), of Risegate Road, Gosberton (£175), Egle Petraite (23), of Harvey’s Close, Spalding (£175), Amanda Spillett (44), of Ayscough Avenue, Spalding (£175), Roger Stoncus (28), of Commercial Road, Spalding (£175), Loreal Walker (21), of Oxford Gardens, Holbeach (£65), and Natalie Ward (27), of Welland Close, Spalding (£175).

CRITICS of the temporary closure of Spalding’s police cells claim fewer people have been arrested compared to the same time last year.

Spalding police inspector Chris Davison agrees arrests are down – but says the fall is due to police forces adopting ‘restorative justice’ rather than the trial closure of the town’s cells.

He said a lot of police disposals involve caution or charge but, in appropriate cases, officers are agreeing an action plan for “the offender to make reparation to the satisfaction of the victim”.

Insp Davison said in incidents of theft from shops by under 18s, where the offender has not been in trouble before, the young person will be asked to apologise to the shopkeeper.

He said: “Apologising to the victim can often be more harsh than the official punishment.

“This means the young person isn’t criminalised – with a caution or conviction – but they also learn their lesson.”

Spalding’s cells reopened over Christmas and New Year but their long term fate will be decided by police chiefs soon.

Insp Davison said Chief Insp Paul Timmins, the former Spalding sector inspector, is writing a report on the effects of the trial.

l Lincolnshire Police Authority has just agreed to outsource many support services, including custody, to G4S in a £200 million contract.

Five custody sergeants and six custody officers transferred from Spalding to other stations during the trial closure of Spalding’s cells but Insp Davison says the G4S contract would not prevent them from returning to Spalding.

DRAWS were the order of the day in UCL Premier Division on Tuesday night as Spalding United were held 0-0 at Sleaford Town and Deeping Rangers fought back to tie 1-1 with S & L Corby at Outgang Road.

On a terrible night for football, the Tulips escaped from Eslaforde Park with a goalless draw – the second stalemate between the two teams this season.

The point does move Spalding back into the top ten, though.

Meanwhile, Rangers fell a goal down against their Corby visitors when Daryl Lawman scored with a low shot from the edge of the box on 63 minutes.

But Matt Heron headed home Kevin Brader’s cross seven minutes from time to earn a share of the spoils.

More to follow.

THE family of a 96-year-old woman who died after falling from a chair in hospital have criticised the level of care she received.

Madeline Willbond, who lived at Wood Grange Care Home in Westminster Lane, Bourne, died at Peterborough City Hospital after suffering a haemorrhage caused by a head injury on March 14.

An inquest held at Peterborough Town Hall heard how Mrs Willbond had been taken to hospital from the care home because she was suffering from chest pains.

Mrs Willbond, who suffered from dementia, had a history of falls and was placed in a chair in a four-bed hospital ward while she awaited treatment.

However, the inquest heard that Mrs Willbond slipped from the chair and banged her head on the floor causing the injury which led to the fatal haemorrhage.

Coroner Gordon Ryall recorded a narrative verdict for her death and said the issue of patients suffering falls in hospitals was a problem which needed to be addressed.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Willbond’s son Tim said: “I don’t know whether we will take the matter any further legally. We are still discussing the situation with our QCs.

“We feel that our mother should have been given more care while she was in hospital and fuller risk assessments should have been carried out.

“We also feel that the decision to put my mother in a chair was wrong. Had she been in a bed this may not have happened.”

Speaking at the inquest, Debbi Scotting, a risk adviser for Peterborough City Hospital, said: “Mrs Willbond suffered from deep vein thrombosis and putting her in a bed could have made her condition even worse.

“It was considered safe for Mrs Willbond to be left in a chair and the decision was taken.”

Ms Scotting said that since Mrs Willbond’s death the hospital had undertaken new measures to ensure patients are checked every hour.

CEREBRAL palsy tot Grace Knighton had her dreams come true on Christmas morning when she woke up to find a shiny pink trike from Santa Claus.

Her £350 present was funded by Lincolnshire Free Press readers thanks to your generous donations to our children’s fund.

And it means Grace isn’t left out in the cold when her identical twin sister Megan goes pedalling off on her new bike.

The girls’ mum, Helen, said: “I had to wake them up at 7.30am because I was so excited.

“Grace loves her trike. Thank you so much.”

Grace’s trike has a special support for her torso and ‘foot sandals’.

Megan pedalled her bike straightaway but Grace had to be pushed on hers at first until some wooden blocks were fastened to the pedals.

And then she was away, pedalling merrily alongside Megan.

The excitement of Christmas Day still hasn’t quite worn off for the twins.

Helen said: “They have both been to bed with their cycle helmets most nights.

“Grace has told everybody what she’s got.

“She’s so excited and it’s pink as well. She normally likes boys’ colours but she’s obsessed with the fact that it’s pink.”

This Christmas was a far happier affair than the girls’ first Christmas three years ago as they were born 11 weeks’ premature and remained a hospital special care unit.

Birth complications, including starvation of oxygen, led to Grace being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one and that means she can’t do many of the things that Megan can.

Life for Grace is still a constant round of hospital appointments.

Grace’s special trike would have cost more than £1,000 brand new, but the family sourced one second hand and the Free Press Children’s Fund gladly stepped in so the little girl from Whaplode Drove could have her best Christmas so far in her young life.

The family – including the girls’ tiny brother, five-month-old Connor – spent Christmas with Helen’s parents at Gedney Hill. The girls had their bikes there and had a whale of a time.

STUDENTS at The South Holland Post 16 Centre in Matmore Gate, Spalding, held a double celebration at the end of term.

Young people at the centre held a highly successful collection for the Spalding Guardian’s Christmas Appeal to help the Agape Care Foodbank, which delivered hampers to those in need and made it a Christmas to remember for nearly 300 people.

The students themselves were rewarded for their efforts in the classroom with a presentation of certificates.

COURAGEOUS lads bared their legs in the name of pain for gain at The South Holland Post 16 Centre in Spalding.

Girls from the nearby Sir John Gleed School organised a sponsored leg wax to raise cash for the Breast Cancer Campaign and got a lot of help from students at the Post 16 Centre.

Post 16 Centre sports students Jack Cooper and Lloyd Kempson were among the lads volunteering to be waxed by Post 16 Centre beauty students including Paige Brabyn and Samantha Huddlestone.

Organisers Lyndsey Brabyn, Jade Decamps and Jessica Clowes-Pritchard were on hand to witness the waxing.

It is not yet known how much has been raised for the chosen charity.

TILLS rather than bells were jingling as Spalding and South Holland traders saw a boost to their December sales compared to last year.

Spalding town centre traders and those at Springfields Outlet Shopping benefited from mild weather and a relatively long Christmas week with Christmas Day falling on a Sunday.

Eager present buyers were out in force in the run-up to the big day – and the first few days of the sales tempted out the bargain hunters.

Springfields retail director Simon Stone said: “Our pre-Christmas footfall in December was 13 per cent up on last year, which is fantastic.

“We launched our clearance sale on Boxing Day and that was 15 per cent up on last year. The day after – the Bank Holiday Tuesday – was the best shopping day of the year so far.

“It’s very, very positive.”

Hills Department Store in Spalding town centre was just as happy with December sales outstripping those of December 2010.

Last year, heavy snow meant many shoppers stayed in Spalding rather than going off to bigger towns.

Hills managing director Darryl Simpson said: “It looks like this year they have chosen to shop in Spalding, which is very good news for us.”

Sales were buoyant across many departments, including fragrance and perfumery, fashions, shoes, accessories and jewellery. And the launch of the big sale on Tuesday saw the shoppers back to snap up the bargains across all departments in the fashion and home stores.

David Carroll, boss of electrical shop Paul Taylor DJC, was one of few retailers reporting a quieter Christmas this year than last. But he is certain things will pick up as the sales progress to a second week.

Cross Brothers in Holbeach had a promising start in the first two days of its sale last week with shoppers buying upholstered furniture, beds and floor coverings.

Joint manager Tim Beresford said: “We have been pleasantly surprised so far.”

A VILLAGE pub is to reopen after being closed for several years.

South Holland District Council’s licensing panel has granted an application for a premises licence for The Chequers at Gedney Dyke.

Neighbours had raised concerns over potential noise nuisance and the panel was guided by the police and the council’s safety and environment team on the matter.

A report following the meeting said: “The panel was mindful of the efforts of the applicant.

“Within the applicant’s representation it was noted that the architecture and design were as such to reduce noise nuisance, ie double glazed windows and insulation.

“It was also taken in good faith, from the applicant’s representation, that the intention was for the premises to be operated following ‘traditional’ pub hours and as a restaurant/public house for the main part.”

The licence was granted up to 12am Sunday to Thursday and 1.30am Friday and Saturday. Other conditions include no music outside the premises after 11pm and that a tamperproof CCTV system be installed and maintained. Footage must be kept for 31 days and produced to the police on request.

SLEAFORD TOWN 0 SPALDING UNITED 0: A STAND-OUT performance from make-shift right back Josh Ford was the major positive for the Tulips in this bore draw on Tuesday night.

Ford, usually deployed as a striker, stepped up to replace the departing JP Duncliffe at a windswept Eslaforde Park.

UCL Premier Division strugglers Sleaford will be the happier of the two teams, with Spalding unlucky not to snatch a winner through new boy Matt Brady.

Tulips player/coach Danny Hussey admitted the game was a drab spectacle – but was keen to take the positives.

“I’ll be honest, it was an awful spectacle,” said Hussey, who is assisting caretaker boss Bob Don-Duncan. “It was one of those games where the weather was shocking and nobody was going to score – you just want it out of the way.

“We could have won it though, the Sleaford keeper pulled off an absolute world class save to deny Brady in the first half.

“It’s a clean sheet though and that’s not to be sniffed at. We’ve only lost one of the last seven now.

“Josh Ford was superb too. He said he’d played right back before, but to step in and play like that will do him the world of good. He had a great game.”

Although Spalding went into the Lincolnshire derby 21 points and eight places ahead of their hosts, the pair drew 3-3 in the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field reverse back in October.

Sadly, the second meeting of the season failed to live up to that kind of billing.

With gale force winds sweeping across the pitch, entertainment was never going to be at a premium.

Long balls were the order of the day for both sides, with the conditions not conducive for flowing football.

The Tulips had a couple of chances in the first period, with Tom James seeing his early header from the line by Charlie Ward.

Shortly before the interval Brady’s stinging 25 yard effort was superbly saved by Doug Lindberg, with the ball dropping down onto the bar before going over.

At the other end ex-Deeping defender Adam Fenton whistled a shot just a couple of feet wide of Nick Conroy’s goal.

After the break neither keeper had anything to do, with Liam Tunstall’s rising shot from fully 30 yards the closest either side went.

But even that was way wide of Conroy’s post, ensuring both sides walked away with a point from a game they’ll instantly forget.

Spalding’s share of the spoils moved them up one place to tenth in the standings, while Sleaford are now three clear of the drop zone.

Tulips: Conroy, Ford, Earls, Thompson, Fuff, Ashton, Cherry, Brady, Smith, Mowbray, James. Not used: O’Loughlin, Lyon, Hussey, Allen.