The driver of a vehicle seen doing handbrake turns in a Spalding car park was handed a legal warning that could see their car confiscated.

Spalding police said in a Tweet that the car was spotted in the early hours of this morning (Monday).

Police are seeking the public’s help as they try to catch the man who threw a brick through a window at Crowland Library.

The incident in Hall Street happened at 10.35am on Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lincolnshire Police on 101, quoting incident 138 of July 29.

Lincolnshire has today (Monday, August 1) been named the worst county in the UK for rural crime.

According to NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report, published today, rural crime cost Lincolnshire £2.2m in 2015, up 19 per cent from £1.8m in 2014 - despite remaining broadly static at a national level.

The cost of rural crime to the UK economy has now reached £42.5m a year.

The items most commonly targeted by thieves across Lincolnshire over the last 12 months were machinery, oil and diesel and quad bikes (ATVs).

Sue Green, NFU Mutual senior agent in Lincolnshire, said: “Rural thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated and using computers rather than bolt cutters to steal from farms and country properties. Farmers and police have been working hard to adopt high-tech security measures to tackle the problems which now include: cloning tractor identities, advertising non-existent machinery in agricultural publications and stealing the GPS computer systems which are a key part of modern farming.”

There has been a shift in the items being targeted at rural homes as well; in the latest survey of NFU Mutual’s agency network, the theft of garden equipment was sited as the biggest growing trend along with 4x4’s.

The majority of NFU Mutual Agent’s surveyed (65 per cent) also reported that thieves in their area are becoming more sophisticated in the way that they operate and cyber crime is also a growing concern amongst their communities.

The survey also revealed that social media is now the main resource for sharing information about crime in rural communities and is a valuable tool – not only in the prevention of rural crime but also for catching criminals and returning stolen goods.

Sue added: “Our advice to people living and working in the countryside remains the same; evaluate your current security measures making improvements where necessary, remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local police but also community watch schemes.”

For more information and advice on how to beat rural crime in your area visit www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime

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.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

June 23

Benjamin Wood (31), of West End Road, Frampton. Assault (Boston). £80 fine, £50 compensation, £20 v/s, £40 costs.

Mark Heath (29), of Meadow Lane, Newhall, Swadlingcote. Drink driving (Long Sutton). Community order with 120 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 4 years.

Alexa Bradley (61), of Sluice Road, Saracen’s Head. Speeding (Long Sutton). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Keigh Compere (36), of Queens Road, Hethersett, Norfolk. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Tomasz Dobrowsolski (38), of Alexandra Road, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Matthew Barber (38), of Bell Lane, Fosdyke. No MOT (Boston). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs.

Daniel Evans (29), of Orchard Row, Soham. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Anne Fay (56), of Holland Road, Spalding. Speeding (Lincoln). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Zena Humberstone (37), of Eleven Acre Lane, Kirton. Driving without due care and attention (Kirton). £125 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Artur Milosz (21), of Rosemary Way, Downham Market. Speeding (Whaplode). £85 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Richard Seymour (40), of West Drove North, Gedney Hill. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Nick Thomas (44), of Chalk Lane, Sutton Bridge. Speeding (Whaplode). £80 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Simon Titchner (38), of Pendean Avenue, Liskeard, Cornwall. Speeding (Spalding bypass). £150 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

June 27

Andrejs Jukevics (36), of St Peters Road, Wisbech. Used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour (Holbeach). £230 fine, £23 v/s, £85 costs.

Shane Pearce (28), of York Road, Wisbech. Failed to stop after an accident (Fleet Hargate). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months. No separate penalty for failing to report an accident, driving without due care and attention, no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Julie Brown (49), of Winter Way, Wyberton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Petrica Perian (41), of Fleet Road, Fleet. Speeding (Lincoln). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Aleksandrs Samsonovs (35), of Cholmondeley Way, West Winch. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Edvins Dinters (50), of St Thomas’s Road, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). 8 weeks prison sentence concurrent, £115 costs, disqualified from driving for 48 months. Driving while disqualified. 16 weeks prison sentence.

Shane Smith (37), of Belchmire Lane, Gosberton. Assault (Gosberton Risegate). Restraining order, £100 compensation, £85 v/s, £85 costs. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

Jason Bates (19), of Millgate, Whaplode. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Joshua Bryson (26), of Orchard Road, Lytham St Annes. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Pamela Latimer (79), of Falklands Road, Sutton Bridge. Driving without due care and attention (Sutton Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

David Lenihan (22), of North Road, Gedney Hill. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Andrew McDonald (32), Main Road, Deeping St Nicholas. Speeding (Spalding). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Stuart Melton (58), of Narford Road, Narboroough. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £166 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Pawel Pudlis (20), of Atton Avenue, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Dee Sykes (44), of High Street, Gosberton. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Sarah Upton (40), of The Meadows, Carlton, Selby. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £113 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

June 29

Peter Davis (39), of Church Walk, Bourne. No insurance (Bourne). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Kieran Doughty (30), of Lee Avenue, Algarkirk. Driving without due care and attention (East Heckington). £150 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Alvin Viner (57), of Woodland View, Stratton Strawless, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jordan Hasson (23), of Liverton Avenue, Middlesbrough. Acted as a pedlar with having obtained a certificate (Fleet Hargate). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs.

Charmaine Hemingway (31), of Page Close, Sibsey. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Barry Johnson (36), of Ravens Bank, Whaplode St Catherine. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham 16.11.15). £660 fine, 6pts. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham 20.11.15). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 10 months.

Andre Oliveira (31), of Church Road, Boston. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £130 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Juzis Liepius (24), Winsover Road, Spalding. Travelled on a train (Peterborough to Spalding) without a valid ticket. £220 fine, £8 compensation, £22 v/s, £135 costs.

Before the local councils

South Holland District Council

Mr and Mrs Kennedy, 67 London Road, Long Sutton. Garage extension.

C Longstaff, Westbourne Lodge, 13 Cowbit Road, Spalding. Replacement and renewal of boundary fence.

South Lincs Plant Hire, Horseshoe Road, Spalding. Residential development of four dwellings.

Fraylich Homes, 30 Pennygate, Spalding. One dwelling.

Kier Living, Wygate Park, Spalding. Amendments to approval of 286 dwellings to external material schedule.

Mr and Mrs Proctor, Nene Lodge, East Bank, Sutton Bridge. Large scale constructional drawings of door frames and doors.

R Ransome, Blazegate, Gedney. Stables.

St Peter and St Paul’s Church, front of churchyard, Westhorpe Road, Gosberton. Works to trees in conservation area.

Silverwood Nursery and Garden Centre, Browns Gate, Long Sutton. Details relating to materials, windows, door, utility boxes, landscaping, hedge planting and site levels.

J Halifax and Son, East Bank, Sutton Bridge. Grain store.

Mr and Mrs Fenwick, fear Tweenus, 17 Cobgate, Whaplode. Single building plot.

T Hicks, 104 Barrier Bank, Cowbit. Extension, garage store, amendment to include two windows to ground floor of garage.

Mr and Mrs Rayner, Crespia, Lowgate Road, Fleet. White PVCu conservatory.

P Featherstone, 1 Rutland Close, Spalding. Details of fence paint colour.

B Bell, The Old Vicarage, 24 Cobgate, Whaplode Works to TPO.

S and L Conway, 16 Fleet Road, Fleet. Extension and alterations.

Larkfleet Homes, land Lowgate, Fleet Bank, Fleet. Six log cabins for holiday/leisure use.

M Ayres, Battlefields Lane North, Holbeach. Residential development.

Mr and Mrs Colmer, Boundary House, 10 Shivean Gate, Moulton. Extension to form annexe.

St Barnabas, White Hart Development, Market Place, Spalding. Works to internal ground and first floor, comprising of a store fit out and coffee shop and ground floor is store and coffee shop with first floor toilet facilities, store and staff room.

K Ling, 91 Broadgate, Whaplode. Archaeological monitoring and recording.

South Kesteven District Council

H Smitheringale, 2 Lime Tree Avenue, Market Deeping. Extension.

Boston Borough Council

Reid, St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Algarkirk. Extension to include external amenity works.

Thorlby, adj Ye Olde Red Lion, Donington Road, Bicker. Three detached houses and garages.

Applegate Homes, Winfield, Fen Road, Frampton West. Two dwellings and garages.

Thomson, Holland House Farm, Kirton Drove, Kirton Fen. Conversion of barns to form one three bed dwelling and one 4 bed dwelling.

Wilson and Co (Kia) Ltd, Drayton Motors, The Drayton, Swineshead. Increase height of car valeting building and convert to form larger workshop area, re-clad part existing external walls and roofs, construct new detached steel framed car valeting building to rear of existing buildings.

Mastin, Taylor’s Yard, Kirton Drove, Kirton Fen. Demolish lean-to and conversion of barns to dwelling.

Emergency services are at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on the A16 in Spalding today.

It happened between the McDonalds and Low Fulney roundabouts, near Springfields Outlet Shopping, at about noon.

According to Lincolnshire Police, there appears to be no one seriously injured.

Supermarket giant Tesco will cut the cost of petrol and diesel by up to 2 pence per litre at all of its petrol stations from 5pm this afternoon, Monday August 1.

Customers will continue to receive Clubcard points for all the fuel they buy at Tesco.

Peter Cattell, Fuel Director for Tesco said: “We know that lots of customers will have plans for the summer holidays, so we’re dropping the price of our fuel to help them enjoy it even more.

“This reduction of up to 2p per litre on petrol and diesel at all our 500 petrol filing stations, will mean millions of customers save money by shopping at Tesco”.

Damp pitches led to lower scores in many matches but it was sunshine all the way for 17-year-old Ben Troops as he hit the day’s only century.

Troops was unbeaten on 101 as Boston 3rd notched up 226-6 in their Division Two game against Pinchbeck who were then bowled out for 77 – Ian Morris taking 6-26.

Troops opened the batting and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 112 with Sean Barnett and 41 for the fifth with Shaun Moore before Morris took over with the ball to give his side 20 points.

Spalding’s advantage in the Premier Division was cut to eight points following defeat by Belton Park for whom Tyronne Premasiri hit 50.

Skipper Rob Ambrose made an unbeaten 55 for Spalding but the leaders were still 25 runs short at the close.

Second-placed Sleaford 2nd beat Bourne 2nd by six wickets with Ben Hutson taking 6-35.

Market Deeping 2nd stay third despite going down to Woodhall Spa 2nd for whom Adam Barker hit 52.

Long Sutton’s Barry Stanway recorded the division’s best bowling figures with 6-26 but Shaun Brown’s 5-25 saw Billingborough to victory.

Division One leaders Spalding 2nd were without a game, allowing second-placed Freiston to close the gap to 20 points after their victory over Timberland in which Connor Goodfellow hit 66.

These two have opened up a big gap over Moulton Harrox in third and Baston who are only three points behind in fourth after beating Harrox by seven wickets.

Welby Cavaliers stay fifth despite going down to Skegness 2nd.

Vinit Matta made 64 for Cavaliers with Reece Brant taking 5-20 for Skegness who went on to a five-wicket win with Luke Odlin hitting 55.

The tightest game came at Billingborough whose second XI were all out for 80. Grantham 3rd then lost eight wickets before reaching their target.

Only two games were played in Division Two where Boston 3rd are eight points behind second-placed Graves Park with Claypole, who were without a game, continuing to dominate.

Spalding 3rd won the only other game, beating Long Sutton 2nd by 30 runs.

PREMIER DIVISION

Belton Park 202-7 (Premasiri 50), Spalding 177-9 (Ambrose 55no); Bourne 2nd 124 (Hutson 6-35), Sleaford 2nd 126-4; Woodhall Spa 2nd 173-7 (Barker 52), Market Deeping 2nd 135-9; Billingborough 94 (Stanway 6-26), Long Sutton 70 (Brown 5-22).

DIVISION ONE

Moulton Harrox 125, Baston 126-7; Billingborough 2nd 80, Grantham 3rd 81-8; Freiston 197 (Goodfellow 66), Timberland 150; Welby Cavaliers 150 (Matta 64, Brant 5-20), Skegness 2nd 151-5 (Oldin 55).

DIVISION TWO

Boston 3rd 226-6 (B Troops 101no), Pinchbeck 77 (Morris 6-26); Spalding 3rd 151-9, Long Sutton 2nd 121; Burgh & District v Grantham 4th -– cancelled, waterlogged pitch; Belton Park 2nd conceded to Graves Park.

Player-manager Ian Dunn has told his Pinchbeck United squad that they should only be looking upwards.

Last season’s third-place finish in the Peterborough & District League Premier Division, coupled with lifting the President Premier Shield, could be viewed as a successful campaign.

But Dunn believes these are only foundations his side can build upon.

“We finished third and won a cup, but we want to go one step further this year,” he said.

“We finished just behind Whittlesey and they went up, so we want to try to win the division.”

Dunn is currently injured but he has brought in league hot-shot Ollie Maltby.

Maltby, who Dunn managed during his spell with Boston Town, has agreed to make the switch from defending champions Moulton Harrox, where he scored 42 times last season.

“We’ve brought in Ollie who was the top scorer last season,” Dunn added.

“I’m sure he’ll be scoring the goals again.

“But this year I feel we’ve got a stronger, bigger squad.

“We did well last year with a small squad, but now we’ve added to that.”

Tony Edwards’ late goal settled Saturday’s final friendly against Boston Saturday League Premier Division side Spilsby Town, taking Pinchbeck’s tally to 20 goals with seven wins and one draw in their warm-up matches.

That came without being able to select from what Dunn describes as his strongest squad.

One squad member unable to run out right now is the manager himself, awaiting an operation following ankle reconstruction.

Although frustrated he’s not able to pull his boots on, Dunn admits his time in the dug-out may well help his future managerial ambitions.

“The desire to score goals is still there, so I don’t want to give up playing yet,” he continued.

“But this is a chance to see the game differently. When you’ve got an assistant like Allan Ross you can feel confident about going out there, 
because of how he reads the game.

“But it’s a chance for me to concentrate on being a manager for a bit, and it will be good to see the game from the side for a change.”

Pinchbeck kick off their campaign at Netherton United on Saturday (2pm kick-off), one of the sides Dunn believes will also share title ambitions.

He continued: “I think Langtoft United have improved and they’ll be up there.

“The same goes for Netherton, Peterborough Sports Reserves and Moulton who are always there or thereabouts.”

Meanwhile, a bumper crowd of 244 saw AFC Stanground thump Crowland Town 7-2 at Snowden Fields on Saturday morning as part of the annual groundhop weekend.

Stanground were 2-0 down at half-time but cracked in seven unanswered goals in the second half.

RESULTS

FRIDAY

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Division One: Long Buckby 4 Whittlesey 1.

SATURDAY

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Division One: Rushden & Higham 2 Oakham 7.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Division: Crowland 2 AFC Stanground Sports 7, Thorney 3 Leverington Sports 4.

Division Three: Eye 3 FC Peterborough 0.

FRIENDLIES

Deeping 5 Blackstones 1, Holbeach 1 Stamford 2, Peterborough Northern Star 0 Spalding 7.

SUNDAY

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Division One: Bugbrooke St Michaels 2 Bourne 1.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Division: Sawtry 0 Stilton 2.

Division One: Wittering 5 Long Sutton 2.

Manager Michael Goode has highlighted key areas for Deeping Rangers to improve after last season’s second-half collapse.

A positive start to the campaign was erased as they finished in 10th place with just two league wins in 2016.

But the majority of the squad have agreed to stay and Goode has identified how they can avoid a repeat of that poor run of results since New Year.

He said: “We need to have a mindset where winning football matches is more important than how we play.

“We need to shut out games by settling for draws or 1-0 wins instead of going all out to score more goals and getting caught out at the other end.

“Of course, we still want to play attractive football.

“Our second key area will be competition for places where you must play well to stay in the side.

“And our final plan is being more adaptable in terms of our formation depending on the players who are available.

“We stuck with 4-2-3-1 last season and tried to play that way even when we were putting square pegs into round holes.

“As a management team we will look at that but the players have got to deliver on a more consistent basis.

“We also want them to keep themselves fitter to earn their expenses rather than just turning up to play.

“The squad will be similar to last season but we wanted to keep everything quiet over pre-season.

“We thought we had got our main transfer target Craig Smith from Peterborough Northern Star but nothing could be signed and then he went to Eynesbury Rovers which was very disappointing.

“Spencer Tinkler has gone to Holbeach United. We really wanted him to stay but he had reasons for leaving.

“He wanted a fresh start after being at Deeping for such a long time.

“He feels that maybe he has a better chance of winning trophies at Holbeach as well.

“He has been a good servant to Deeping but if players want to leave that’s up to them.”

Ryan Semple is unlikely to be available regularly due to work commitments and Chris Hibbitt has left Deeping.

Goalkeeper Danny Bircham has taken ‘semi-retirement’ for a coaching role with Rangers so Alex Pycock is set to become the number one.

Dan Flack has been named as vice-captain to skipper David Burton-Jones.

Matt Carter has rejoined from Northern Star while Ben Lewis and Fraser Sturgess could be available again.

Jason Kilbride is back in action after a broken leg and Jonny Clay has joined Deeping on a permanent basis having played a few games at the end of last season.

Danny Barker – who played at Blackstones and Northern Star – has also been added to the squad.

Former St Neots Town pair Dan Schiavi and Luis Vieira are also set to be part of Deeping’s line-up this season.

Charlie Coulson is back at Outgang Road while former Holbeach United player Callum Madigan – who was captain at Northern Star – is expected to join Rangers as well.

The season starts for Deeping on Saturday with a trip to Ely City in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round.

A late goal sent Bourne Town to defeat in their early start to the season on Sunday.

New-look Bugbrooke St Michaels snatched victory with four minutes left.

The Wakes had taken a first-half lead but they came home empty-handed.

The first effort came from the visitors as George Couzens forced Harry Oldham into a full-length save.

At the other end Rebus Richard-Noel created some space for himself before forcing Alex Brown to tip away his shot.

Zak Munton forced Oldham to save at his near post after combining with Couzens while Lance Allen rattled the post for Bugbrooke after Bleu McNeil centred from the right.

Bourne took a 38th-minute lead with Brown’s long clearance finding Couzens whose deep cross from the right picked out Munton who cut 
inside to beat Oldham.

At the start of the second half Munton set up Max Cooper to test Oldham with a curling shot.

The Badgers were on terms after 53 minutes. Niall Duffy played a short corner to Richard-Noel, took the return pass and laid the ball into the path of McNeil whose dipping shot found the far top corner of the net.

Allen’s run set up a chance for Nathan Stewart whose finish was too high while at the other end Couzens’ free-kick found Munton whose shot was tipped away by Oldham.

For Bourne, a diagonal pass from Andy Moss found Munton who released Cooper whose ball across goal was inches away from onrushing substitute Ashton Capes.

The hosts replied with a Conor Woulahan cross to Nathan Liburd whose shot was deflected to safety while Couzens threatened the home goal with a break down the left but his shot was blocked by Liburd with Capes drilling the loose ball inches wide of the far post.

The Badgers won it when Allen’s flick on was turned past Brown by Richard-Noel, defender Max Avory raced back to clear off the line but when it was returned into the area Duffy got in a shot which Brown parried – only for Richard-Noel to convert from close range.

Bourne will be looking to bounce back in their first home game of the campaign against Long Buckby on Saturday.

Bourne: Brown, Avory (sub Spearink), Relf, Smith, Elger, Bottreill, Willerton (sub Capes), Moss (sub Mason), Munton, Couzens, Cooper.

Dave Frecklington believes that the arrival of Sam Vince could help push Michael Duggan to a higher level.

The Spalding United boss already sees his number one among the top goalkeepers in the league.

But that hasn’t stopped him bringing former Boston United first-teamer Vince into the fold after he signed terms last week.

“Michael’s on contract and I feel he’s one of the best in the league,” Frecklington said, urging Vince to fight for that place between the sticks.

“But it’s no good having just one goalkeeper at the club.

“He needs to be tested, to earn his place in the team.”

Vince had played under Frecklington at Lincoln United before moving to Manchester and turning out for Hyde United.

But now the youngster, the son of former Holbeach United title-winner Nigel, is back in the area.

“Sam is a very promising young goalkeeper,” added the manager.

“He’s someone we want in the squad and someone we know can do a job.

“You need two keepers in case one gets injured in the warm-up or in training, or for cup matches.”

Spalding have also signed defenders Jordan Lemon and Sidnei Costa.

Lemon, who previously played under Frecklington at Lincoln United, has moved from Stamford.

Frecklington took to Twitter to thank Daniels boss Graham Drury for not making the club wait seven days to make their approach.

Meanwhile, the Tulips won 7-0 at Peterborough Northern Star on Saturday.

Striker Brad Barraclough rested an ankle injury after the midweek game against Boston Town and central defender Neal Spafford was unavailable.

But player-coach Chris Hamilton made his first appearance of pre-season.

On-loan Lincoln City winger Andy Wright opened the scoring and Paul Walker doubled the Tulips’ lead from the spot.

Tom Waumsley missed a penalty when going for his hat-trick and Sam Downey also hit a second-half double.

Nathan Whitehead completed the scoring with a 25-yard free-kick.

Ex-Army Major Dennis Hannant will leave his three-year post as Spalding town centre manager (TCM) a year early by “mutual agreement”.

Mr Hannant (61), appointed in autumn 2014, goes at the end of this month to focus on singing.

He hopes to work on cruise ships and as a wedding singer and says his decision to leave was prompted by two things: his future career and the town’s apparent unreadiness to become a business improvement district (BID).

“I wanted the town to move to a BID situation straight away and I don’t think the town is ready for it,” he said. “I didn’t think it was right to stay in the job when the agreement for my funding was that we move to a BID situation at the end.”

There will be no replacement and surplus cash for the TCM post will revert to the S106 pot “for redistribution for the good of the town”, according to Spalding Town Centre Management Board (STCMB) chairman Matt Clark.

Spalding traders voted on a BID in 2009, with 75 per cent of those taking part rejecting the idea.

But STCMB is again looking at a BID and has engaged professional consultants.

Mr Clark said: “Our board is now in the third year of existence, therefore our main objective, defined by our initial funding bid, is to explore solutions to sustaining the services provided by (the) TCM.

“We have explored other opportunities for funding – including taking on council services and grants – without success, therefore it is solely the potential of a BID that will now be explored.

“We have engaged with professional consultants to obtain quotes to produce a feasibility report in relation to a BID; the appointed company most notably have worked extensively with Nottingham BID, therefore have the experience to produce a quality report, but at a reasonable price.

“If the report indicates that a BID would be successful, the process will be most likely taken forward by a new committee, or pre-BID board.

“Therefore the TCM Board is expected to disband early, but not before we have the submission of the report already commissioned and a recommendation forward.”

Mr Clark said as STCMB objectives of years one and two were complete, it had “been mutually agreed for the TCM to step aside”.

He said: “I would like to publicly thank Dennis for his time with us. My personal 
experience is that he is a sterling town centre manager 
and community leader. His hard work and dedication to the role, the board, the local traders and the town as a whole is exceptional. It has never been an easy task, to work with so many in trying to achieve so much, therefore his perseverance certainly deserves applause.”

Part of Spalding’s former White Hart Hotel is expected to open as a charity coffee and clothes shop before Christmas.

Plans for conversion of part of the Market Place building – the area right of a central archway – have come from one of the county’s leading charities, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice Trust.

A proposed ground floor plan shows a cafe and a library as well as sales areas earmarked for home, women, men and children.

The proposal involves the area once occupied by Shooter’s Bar, which closed several years ago, leaving a prominent town centre building vacant. Shanghai Gardens Restaurant, housed in part of the historic former hotel, is unaffected.

The coffee and clothes shop will not need planning permission, because there is an existing consent from 2013, but it will need listed building consent as parts of the building date back to 1500.

A Heritage Statement supplied with the charity’s application says the White Hart is amongst the oldest buildings in Spalding, which include St Mary and St Nicolas Church and Ayscoughfee Hall.

The White Hart is already much-changed inside and the charity says most of the work it proposes are “reversible additions”.

A district council officer described the project as “acceptable in principle”.

Firefighters used a hose reel and beaters to put out a straw stubble fire off Queen’s Bank, Crowland.

The alarm was raised just after 6.15pm yesterday (Monday).

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said there were 50 square metres of stubble involved.

The cause of the fire is unknown

Spalding police were in Quadring yesterday (Monday) evening carrying out speed checks ... and other areas will be targeted.

It’s part of a police campaign to catch offenders and raise awareness that speed kills.

The A1101 – the Long Sutton to Wisbech Road – has been closed this morning due to a serious accident.

The accident is on the Cambridgeshire stretch of the road and police Tweeted it would be closed for some time.

There are no further details at this stage.

A serious single vehicle crash shut the A1101, Sutton Road near Wisbech this morning, Tuesday August 2.

Police were called at 5.52am to reports of a minibus, carrying eight people, crashing into a ditch at Leverington. The location is know locally as Gypsy Bends.

The road was closed in both directions between Parson Drove Lane and the A1165 Little Ramper due to investigation work.

Fire services attended the scene to cut five trapped passengers out of the vehicle.

Firefighters also assisted the ambulance service with administering first aid.

Incident Commander Ady Slack, from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Crews were faced with a difficult situation with five casualties trapped in the vehicle. They worked closely with colleagues from the ambulance service to release the casualties safely.”

The Magpas team assessed a man in his 20s who had sustained serious chest injuries. They anaesthetised him at the scene then accompanied him by land ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital where he was in a very serious but stable condition upon arrival.

EEAST Ambulance Service paramedics treated a further two people who had been seriously injured. They were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.

Paramedics also assessed five who had escaped with minor injuries. They were taken to Peterborough City Hospital.

The road has now reopened.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the road policing unit on 101.

Tom Roberts knows that Holbeach United versus Spalding United will never be your average friendly.

Despite the Tulips sitting one division higher these days, the Tigers boss believes there will definitely be some spark on the turf in tonight’s pre-season fixture at Carter’s Park (7.45pm kick-off).

“Spalding is still a derby match,” explained the former Tulips keeper.

“It’s a pre-season game but there is still pride at stake for a lot of local lads.

“We’ve got players like Adam Jackson and Jamie Stevens who have played for Spalding so it is always a game they will want their team to win.”

Consumer experts are warning of a new series of online scams offering seemingly well-priced drones for sale.

However, the fashionable items being advertised on online shopping sites at lower than the recommended price often do not exist, according to Action Fraud.

After victims agree to purchase a drone, the fraudsters request payment to be paid via bank transfer, saying that it will quicken the delivery process.

After transferring the money the buyers never receive the drone and the fraudster blocks the victim to prevent further conversation.

Action Fraud has offered the following advice which applies to all online transactions:

Check the validity of the post.

Avoid paying by bank transfer and instead use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.

Check feedback online by searching the associated phone numbers or email addresses of the seller. Feedback will give you useful information about recent transactions other buyers have made.

If the item is below market value consider whether this is an opportunity too good to be true.