Our resident film expert Gavin Miller previews the latest James Bond blockbuster.

SKYFALL (12A): After a four-year hiatus Britain’s most-beloved spy is back.

Daniel Craig – who has reportedly signed up for two more movies – reprises the role of James Bond, looking to repair the damage caused by the rushed production of Quantum of Solace.

This time Bond’s loyalty to Judi Dench’s M is tested, as her past comes back to haunt her – and MI6 comes under attack.

It’s up to 007 to track down the threat – with Oscar-winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) on villain duties – no matter how personal the cost.

Some great British co-starring talent comes in the form of Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whimsaw – resurrecting gadget genius Q – with American Beauty Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes behind the camera, and songstress Adele providing the theme song vocals.

Full review next week.

A man has been charged with a public order offence following an alleged incident in Spalding’s Sheep Market on Tuesday afternoon.

Police say Craig Walling (30) is due to appear at court on November 8.

A man who tried to mug a teenager at knife point on a service bus was jailed for 30 months at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday.

Shane Cooper latched onto his 17-year-old victim while travelling on the service from Boston to Spalding and then pulled out a knife as the bus reached Donington.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that Cooper asked if he could have the boy’s rucksack but the boy turned down the suggestion.

Mr Howes said: “The defendant then held the knife at arm’s length with the blade facing the victim.”

Cooper demanded that the boy hand over his rucksack.

Mr Howes said: “The victim was scared.

“He was frightened that he would be stabbed but he bravely refused.

“The defendant then left and went upstairs.”

Cooper was arrested later but made no comment when he was interviewed.

Cooper (22), of Herring Lane, Spalding, admitted attempt robbery on September 18.

At the time of the offence he was on a probation supervision order and also on bail for theft.

Judge Michael Heath told him: “I can’t justify anything other than a custodial sentence for an offence of this sort.”

Liz Harte, defending, said the incident on the bus happened very shortly after Cooper was himself robbed in Boston bus station.

She said “His mind was confused and his subsequent actions reflect the irrational thought processes going through his mind at the time.”

Shoppers in Spalding can enjoy extended opening hours at town centre shops in the run-up to Christmas.

Traders who attended the most recent Retailers Forum agreed to open on Thursdays until 8pm throughout December.

A bike was stolen from a shed in Pennygate, Spalding, on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Police are warning residents to step up security following a spate of similar raids in Holbeach and Holbeach St Marks.

Witnesses can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Police say a Ford Focus was stolen from Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A man might lose his job for the “absolute madness” of deciding to drive after he had been drinking.

Police stopped Robert Key (28) at Austerby, Bourne, at 3.40am on September 22.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said he failed a roadside breath test and blew 84 microgrammes at the police station – more than double the legal limit of 35mcgs.

Solicitor Anita Toal, mitigating, said it was Key’s practice to never drink and drive and he would always leave his car when he had been drinking and collect it the following morning.

She said: “On that night he took the decision to drive. He describes that decision as absolute madness on his part.”

Mrs Toal said he works as a storeman for a firm in Stibbington and cannot get to work on time using public transport from his home in Bourne.

“He appereciates there is little or no excuse for his actions on that day,” she said.

Key, of The Pollards, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

Spalding magistrates on Thursday banned him for 20 months, but will allow him to cut five months off if he completes a rehabilitation course.

He was also fined £280 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Emergency services were called to a two-car crash in Wyberton, on Monday lunchtime.

It involved a Fiat Punto and a Volvo at the junction of London Road and Saundergate Lane.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue say they administered oxygen to an occupant of the Punto, but police had no report of injuries.

Students in years eight and nine at Spalding High School were honoured for their efforts in the past year during the Lower School Prizegiving event.

More than half of the girls received certificates or prizes for a range of academic attainments and achievements, or for effort, progress, sporting endeavor, music or drama.

There were also prizes for those who were deemed to have contributed the most to form, year or school life.

The presentation evening was interspersed with musical interludes from year nine singers, the woodwind ensemble, clarinet soloist Seren Cave and a cello duet from Sophie Baxter and Georgina Lambe.

The main address of the evening came from former Spalding High School student Sonya Ripley, who is now headteacher at Tydd St Mary Primary School.

Headteacher Tim Clark and deputy senior student Eleanor Butler also spoke.

Mr Clark said: “Sonya was absolutely excellent. She said that as a little girl she had an ambition to become a fairy. Unfortunately that didn’t come true but she also had a relative who inspired her to become a teacher.

“She also spoke about how she was inspired to pursue teaching as a career by one of her teachers during her time at the school.

“It was an inspirational evening and the number of girls who received certificates shows the determination and amount of commitment they put in,”

Prize for achievement within the form and certificate of merit: 7C – Sophie Hutchinson; 7J – Alice Thomann; 7N – Ellie Futter; 7S – Alice Hendy; 8C – Francesca Bolton; 8J – Becky Allen; 8N – Jessica Briggs; 8P – Tara Foster; 8S – Tegan Archer.

Special prizes: Jean McLeod Prize for Progress in Year 7 – Cara Hyde; Jean McLeod Prize for Progress in Year 8 – Madeleine Pentelow; Jean McLeod Prize for Piano – Abigail Thackray; PTA Prize for Outstanding Effort Across the Curriculum – Rebecca Wright; Old Girls’ Prize for Contribution to School Life – Olivia Gresswell. Awards for Sport: U12 District Indoor Hockey Champions; U12 District Outdoor Hockey Champions; U14 District Swimming Champions; U13 County Gymnastics Champions; Under 13 District Rounders Champions.

A decision on whether catalogue retailer Argos will stay open in Spalding after a shake-up of UK stores has yet to be made, the company has said this week.

Argos bosses announced plans on Wednesday to either shut or relocate at least 75 of its 739 stores in the UK and Ireland as it focuses on building up its product range and online sales.

The store at Holland Market, Spalding, is one of eight in Lincolnshire and an Argos spokeswoman said she was unable to confirm which ones may close because of current leasing arrangements.

She said: “We are committed to maintaining both a national and local spread of Argos stores, but we can’t at this stage give information about individual stores that may be closing due to leasing details.”

A report by Home Retail Group, owners of Argos, stated that each store’s future would be decided on a number of factors, including profitability and “attractiveness of location.”

The report said: “Argos has reviewed its store estate on the basis of several factors, such as profitability, attractiveness of location, complexity of operations and overall fit for the new strategy.

“As a result, it is likely that Argos will close or relocate at least 75 stores as their leases come to an end over the next five years.”

Long-established Spalding dental surgery Trawford, Shorrock and Associates is celebrating its 25th anniversary having introduced ground-breaking new technology for the benefit of patients.

As part of the surgery’s expansion, partners Dr David Trawford and his stepson Dr James Shorrock are announcing the arrival of a new associate dentist, Dr Luke Smith, who will join fellow associates Dr Kenny Doig and Mrs Nicola Marr.

They are also delighted to welcome back Dr Jeremy McCahill as the surgery’s own specialist in dental implantology.

Jeremy worked with David and James for five years as an associate before leaving to work at a specialist practice in 2005. He is now returning as a regular visitor after gaining an MSc with distinction in implantology.

To allow the practice to plan totally in-house implant treatments with a very high level of precision, a CBCT scanner which carries out 3-D X-rays has been purchased by the surgery as one of a range of new high-tech aids.

Investment to the tune of a third of a million in the last five years has brought many new treatments. These include the computer-aided design and manufacture of crowns, enabling patients who have lost their crowns or fillings to have them replaced durably, in one visit with no need for temporaries or impressions.

Various laser based dental treatments are now available, using diode and waterlase laser units, and Invisalign invisible braces can give patients with minor to moderate orthodontic problems good results without the need to wear an obtrusive metal brace.

James Shorrock said: “When my stepfather David came to Spalding and set up practice in London Road 25 years ago, there were just three members of staff and now we have 24!

“He custom-built our present surgery in Camelgate in 1995 and I joined him after qualifying three years later. We were the only two dentists to start with, and now we are up to to six, with Jeremy as our visiting specialist. We also have three dental hygienists in the team.

“In 2005 we opted to become an entirely private practice so we could spend more time with our patients and offer them a much wider range of service, while striving to keep our fees affordable and offer excellent value for money.

“With the arrival of our new associate we are pleased to be able to offer new patients a place at our practice.”

* Spalding Dental Surgery, Camelgate, Spalding, PE12 6ES. Telephone 01775 724756. www.spaldingdentalsurgery.co.uk

Dr Luke Smith BDS, the latest recruit to the surgery, qualified from King’s College London in 2003. He has since taken up positions as a clinical teacher at Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’s Hospitals in London as well as at James Cook University in Queensland Australia.

Luke enjoys all aspects of clinical dentistry with particular emphasis on advanced aesthetic and neuro-muscular dentistry which is an effective approach to treating a multitude of chronic symptoms associated with a less than perfect bite.

Thieves siphoned diesel from a Renault car transporter lorry parked in a layby on Washway Road, Moulton Marsh, in the early hours of Tuesday.

Police are asking witnesses to call them on 101.

A driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident after a crash in Spalding today.

Four vehicles, including at least one bus, were involved in the crash on Halmergate just before 4pm.

One of the vehicles, a BMW car, burst into flames after the crash but Lincolnshire Police confirmed no one was hurt.

After only five months since it re-opened, The Chequers at Gedney Dyke has made it into the Michelin Guide.

That’s not a surprise for its head chef Michael Billington, who is used to working in Michelin-starred restaurants and is aiming for a star for The Chequers some day soon.

Michael was recruited by the pub’s new owners Gareth and Kirby Franklin, who have totally refurbished it after it had been empty and unused for too long.

He said: “Before coming to The Chequers I worked as sous-chef at Chapter One in the London suburbs, which has one Michelin star, and before that I was at Midsummer House, Cambridge, which has two. I hope that’s where we at The Chequers are going too.

“This is my first head chefship and I’m very happy to be in an area where the raw materials are so good and fresh. Our food is modern European-style, taking the best ingredients available in season, sourcing them as locally as possible. It’s not over-complicated.

“For example the asparagus we served in early summer came from the field directly behind the pub, and our beetroot is grown at Long Sutton - both suppliers are regular customers now.”

Inspectors came to eat at The Chequers halfway through July and have awarded it a Michelin Bib Gourmand, an accolade for good food at reasonable prices, in the 2013 Guide.

It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, offering Sunday dinner from 12 to 3pm and on other days a choice of bar classics and a set lunch for £12.95 for two courses; switching to Michael’s a la carte menu on Wednesday, Thursay, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Angry tenants at three flats in Spalding have rounded on their landlord after waiting more than two months for their leaking roof to be fixed.

Heavy overnight rain last Tuesday and Wednesday caused major damage to walls, ceilings, carpets and a fire alarm system for three flats in Market Place run by social landlord Accent Nene Housing Association.

The tenants have accused their landlord of treating them “shabbily” after originally reporting that the roof had “caved in” on August 8 and one tenant is threatening legal action if repairs are not done quickly.

Tim Dent, who moved into his flat three years ago, said: “I came home from work last Wednesday afternoon and I could smell the damp – all because Accent Nene couldn’t be bothered to repair the exterior roof.

“I’ve had builders inside my flat to look at the problem, but they still haven’t repaired it and the problem will get worse if we have any more rain.

“I’ve not had a cold for over a year but now I’ve got a cold, cough and sore throat and I put it down to Accent Nene because we’ve been reporting the problem to them since August 8 and they still haven’t fixed it.

“It’s now affecting all three flats and I’ve said to the other tenants that if Accent Nene don’t sort out the roof in the next week then I’m going to see a solicitor.”

Another tenant, Keith Snelling, said contractors working for Accent Nene went for a “quick fix” by putting up temporary plasterboard on September 5 ahead of full repair work on October 29.

He added: “The contractors originally thought they had found out where the leak was coming from, but the water came in from elsewhere when we had the rain last week and now it’s affected all three flats.

“There’s enough water here to put a fire out but we’re still waiting for the contractors to come back and do the repairs.

“Accent Nene is responsible for making sure the flat is habitable, so why is taking so long to sort the roof repairs out?”

Mr Snelling, who lived at his Market Place flat since 2004, claimed Accent Nene was failing to honour its own charter which promises to carry out repairs within a set time.

He said: “There’s a communication problem between Accent Nene, the contractors and us because we’re not getting any information about what’s going on.

“We’re being treated shabbily and the leaking room problem isn’t getting sorted out.”

Police have today (Wednesday) handed out fines totalling £1,200 to drivers on the A17 near Sutton Bridge for illegally running on red diesel.

More than 50 vehicles were stopped in the crackdown.

Red diesel is used by agricultural vehicles and carries a much lower level of duty than the fuel bought at filling stations.

30 Matmore Gate, Spalding £299,950: This spacious detached house could particularly appeal to someone working from home.

The garage has been converted to an office.

The home has four bedrooms, three reception rooms and is on a non-estate plot near schools.

At the rear of the property is a large detached building currently used as a snooker/games room. It has double glazing, a cloakroom, its own central heating system – and planning permission to convert it into a granny annexe.

Agent: Munton & Russell

16 Sheepmarket

Spalding

01775 722475

Spalding Hockey Club 2nd are showing plenty of six appeal in Division 4NW after emphatically extending their unbeaten run against St Neots 2nd.

It’s now six games unbeaten after a 6-1 home success, which leaves Spalding top of the tree on goal difference.

Pete Wright got the ball rolling, before Jacob Rowbottom and Graham Doades made it 3-0 at half time. Phil Callow added a thunderous fourth, with Doades and Wright adding another each before St Neots’ consolation.

Up in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st were hammered 6-0 at home by Cambs Uni 2nd on Saturday.

They fared a bit better in the HA Trophy 24 hours later, but went out on penalty strokes after drawing 2-2 with Norwich 1st, again at home.

Gary Hales and Danny Sisson scored as Sutton fought back from 2-0 down.

The score was also 2-2 as Spalding 1st earned a point at Dereham 2nd in Division 2N.

They went in 2-0 up at the interval through clinical Dan Shardlow penalty corners, but Dereham scored twice in quick succession with well-worked goals from long balls.

There was something of a thriller in Division 4NW, as Long Sutton 2nd prevailed 4-3 at Spalding 3rd.

After Sutton keeper James Cliff saved an early penalty stroke, Stefan Fox and Nick Bailey put them 2-0 ahead.

Tim Maltby and James Doolan struck for Spalding to make it 2-2, but Bailey scored two unstoppable deflections to win it for Sutton. Ryan Mountney got Spalding’s third.

There was another derby in Division 6NW (N), as Spalding 4th and Long Sutton 3rd went head-t0-head.

Sutton started the better and when ahead when player-of-the-match Alex Canham finished off a rebound from his own strike, before adding a second with an angled deflection after Jack Smith’s pass.

Tom Shinkins made it 2-1 with a superb reverse chip, but eventually George Dixon-Spain carved out a run and finished with a great shot to restore the two goal cushion for Sutton and secure a 3-1 win at Surfleet.

Spalding’s man-of-the-match was Harry Bettinson.

• Katie Ireland fired an impressive seven goals to guide Long Sutton Ladies’ 2nd to a huge 16-0 win over Horncastle 2nd on Saturday in Lincolnshire Ladies’ Green League.

Four of her spree came in the first half, with Louise Billingham, Emma Howell and Lisa Baker also on target.

Another eight goals arrived after the interval, courtesy of Billingham, Baker, Millie Lamming, Howell, Jeorgia Carr (2) and red-hot Ireland (3).

Long Sutton Ladies’ 1st were also on winning form in East Women’s League Division 1N. They picked up an impressive 3-1 triumph at Ipswich 3rd, with Robyn Gribble and Rebecca Kierman (2) scoring.

It was a tough weekend for Spalding Poachers 1st on two fronts. They lost their unbeaten East Women’s League Division 2NW record on Saturday after a 5-1 beating at Cambs City 2nd, despite Karen Timby’s strike.

An 11-0 home reverse followed on Sunday at the hands of Chelmsford in the EH Cup.

Spalding Poachers 2nd were also beaten in Cambs Ladies’ League Premier Division. They suffered a 4-0 reverse at Cambs South. But Spalding Poachers 3rd won 7-2 against March Ladies 1st in Cambs Division Two. Karen Thorold (3), Alex Allwright and Beth Devey were among the scorers.

Donington dynamo Christian Slater has just enjoyed his best motorcycling season since starting out in the sport back in 2004.

“Bomber” and his CS Racing team finished fourth in the Auto Cycle Union National Club-Mans Championship, which is hosted by the Derby Phoenix Motor Cycle Club.

Slater and his Suzuki GSXR1000 machine had a chance of taking third place at the season finale, held at Cadwell Park.

He started very well, with finishes of fourth in race one and fifth in race two. With a damp track awaiting racers for races three and four, C S Racing decided to fit some part worn intermediate, treaded tyres – and it paid off, with Bomber taking third.

Unfortunately that wasn’t good enough for him to take third in the overall standings, but there was still two more races left to finish.

With prize money still up for grabs, Slater secured a fine third in race four, before claiming a super second in the finale, which was raced under wet conditions.

Slater thanks his sponsors, Commercial Painters (Donington), Dales Sports, The Dyson Doctor, Kingsway Tyres, Lamberts Transport, Massey Car Sales, A16 Road and Race, Paul Wyatt and Danny Osbourne for their support during the season.

HOLBEACH UTD LADIES 0 WISBECH YELLOW 2: Unlucky Holbeach weren’t helped by a number of key injuries as they lost to rivals Wisbech on Sunday.

Two minutes into the game Jacky Mitchell was forced off with a nasty knee problem, while Rachel Floyd struggled with a hamstring problem and keeper Kerry Isaac picked up a shoulder problem.

Aimee Keir had a chance saved in the first half, but it was Yellow who went ahead before half time.

Summer Abraham and Vanessa Dorrian went close after the break, while Stacey Baxter and Titch Abraham made vital tackles. But Wisbech added another to wrap up the points in a game Holbeach could’ve won.