Public Health England (PHE) is encouraging everyone in our region to become ‘tick aware’ this summer and learn how to prevent infections from the diseases associated with them.

Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures and are found in woodlands, parks and gardens. They are most prevalent in late spring, summer and autumn. PHE is asking the public to be mindful of getting bitten as we venture outdoors during the warmer climes.

PHE Head of Medical Entomology, Dr Jolyon Medlock, said: “Now is a good time to think about ticks and what actions to take to avoid the diseases they carry.

“The number one thing that people can do to stay safe from ticks is to carry out a tick check after spending time outdoors and remove ticks as soon as possible. If a tick is removed within 12 to 24 hours it will reduce the risk of being infected.

“As children are bitten mostly on the head, this is a very important area to check particularly behind the ears, at the hairline and on the neck. It is recommended that tweezers or a tick tool be used to remove ticks, as other methods may lead to infection.”

Lyme disease is the most significant tick-borne infection in the UK, causing an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 cases per year. Often the only symptom of Lyme disease is a rash, which gradually spreads from the site of the tick bite. The rash can cover a large area and last for weeks if left untreated. Some patients may also have ‘flu-like’ symptoms.

Cases of Lyme disease are often acquired through recreational activities including camping, walking, hiking and mountain-biking, where tick exposure is more likely. Areas where the infection has been transmitted in the UK include popular holiday destinations such as Exmoor, the New Forest, the South Downs, parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire, Thetford Forest, the Lake District, the Yorkshire moors and the Scottish Highlands.

Despite case numbers tripling between 2001 and 2012, many people remain unfamiliar with ticks, and the associated disease risk and tick bite prevention measures.

PHE is working with local councils to raise tick awareness and the risks to health.

Do you pick up your dog’s poop or are you one of the pet owners dumping on South Holland?

The number of people fined for failing to pick up their dog’s poo fell nationally by almost 20 per cent last year, mainly due to cuts in council budgets and lack of manpower to catch offenders.

However, South Holland District Council has joined up with a national environmental charity to launch a new campaign aimed at reducing dog fouling in the district.

The ‘We’re watching you’ campaign was successfully piloted by Keep Britain Tidy in 2014 and was launched in South Holland last week.

From tomorrow, striking glow-in-the-dark posters urging dog walkers to pick up after their pets are being rolled out across the district.

Officers will put up a small number of signs on fences and posts at carefully selected sites in Spalding, Donington, Gosberton, Surfleet, Pinchbeck, Weston and Long Sutton.

The poster’s slogan ‘Bag that poo, any bin will do’ will remind dog owners to make use of the nearby general waste and dog poo bins.

This innovative campaign has followed research which has shown that dog walkers are more likely to pick up after their dogs when they think that they are being watched.

The Keep Britain Tidy pilot, which used the posters and was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), saw an average reduction of 46 per cent in the levels of dog fouling.

In 2014-15, 2,868 fixed penalty notices were issued in England and Wales – down from 3,521 in the previous 12 months.

According to the figures there were 73,824 complaints about dog mess in 2014-15 – but 103 councils did not issue any fixed penalties.

The government said it was working with councils to find “local solutions”.

Fixed penalty notices can be issued by people, including council officers, to anyone who fails to clean up dog mess on certain land where the public have access.

The cost of the penalty varies in different local authorities but in South Holland it is £50.

Over the years, residents in South Holland have waged their own war on dirty dog owners.

In 2013, a fed-up Surfleet mum took on selfish dog owners who leave their pets’ poo behind on pavements in the village.

Fran Healands sprayed yellow powder on grot spots in Surfleet to highlight the problem of dog fouling and persuade people walking their dogs to be more responsible.

She claimed that parents had to “hop, skip and jump” over dog mess left on pavements while taking their children to school despite there being several new dog bins in the village.

Coun Jane King, district councillor for Donington, is delighted the campaign is being launched.

She said: “The subject of dog poo not being picked up has come up several times in Donington.

“If this campaign works it will be excellent.

“Someone used to leave dog poo just outside the gate of a local school.

“You can imagine the mess when children charged through the playground into school.

“The weather is warming up and it become a mine field missing it in Flinders Park.

“But if you say anything to anyone you are likely to get a mouthful.”

On launching the new campaign, a spokesperson for South Holland District Council said: “We are confident that the posters will encourage dog owners to be responsible.”

Coun Malcolm Chandler, portfolio holder for environmental health, said: “The vast majority of dog walkers are very responsible and pick up after their animals.

“This campaign aims to remind those who may be tempted to leave it that it is not acceptable.

“Dog fouling isn’t a big problem in the district, but when it does occur it is deeply unpleasant for residents, who often tell us that it is by far the worst type of litter.

“That’s why we’ve teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy to help make sure our outside spaces remain enjoyable for everybody.”

* Dog owners should pick up after their dog and dispose of the poo bags in the nearest bin or by taking home to dispose of in their own household waste bin.

Residents can inform the council of litter and dog mess on the website www.sholland.gov.uk/doitonline/

Around 600,000 ​bank account payments ​have gone missing after a technical glitch at ​​NatWest owner Royal Bank of Scotland​ (RBS)​

The group said an issue with its “overnight process” meant some customers of NatWest, ​RBS, Ulster Bank and private bank Coutts had not seen credits or direct debits applied to their accounts.

An ​​RBS spokesman said the issue had been identified and fixed, but it was still working to retrieve missing payments.

​​RBS said: “We are working to get this resolved as quickly as possible and apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.

​Delayed payments would be processed “no later than Saturday”, RBS added.​

“To any customers concerned about the implications of this issue we advise them to get in touch with our call centres or come into a branch where our staff will be ready to help.

“We will ensure no customers are left out of pocket as a result of this issue.”

NatWest’s Help Twitter account has been bombarded with tweets from worried customers who have woken up this morning to find payments missing from their accounts.

The group was not able to confirm how many customers had been affected, but said it was not all accounts.

NatWest and RBS have been hit by a number of embarrassing IT glitches in recent years.

In 2013, RBS’s online service was disrupted by a denial-of-service attack.

​In November​ 2014​, the state-backed group was hit with a £56 million fine from the Bank of England and City watchdog Financial Conduct Authority after a computer failure in 2012 saw as many as 6.5 million customers unable to make payments for as long as three weeks.

The outage hit customers at NatWest and Ulster Bank - RBS’s Irish business.

Guy Anker, the managing editor of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: “This is a hugely worrying time for those affected. It’s vital anyone with an RBS, NatWest, Ulster or Coutts account that was expecting money today or is expecting money to go out, say to pay a bill, checks their account immediately.”

He added: “If you were due to make important payments today such as your mortgage, rent or utility bills, then ensure you let the other person or company know as soon as possible.”

See ​{http://personal.rbs.co.uk/personal/support-centre/got-an-emergency.html|RBS ​contact information at rbs.co.uk​|go to rbs.co.uk​}.​

There’s another summer band concert coming up in Ayscoughfee Hall gardens in Spalding on Sunday (2-4pm).

Holbeach Town Band will be performing. Take a seat along to sit on.

Auctioneer Richard Barnwell will be conducting a community auction of gifts at St Mary’s Church, Long Sutton, on Saturday (1pm, viewing from 9am).

Lots include furniture, bed and table linen, books, topical items such as war memorabilia, local paintings, bric-a-brac, tea caddies, work boxes, musical instruments, children’s toys,radios, train sets, brass, copper and pewter, cut and other glass, silver plate and silver, pottery and porcelain, watches, coins and stamps, wines, clocks and barometers, handtools, bikes, produce, items of vintage farm machinery and lawn mowers.

In the past, Lincolnshire hockey players had to stay with their team throughout the season and the summer.

However, thanks to Long Sutton player Luke Jackson this is just a memory.

The Abusement Park, a new touring hockey team, comprises of the best male and female players in the area with Pinchbeck’s Heroes Gym, which opened in November, sponsoring and providing kits for the new team.

Jackson based the idea on a similar social team in Peterborough and has already tasted success in two tournaments, with the mixed team winning silver in a Leadenham competition and the men’s team winning gold in a tournament at RAF Cranwell.

Players from Spalding, Long Sutton and other local teams enjoy the experience of socializing with players outside their league teams and this builds teamwork with players from other teams.

They have the pressure of league games with their clubs taken away to have fun, albeit competitively, in tournaments around the county.

You can visit the team at www.facebook.com/The-abusementparkhtt

Many will remember when travel in and out of Lincolnshire was by a single carriageway over the bridge and along the bank into Norfolk.

They will also remember how prevalent mist and fog were on their return, and how the sight of the Bridge Hotel’s illuminated sign was a comfort that the end of their journey was fast approaching.

How come this beacon and first hostelry in Lincolnshire is to meet its fate thanks to a wrecking ball?

Thousands danced in its ballroom, all manner of societies held meetings there, birthdays were celebrated and dinners enjoyed. It was the first choice for most of the functions held in the district.

I am sure that local councillors and other local people have done what they can, but would it, I wonder, have been allowed to get into the state it is if it had been within the comfortable confines of Spalding?

PREVIOUS STORIES:

New hitlist of grotspots revealed by council to bring pride to the district

Bridge icon to be bulldozed?

Court order to stop hotel raves

Squatters and vandals are trashing The Bridge Hotel

HOTEL: Building should be converted

A Mind, Body, Spirit Day is being held at Tonic Health, 6 Broadgate House, Westlode Street, Spalding, on Saturday (10am-4pm).

There will be a range of holistic therapies, stalls and workshops to celebrate health and wellbeing, as well as taster sessions and talks throughout the day. Refreshments are also available. Entry is £2.

Lincolnshire have booked their semi-final place in the Unicorns (Minor Counties) Knockout Trophy.

For the last-eight tie with Norfolk at Grantham, they made three changes to the side that beat Suffolk in the Eastern Division Championship earlier in the week.

Paul Cook and Pete 
Morgan replaced the injured Karanjit Bansal and Anish Patel while Brett Houston came in for Adam Shepherd.

Continuous rain on the preceding day delayed the start by 90 minutes and when the match got under way Norfolk, having won the toss, elected to field.

At this stage the match had been reduced to 46 overs per side.

Paul Cook was dismissed early on then Conrad Louth (35) joined Sam Kelsall in a stand of 66.

Morgan then joined Kelsall in a stand of 87 before Morgan fell for 40, including three fours and one six.

Batting was difficult, in particular finding the boundary was a rare event.

From 166-2, Lincolnshire slumped somewhat and two further rain delays interrupted their progress.

These delays forced a reduction in their allotted overs to 42.

Kelsall was the fourth man to be dismissed for a well-constructed 73 and thereafter only Carl Wilson with a quickfire 20 reached double figures. At the end of their 42 overs Lincolnshire were 212-8.

As Lincolnshire’s innings had been reduced by four overs during its progress, Norfolk were set a revised target of 219 to win.

The highest stand they managed was 35 for their second wicket.

All six Lincolnshire bowlers took wickets.

The dismissals of Ben France by Houston for 41 and Jordan Taylor by Dan Freeman for 42 were crucial as Lincolnshire put the visitors behind the clock.

The inevitable came in the 41st over when David Lucas took the final wicket to dismiss Norfolk for 193.

Lincolnshire won by 25 runs under the Duckworth Lewis method to secure a semi-final visit to Northumberland on Sunday, July 26.

Kelsall (3-43) was Lincolnshire’s most successful bowler to add to his match-winning innings of 73.

A regular column by Tulip Radio’s Jan Whitbourn.

Harold Payne recently returned from a trip to the beaches and cemeteries of Normandy.

Harold has organised these trips for veterans and members of the public for over 20 years and his visit marked the 71st anniversary of the D-Day landings. As well as visits to key beaches and villages linked to the war, the group also visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-mer and the Bayeux Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, laying fresh flowers and poppy leaves at the graves.

At Ver-sur-mer, a guard of honour was held for Philip Milton, a veteran of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry and the D-Day landings, who passed away in January this year. Harold telephoned Philip’s wife from his mobile phone so that she could listen to the service from her home in Holbeach.

Harold thanked Morrison’s for all their help. Overall, Harold has raised £521,000 over the last 22 years to help fund the commemorative trips to the D-Day sites as well as to provide help for veterans. His focus now will be on schools and he has bought and equipped a mobile museum which is already visiting local schools; to book a visit please call the Anglia Motel on 01406 421666.

Hear this podcast by logging onto www.tulip-radio.co.uk and follow the links to podcasts.

Thursday

Parkinson’s UK: speaker Alan Lamb ‘More stories of the Fens and marshes’, 10.30am-12.30pm, Pinchbeck Village Hall.

Spalding Folk Club: singaround, 8pm, Welland Yacht Club, Cradge Bank, Spalding.

Art exhibition: Spalding Arts and Crafts Society, until June 28, 10.30am-4pm (closed Monday and Tuesday), Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding.

Transported: open book craft workshop, 10.45am, 12.15pm, 2.15pm, 3.45pm, Spalding Library, 01406 701006.

Barons’ Charter Trail: visit Chestnut Homes’ Baron Eustace de Vesci at The Cornhill, Lincoln, part of Magna Carta celebrations.

Elvis Costello: 7.30pm, Cambridge Corn Exchange, 01223 357851.

Friday

Social dance: ballroom, Latin, popular sequence, live music by Stuart Burr, 8pm, BYO, Holbeach Community Centre, PE12 7DQ.

Strawberry tea: entertainment, 2-5pm, Ashwood Nursing Home, Spalding Common.

Saturday

Open garden: for Air Ambulance, 10am-7pm, Kellett Gate, Spalding, PE12 6EH.

Town and country fair: stalls, vintage tractors, classic cars, military vehicles, steam engines, arena events, King’s Field, Fen road, Holbeach, PE12 8QG, 07599 634830.

Summer fair: barbecue, cake stall, tombola, games, Fleet Baptist Church.

Community auction: fund raising for St Mary’s Church driveway, viewing 9am-1pm, auction 1pm, church hall, Long Sutton, donate to 01406 363208.

Fete: traditional games, barbecue, bric-a-brac, races, 2-5pm, church/village hall, West Pinchbeck, 01775 640296.

Mind body spirit day: holistic therapies, stalls, workshops, taster sessions, 10am-4pm, Tonic Health, Broadgate House, Westlode Street, Spalding, PE11 2AF, www.tonic-health.co.uk/SHAW

Military weekend: hosted by Anglia Motel on Hunstanton Green, 01406 422766.

Quiz: and supper, doors 6pm, Whaplode Village Hall, 01406 370775.

Retrospeck: and barbecue, Moulton Seas End Village Hall.

Summer singing social: taster sing for adults with Voices Unplugged, 2-5pm, Spalding Methodist Church Hall, Broad Street, 01328 838811.

Chorus auditions: for Peter Pan with Polka Dot Pantomimes, ages 9-18, 10-11.30am dancers, 11.30am-1pm lost boys/Michaels and Johns, South Holland Centre, Spalding, audition packs 01775 712359.

Girls’ football: free try out session for 7-11 years, 2-3pm, Surfleet Glen Park, 07921 553849.

Heckington Mill: brewery, railway museum tours and village walk, lunch, full day, Heckington Mill, Hale road, NG34 9JW, booking essential 01522 521337.

Sunday

Town and country fair: stalls, vintage tractors, classic cars, military vehicles, steam engines, arena events, cabbage hurling, King’s Field, Fen road, Holbeach, PE12 8QG, 07599 634830.

Open garden: for Air Ambulance, 10am-7pm, Kellett Gate, Spalding, PE12 6EH.

Summer band concert: Holbeach Town Band, 2-4pm, Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens, Spalding, 01775 765444.

Car boot: 8am-noon, Spalding Grammar School.

NGS open garden: 11am-4pm, The Hawthorns, Bicker Road, Donington, PE11 4XP, 01775 822808.

Strawberry high tea buffet: 3-5pm, St Matthew’s Church, Sutton Bridge, book 01406 350030.

Summer solstice festival: live music, arts, crafts, magical wares, food stalls, noon, behind the Five Bells, Tydd St Mary, PE13 5QH, www.rainbowfestivals.co.uk

Companion dog show: and car boot, 10am, Moulton Seas End Playing Field, 07716 169005.

Father’s Day: free tour when accompanied, 10am-3pm, Moulton Mill, PE12 6QB, 01406 373237.

Vintage and craft fair: classic car and bike show, jazz band, 10am-4.30pm, Darby and Joan Hall, South Street, Bourne/Wellhead Field.

Military weekend: hosted by Anglia Motel on Hunstanton Green, 01406 422766.

Gift and craft fair: 11am-4pm,Sutton St James Village Hall, 01406 550627.

Monday

Reading group: 7pm, Bookmark, The Crescent, Spalding.

Tuliptime Committee AGM: 7.30pm, Moulton Chapel Youth and Community Centre.

Tuesday

Transported: silk painting workshop, mobile library, Moulton Seas End, Moulton, Whaplode.

Spalding Armed Forces day: Spalding town centre and Market Place.

Spalding Folk Club: Slapdash Dancers and Bourne Borderers, 7.30pm, The Mermaid, Surfleet.

Summer informal classic car meet: 7pm, Whaplode Manor, Saracen’s Head, PE12 8AZ, 01775 761520.

Wednesday

Bingo: doors 6.30pm, Moulton Chapel Youth and Community Centre.

Transported: silk painting workshop, mobile library, Swineshead.

Lincolnshire Show: 8am-6pm, Lincolnshire Showground, www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk

Movies

South Holland Centre

Far from the Madding Crowd, Thursday 2pm, 6.30pm; Child 44, Monday 7.30pm, Tuesday 2pm, 7.30pm, Wednesday 7.30pm.

For more information visit www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

Peterborough Showcase

For times visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

Music

Saturday

54321, 8pm, RBL Donington, 01775 821112; Mike Fox, 8.30pm, RBL Long Sutton, 01406 362076; Bad to the Bone, 8.30pm, Draymans Arms, Spalding.

Sunday

Just Steve, 8pm, RBL Donington, 01775 821112.

Theatre

South Holland Centre, Spalding

Sing As We Go, tomorrow 7pm; Company, Saturday 7.30pm.

The Cresset, Peterborough

The Illegal Eagles.

Key Theatre, Peterborough

The Searchers.

Stamford Corn Exchange

Leo Moran and Anthony Thistlethwaite, Richard Digance.

Tolethorpe, Stamford

Henry V, Romeo and Juliet.

Spalding Folk Club had booked Scots-Canadian songwriter David Francey for Wednesday, June 3 but his UK tour had to be cancelled when David developed vocal health problems. Who did we call at short notice? Seasoned folk club performer Bob Fox, of course.

He had scarcely finished a long stint touring in the UK as the music man in the popular West End production of War Horse and was resting before embarking on his own tour featuring songs from the play. He travelled all the way down from his native North East, gave us a brilliant evening of song, music, mirth and anecdote and then drove home again in the early hours just for this one performance.

He gave us a couple of songs from the production, one of which was accompanied on the melodeon, an instrument he had learned to play from scratch in the few weeks prior to taking on the role. He also gave us a few old favourites including Sally Wheatley, the Whitby Tailor and Ralph McTell’s Peppers and Tomatoes, allegedly inspired by the text on a Gro-bag but poignantly about the tragedy of ethnic cleansing in the Balkan conflict.

It was a superb night overall. Bob has a beautiful voice, remarkable musicianship and a compelling stage presence borne of his many years as a folk club performer.

Looking ahead, tonight, at the Welland Yacht Club, Spalding Singaround meets at 8pm. Free admission and all welcome to perform or just listen.

On Monday at the Pig and Whistle, Swineshead, there is a music and song session starting at 8pm.

Next Thursday at the Barn, Baston, the Teacups are in concert (8pm). They comprise two male and two female singers who first met while studying for a degree in folk music in Newcastle. The concerts often sell out so it is best to check first on 01778 560497.

Also on Thursday at Arts Coritani, Swineshead, the Last Thursday acoustic music session has Itchy Fingers as its guests plus floor singers (8pm).

Finally, on Wednesday, July 1, Spalding Folk Club meets again at the South Holland Centre Lounge Bar. The guests are Union Jill. Helen Turner and Sharon Winfield hail from Yorkshire and perform mainly self-penned songs with a modern folk feel, delivered with lush harmonies and great stage presence.

FILM PREVIEW

CHILD 44 (15) SOUTH HOLLAND CENTRE, FROM MONDAY

A traditional village fete is being held at West Pinchbeck on Saturday (2-5pm).

It will be great fun for everyone in the family, with a fabulous range of games on offer.

These include skittles, pot smashing, roller ball, hoop-la, bean bag throwing and golf. The youngsters can also take part in children’s races.

In addition, there are swing boats and stalls with bric-a-brac, books and more.

Refreshments include a barbecue.

It is in the grounds of the church and village hall.

Take your pet pooch along to the Companion Dog Show and Car Boot at Moulton Seas End Playing Field on Sunday (10am).

There are 20 classes, prizes for best and reserve in show, pedigree and novelty, plus retrieving competitions. In aid of South Lincs Blind Society.

There will be something for everyone at next Sunday’s annual Horse and Pony Show in Long Sutton (June 28th).

Its popular dog show will be back alongside two showing rings for horses and ponies and fun classes.

The ‘handy pony ring’ is a new addition - which features ponies showcasing their skills at activities such as walking across stepping stones, hanging out the washing and posting a letter.

This year the affiliated showing classes include qualifiers for Royal London, Equifest, 15+, Think Pink and the East Anglia Horse Show.

The show will be especially poignant this year with the Louise Bishell trophy awarded for the small breed M and M (Mountain and Moorland) in-hand. Louise, from Gedney Dyke, died this year from cancer. She was 40 years old.

Show secretary Nicola Clarey, said: “Louise was well-known on the showing circuit and her pony was an M and M small breed. The trophy will be presented by her partner Ollie Bingham and her sister Jodie White.”

There will also be a trophy for the Supreme winner which is sponsored by Lynas Vokes in Long Sutton.

Nicola said: “This is the trophy awarded to the overall winner with £50 going to the champion and £25 to the reserve.

“The show is a bit different this year in that there is no show-jumping but with the handy pony ring being a first. There will also be trade stands, craft stalls and a few small funfair rides. The dog show is always popular.”

The show, held at Cinder Ash Park in Roman Bank, starts at 9am and ends at around 5.30pm. There is a fee of £5 per entry per showing for each class if paid in advance or £8 on the day.

The Louise Bishell trophy has been donated by www.jodsnjackets.co.uk and www.andrewssupplies.co.uk

It’s never a better time to find a job in South Holland and the Deepings.

The latest employment figures have been released and show there are 290 fewer people in the district claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance than a year ago.

Seven hundred and 42 people are registered unemployed, but this is a 28 per cent reduction on 2014 figures.

In Spalding, 696 people are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance - 267 less than a year ago and a 27 per cent reduction.

Becky Newborough, senior operations leader for Lincolnshire and Rutland and in charge of nine job centres in the area, is delighted with the figures.

She said: “There has also been a six per cent reduction of young people in Spalding claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance - with just 170 claiming.

“This is all excellent knews.

“The labour market is really buoyant at the moment - last month there were 700,000 vacancies on the Universal Jobs Market.

“People in Spalding will travel to places such as Peterborough and Kings Lynn.

“In Spalding there are not many national employers, but there is a steady turnover of jobs.

“Things are looking good.

“Bakkavor is a big provider of jobs and representatives of the company are planning to come into the job centre to talk to people about the opportunities on offer and advice on interview techniques.

”And there are also a lot of opportunities in factories.”

Anyone seeking employment should visit www.gov.uk as their first port of call to sign on and use the jobsearch.

Work coaches are available at Jobcentre Plus in Westlode Street to give support.

Fun and frolics for the Summer Solstice is what’s promised at The Five Bells, Tydd St Mary, on Sunday (noon).

The Rainbow Summer Solstice Festival promises a live music line-up, including Mickey Flynn, Whisky Before Breakfast, Bear Makes Ninja, The Gangsters, Addison’s Uncle, Beachy Head Diving Club and Another Bloody Day.

Then there are the Pig Dyke Molly Dancers, a fantastic range of food and drink stalls, as well as arts, crafts and therapies.

The children are catered for with a bouncy village, vintage games, face painting, jewellery making and balloon twisting.

Entry is £2 adults, free to children, and the event will raise money for charity.

Whether there’s a call for a movie version of the US comedy-drama TV series that ran from 2004-2011 will soon be revealed.

Whether there’s a call for a movie version of the US comedy-drama TV series that ran from 2004-2011 will soon be revealed.

Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and pals – including Kevin Dillon’s Johnny Chase and Jeremy Piven’s Ari Gold – are joined by a whole host of cameos (Liam Neeson and Mark Wahlberg to name two) alongside Billy Bob Thornton and Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense).

A witness has told the Warren Free murder trial how the victim returned to his home covered in blood after going outside to challenge a gang of noisy teenagers who were damaging his fence.

The witness, who cannot be identified, told the jury at Lincoln Crown Court: “He had blood on his nose. He said these kids had thrown stuff at his fence. He had a black eye. His face was covered in blood and he had blood on his T-shirt. He said there were eight kids. They were all under 18.”

The witness said that Warren Free had spent the day with two mates at his home but after the men left he was disturbed by noise coming from the park at the back of his home in Coronation Close, Spalding.

The jury has been told that Mr Free returned home first for a digital device with the aim of taking photographs of the youths and then came back for a metal pole which he took to the park.

The prosecution allege that Mr Free (43) was then attacked and knocked to the ground before the metal pole was used to beat him about the head.

The witness said: “He’d always had the pole. He was kind of paranoid that someone will come and attack him.”

On the third day of the trial witness Ashley Stafford told the jury how he heard noise in the early hours of the morning from a group of youths at the junction of Thames Road and Severn Road and was so concerned he rang the police.

Mr Stafford said: “I was in the house with a friend. We were awake. I heard people walking about. We didn’t think anything of it. To begin with we ignored the noise. Then the noise got more. We thought a girl was being raped. That’s why we called the police.

“I looked out of the window. It was pitch black – just street lamps. I wasn’t able to see anybody. Then after all the commotion we saw people. I saw four people go one way and then two girls and a bloke go the other way.”

Earlier the prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC said that police attended in response to the call and stopped three of the youngsters including Jake Edwards and the two female defendants. At the time officers had no knowledge of the incident with Mr Free. Edwards admitted he had been noisy and had been in the park but when he was checked he had no injuries and there were no signs that he had been fighting.

He was allowed to go on his way and the two girls were taken to the home of one of them.

Six teenagers all deny the murder of Warren Free on August 29, 2014. Three of the defendants, including a girl, were 14 at the time while the others were a girl of 15 and a 16 year old together with Jake Edwards, now 18.

Two of the boys, who were 14 and 16 at the time, each deny a charge of perverting the course of justice relating to the disposal of the metal pole in a nearby waterway.

The trial continues.

WARREN FREE MURDER DAYS ONE AND TWO: Girl (15) told sister she had attacked victim with metal bar, court hears