FENLAND: Are you brave enough to abseil from fire station tower?

ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO ABSEIL FROM FIRE STATION TOWER?

WISBECH: Have you got the nerve to take a leap from the top of Wisbech Fire Station? If so, Marie Curie Cancer Care is offering you the chance to take part in a sponsored abseil from the station's 65-feet-high drill tower on July 20.

Anyone aged 14 can take part, with the abseil taking part alongside the fire station's open day.

For further details and an application form, contact Rebecca on 01223 416405 or email rebecca.randall@mariecurie.org.uk.

TATTOO PARLOUR HIRES NEW APPRENTICE

CHATTERIS: Art tattoo parlour in Chatteris has taken on a new apprentice, Robb Alexander, via the Shackleton Re-training Programme.

Robb has worked at the parlour for six months, learning the basics of pre-tattooing hygiene.

He will be doing selected half-price tattoos under the tuition of parlour owner Rik Brown, and will carry out piercings.

Rik said: "It normally takes two years to learn these skills but over the short period he has been here Robb has progressed well and is looking to be a promising tattooist."

Smart Art has also hired Liz Abbs who is doing a piercing academy course, an introductory piercing course which enables to learn the art.

ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT TO GET YOUR ENTRY IN FOR PET OF THE YEAR

FENLAND: there are only THREE days left to submit your photographs for our annual Pet of the Year competition.

The winner will receive a stunning portrait of their pet by our columnist and Fenland artist, Anita Davies.

We have been inundated with entries in time for Monday's deadline, and all the pictures will appear in the newspapers next Friday.

Wisbech Standard sand Cambs Times readers will then be invited to vote for a winner.

Whether you have a cat, snake or goldfish, pets of any shape can enter the competition.

Pictures can be sent by post to The Wisbech Standard, 34 Market Place, Wisbech PE13 1DP or The Cambs Times, 51 High Street, March PE15 9JJ.

Alternatively, email your photographs to valerie.price@archant.co.uk.

Include your name, address and telephone number as well as your pet's name with your entry. Unfortunately, we will be unable to return your photographs.

ORGANISATIONS JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH VISION TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN COUNTY

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Organisations across Cambridgeshire have joined forces to launch a vision to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives, learns, works and travels in the county.

The vision was launched on Wednesday and will be led by a group made up of high-level representatives from key organisations across the county's public, private and voluntary sectors called Cambridgeshire Together.

It has drawn up targets to promote well-being of local people, the economy and the environment by 2011.

The vision has a three-year action plan containing up to 51 improvement targets negotiated with central Government, plus five additional targets agreed locally.

The action plan, also known as Cambridgeshire's Local Area Agreement, is now being submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Cambridgeshire is expected to be among the fastest growing counties in the country over the next 15 years, with 73,300 homes planned between 2001 and 2021.

Research carried out by Cambridge Together also showed that:

• Domestic violence is the most common form of violence in rural areas,

• Alcohol misuse is on the increase in the county, particularly amongst young girls

• Nearly one in four adults in Cambridgeshire has no qualifications.

Councillor Jill Tuck, leader of the county council and chairman of Cambridgeshire Together, said: "We all want Cambridgeshire to be a county of strong, growing and prosperous communities supported by excellent services; a place where people can fulfil their potential, live longer and influence decision-making.

"With the Vision, we can make great strides over the coming years."

Residents can see a copy of the vision at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Further information about the Local Area Agreement can be seen www.cambstogether.org.uk.

CHILDREN BEING TAUGHT MOLLY DANCING ARE BANNED FROM BLACKENING FACES

FENLAND: Primary schoolchildren in Fenland being taught the age-old art of Molly Dancing have been banned from blackening their faces because of political correctness.

Molly Dancing, a form of Morris dancing which requires cross-dressing and blackened faces, was born in the Fenland and was last performed traditionally in the 1930s.

"Agricultural workers used to take a plough around the village on Plough Monday and dance for the landowners," said Gordon Phillips, who co-ordinates the Cambridgeshire Roots project.

"If they weren't given food or money they would plough up the front garden, but they would have to come and ask landowners for work later in the year, so they blackened their faces as a disguise.

"Every single archive photo has black faces in it, but we don't let the children blacken their face completely. They all want to, but we just give them a couple of little dots, and tell them they aren't old enough to make the decision.

"As adult Molly dancers we all blacken our faces - we know it's not racist, but some people will perceive it that way.

Children at Alderman Jacobs Primary School, Whittlesey; All Saints Primary School, March; Glebelands Primary School, Chatteris; Beaupre Primary School, Outwell; Lionel Walden Primary School, Doddington; and Benwick Primary School started learning Molly Dancing last month.

The children will also learn Polish, African or Indian dance. They will perform shows in their schools in July and there are plans for the schools to come together for a big show next summer.

"They will learn other dances and stories, so they have something to compare Molly Dancing with," said Mr Phillips. "It's all about knowing who you are and where you come from, then learning about others."

The project, organised by Cambridgeshire County Council, was helped off the ground by nearly £125,000 of National Lottery funding.

GOLF EQUIPMENT STOLEN FROM GOLF CLUB

MARCH: Several thousands of pounds worth of golf equipment has been stolen from a golf club in March.

The theft happened overnight between Wednesday and yesterday morning, when thieves broke into Frogs Abbey Golf Club, Grange Road.

Golf equipment and clothing was stolen during the incident, including jumpers with the March Golf Club logo on.

PC Andrew Harcup-Rudd said: "Were you in the Grange Road area late last night or early this morning?

"Did you see anyone hanging around acting suspiciously?

"I am also keen to hear from anyone who has been offered cheap golf equipment in the last 24 hours which they think may be from the club."

Anyone with information should contact PC Harcup-Rudd at March Police Station on 0845 456 456 4 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.