BUILDER FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER WHITTLESEY: A builder has been found guilty of manslaughter but will have to wait until next month before sentencing. David Johnson, 56, who ran Merlin Building and Roofing Contractors, formerly based in Whittle

BUILDER FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER

WHITTLESEY: A builder has been found guilty of manslaughter but will have to wait until next month before sentencing.

David Johnson, 56, who ran Merlin Building and Roofing Contractors, formerly based in Whittlesey, was found guilty of Robert Schenker's manslaughter after a trial which ended at Norwich Crown Court yesterday (Thursday).

Jurors heard that Johnson had accidentally blocked a boiler pipe during chimney work. Mr Schenker, from Peterborough, died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

He had allowed mortar to drop and drip into the chimney and the mortar had solidified, preventing carbon monoxide from escaping into the atmosphere. The gas had leaked into Mr Schenker's house and killed him.

FULL STORY WILL APPEAR LATER TODAY ON THIS WEBSITE

ONE OF MARCH'S GREATEST AMATEUR BOXERS DIES AGED 84

MARCH: One of the town's greatest amateur boxers and entertainers, Roy Green, has died at the age of 84.

He started amateur boxing as a teenager and won a number of trophies, before joining the Navy in 1942 aged 17.

But Mr Green's love of boxing didn't stop there. He represented the Navy between 1942 and 1946 and enjoyed a brief spell as a professional boxer after dropping out of the Armed Force.

Mr Green was behind the formation of March's first boxing club, shortly after the Second World War. It was based in Oakwood Youth Club in West End, now the site of the

Riverside Practice.

Besides boxing, Mr Green entertained crowds at the Braza Club in Elm Road. He also helped set up the Cellar Club at Marcam Hall and was a guest speaker for a number of sport clubs at their annual dinners.

Mr Green's brother Keith said: "He was an excellent amateur boxer and lived life to the full.

"Everyone in March knew him; he was a really popular bloke. Whenever you walked through the town everyone spoke to him."

Mr Green, who died last Thursday, lived in March until the late 1970s, when he moved to Cambridge. His funeral was held yesterday (Thursday) at Cambridge Crematorium.

TRACTORS DAMAGED, TOOLS AND BATTERIES STOLEN

NEWTON: Three tractors were damaged during the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) when they were parked in a field in Ferry Lane.

Police are appealing to witnesses to the incident during which tools and batteries were stolen to contact them.

Anyone with information should contact PC Adam Pearce at Wisbech Police Station on 0845 456 456 4 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

MORE THAN 200 DRIVERS CAUGHT ON MOBILE PHONE

MORE than 200 motorists have been caught using a mobile phone while driving during a 12 day police campaign in Cambridgeshire.

Last month's crackdown saw officers use unmarked cars and police motorbikes to target drivers.

They caught 210 motorists using a hand held mobile phone while driving.

Sergeant Robin Marshall said: "It is disappointing to catch so many motorists breaking the law in such a small space of time.

"It only takes a few seconds distraction from a mobile to cause a collision, which can have fatal consequences."

PC Tony Barrios added: "Cambridgeshire Constabulary take these offences extremely seriously and will continue with our robust enforcement of the law.

"Roads can be a dangerous place when the law is not respected and adhered to. If we are to reduce the number of fatalities and casualties on the county's roads it is vital people comply with the law."

PLEA TO GET INVOLVED IN CREATING BRIGHTER FUTURE

WISBECH: The Fenland Links Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme wants the community to be involved in creating a brighter future for the Waterlees area of Wisbech.

After public consultation, Fenland Links has now set up a series of prioritisation and action planning sessions with the community. The open sessions will be held at: The Oasis Centre, in St Michaels Avenue, on Thursday, April 17, from 6.00-8.00 pm.

Orchards Primary School, on Monday, April 21, from 6.00-8.00 pm.

Fenland Links Chairman and Cambridgeshire County Councillor for Waldersey, Jill Tuck, said: "We are really pleased about the level of community involvement and support during the consultation process, but it is really now that the work begins, in prioritising the issues identified and forming an action plan to deal with them. This will make a real difference for the future of the Waterlees community."

NINETEEN NEW PCSOS TO BE INTRODUCED TO FORCE

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hopkins will welcome 19 new PCSOs to Cambridgeshire Constabulary at a ceremony at Hinchingbrooke House today.

Member of the Cambridgeshire Police Authority Michael Williamson will also attend the ceremony which is due to start at 2pm.

FLAT DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL ACTS

MARSHLAND: Anti wind turbine protest group FLAT denied today (Friday) that it had any involvement in any illegal acts that have taken place on the property of members of the consortium of landowners who are planning to allow turbines to be built on their land adjoining Marshland St James. Tilney, Outwell & Emneth. "

A spokesman said FLAT's campaign has been one of peaceful protest and has been driven by the need to make the local community aware of the nature of the proposal and the potential consequences.

FLAT says it has been consistent in its condemnation of any criminal acts of vandalism or alleged harassment.

Lyndon Mason, chairman of FLAT said: "It has even been suggested that we are like Sinn Fein with FLAT having both a political wing and a militant IRA type wing. If this charge was not so serious, it would be laughable. I would again repeat my earlier statement that the police, not the press are the correct route for anyone making such allegations"

"FLAT does however encourage everyone who is concerned about this development to make their views known to the consortium members, consultants and developers via phone calls, e-mails and letters.

"However, we have consistently requested that this is done in a firm but polite way without resorting to abusive or threatening behaviour. The details of all of the people involved in the development are available on our website www.flat-group.co.uk."

REPAIR FUND BOOSTED WITH £1,000 DONATION

MARCH: Open Chest community shop in Broad Street, March, has presented a cheque for £1,000 to help pay for repairs to the town's Trinity Church.

More than £24,000 has so far been given, some of it in loans which must be paid back through fund-raising activities.

The fund was launched to pay for repairs to the church extension which have been caused by problems with the foundations.

Investigations are also continuing into the source of water which is flooding into the church cellar. Property steward Reg Kemp has now contacted the Environment Agency in a bid to solve the mystery and find a solution to the problem.