JOSHUA S ARTISTIC TOUCH WINS HIM FATHER S DAY COMPETITION MARCH: Six-year-old Joshua Hedison has shown that he has artistic talent – by winning a Father s Day-themed competition run by the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. Joshua, a pupil

JOSHUA'S ARTISTIC TOUCH WINS HIM FATHER'S DAY COMPETITION

MARCH: Six-year-old Joshua Hedison has shown that he has artistic talent - by winning a Father's Day-themed competition run by the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society.

Joshua, a pupil at Maple Grove Infants' School, entered a competition run by the building society's March branch to create a picture of their dad and say why he is the best dad there is.

His prize is an arts and crafts kit for use by him and the 30 members of his class. The kit has loads of different materials for children to use, including foam sheets, pom poms, pipe cleaners, coloured feathers and sequins.

Joshua said: "I am very happy that I have won. I enjoyed making the card for my dad, I think he is the best because he lets me help him with his jobs."

Children aged under 12 and from the March area were invited to enter the competition.

CRIMESTOPPERS RECEIVED MORE THAN 800 CALLS LAST YEAR

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: The number of people calling Crimestoppers was one of the highest in the Eastern region in 2007, new statistics reveal.

More than 800 people contacted 0800 555 111 and provided information anonymously that helped police with crimes ranging from identifying drug dealers to solving and detecting burglaries.

In Cambridgeshire, 835 people called the hotline number, compared with 624 calls in Norfolk and 369 in Suffolk. The calls in Cambridgeshire resulted in 25 arrests and £52,330 worth of drugs and other property recovered.

A new Cambridgeshire Crimestoppers Board has been established to capitalise on the success of the charity's work in the county and to increase its effectiveness.

Chairman Kelly Field said: "This is Crimestoppers' 20th year and we're hoping to improve our performance each year with more calls from people who want to help the police fight crime but who want to remain anonymous."

FORMER BUS GARAGE TO BE TURNED INTO HOMES

WHITTLESEY: Fifteen affordable homes are to be built on a former bus garage site in Whittlesey.

Councillors on Fenland's planning committee have decided that the former JR Morley and Sons depot in West End can be developed.

A previous scheme of 17 homes was previously been rejected, but officers were now satisfied with the revised plans.

In her report to councillors, planning officer Stephanie Thompson said that the development's 'layout layout and design is now acceptable'.

She added that the project will 'enhance the locality without detrimentally affecting the setting of the adjacent listed building or amenity of adjacent occupiers.'

The project was still given the go ahead despite concerns of neighbouring residents and an objection from the Middle Level Commissioners.

MAN DROVE WHILE OVER ALCOHOL LIMIT TO PICK UP FRIEND

WISBECH: A good Samaritan who turned out of his bed in the early hours of the morning to pick up a friend was landed with a 16-month driving ban this week.

Police stopped Mihails Smirnovs after seeing him driving slowly along Churchill Road in Wisbech around 3am on May 31, and he failed a breathalyser test.

He later gave a test reading nearly double the legal alcohol limit, Fenland magistrates were told.

Smirnovs, 30, of Elizabeth Terrace, Wisbech, admitted drink driving. He was fined £140 with £60 costs and a £15 surcharge.

PUPILS ELECT THEIR NEW SCHOOL COUNCIL

CHATTERIS: Youngsters at Kingsfield Primary School in Chatteris have elected a new school council.

Pupils had to write a manifesto and present it themselves to classmates. Afterwards there was a vote for a girl and boy from each year group to represent them during school council meetings.

During the year school council members have interviewed the deputy head teacher and other members of staff. The new council will be making some important decisions such as suggesting which pieces of equipment to buy for the trim and fitness trails.

The equipment will be sited so as many children as possible can use it and the equipment on order should be in use by September.

New school council members are: Reception - Billy Munns and Erin Powley; Year One - Callum Jackson and Skye Batiazovsky; Year Two - Ruby Coady and George Griffiths; Year Three - John Macconnachie and Caitlyn Savitale; Year four - Bradley Mead and Katherine Quinn; Year Five - Emily Allsopp and Patrick Klaeren; Year Six - Adam Escott and Bethany Hayden.

MAGISTRATES SCRAP TEENAGER'S UNPAID WORK ORDER

CHATTERIS: Magistrates agreed to bin a Chatteris teenager's unpaid work order after hearing that it would cost him around £500 in taxi fares.

Jacob Carter was given an 80-hour order back in February - but lack of public transport to Wisbech meant he could not get there on a Sunday morning for a 9am start.

So Fenland magistrates replaced Carter's order with a curfew, keeping him indoors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights for the next month.

Carter, 19, of Lode Way, admitted breaching his work order by missing appointments on May 18, 25, and June 1.

He had originally been given the order for a variety of offences, including the possession of cannabis, threatening behaviour and obstructing a police officer.

Solicitor Ben Pearson, said Carter had not realised he had to make his own way to Wisbech when he agreed to do the unpaid work. A taxi would cost £35 a week, he said. The court clerk calculated the total cost would be around £500.