NEWS AT TEN

CHATTERIS: Perry finds form is World Championship

IN-FORM Chatteris snooker ace Joe Perry has high hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championships for the second time in his career.

He has been drawn against Stuart Bingham in the second round, a player he beat comfortably in the Welsh Open in February.

Perry swept aside Graeme Dott in the first round, winning 10-7.

He won the first frame of Wednesday's session with a break of 104 to go 6-4 ahead and notched a 132 on the way to victory. This was the highest break of the tournament so far and Perry's third century of the match.

FENLAND: Villages may be governed by super council

PART of Fenland could move into a new King's Lynn based 'super council' that could deliver all statutory services now run by both the local borough council and Norfolk County Council.

The Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk has submitted its revised concept for local government in Norfolk to the Boundary Committee. The concept is based on what it calls "the economic reality of the area."

Council leader, Nick Daubney, said: "We believe that the concept we are putting forward will allow both of the new authorities to tackle the issues local to their area more effectively as they will be in control of their own destiny."

Councillor Daubney said there was already a feeling that at times West Norfolk is 'invisible' from Norwich. A single county unitary could mean resources being inevitably focussed too heavily on Norwich.

He said: "If Norfolk is, as we believe, too large to be run as a single council, then the only rational way of dividing the county is to do it in a way that makes sense to the way people live their lives - where they shop, work, spend their leisure time, go to school and how and where they access health and other public services."

The Borough council also advocates the setting up of a Norfolk Commission and the setting up of Local Services forums -giving parishes a greater say in the development and delivery of local services.

FENLAND: Moss calls for A14 improvements

MP Malcolm Moss has called for urgent improvements to the A14 which he says the Government should give priority.

Mr Moss, the MP for NE Cambs, told the House of Commons that he was pleading for the Secretary of State for Transport "not to allow any longer heavier vehicles on the A14 through Cambridgeshire, which has one of the worst accident records in the country, with 52 fatalities in the past 10 years alone.

"The latest was only three weeks ago, in which a heavy lorry killed a young single mother."

Mr Moss asked: "Will the Minister undertake to prioritise all the Cambridgeshire A14 improvements so that heavier lorries can make safe passage through Cambridgeshire from the east coast ports to the midlands and the north?

Ruth Kelly, the minister, said Mr Moss was "absolutely right that safety should be a key consideration when deciding whether road improvement schemes should go ahead."

She added: "That is one of the issues that we will consider in determining whether the A14 is a priority for additional investment. We are reviewing all our road schemes and intend shortly to make an announcement on which will be priorities."

WIMBLINGTON AND STONEA: Olive branch offered to Fenland twinning club

THIRTY Italian guests arriving in the Fens on Friday will be leaving a flavour of their own country behind when they plant an olive tree.

The trip has been arranged by the Wimblington and Stonea Twinning Club and the Italians will enjoy a fun-packed weekend while having an insight into the history of the area.

Their stay with local families will include a tour of the historic St Wendreda's Church in March which will be followed by a barbecue sponsored by the village's Parkfield Sports Club.

The planting of the olive tree sponsored by Skylark Garden Centre will take place on Saturday on 'The Hill' watched by Councillor Geoffrey Harper and chairman of Wimblington Parish Council Liz Wright. The planting will be followed by a very English activity - Maypole dancing by youngsters from Thomas Eaton School. The day will end with a barn dance.

WHITTLESEY: Summer festival plans in full flow

WHITTLESEY will come alive with activities, music and displays later this year, in the form of a summer festival.

Meetings are now taking place in the run-up to the festival, being dubbed and Fenland Four Seasons event and pencilled in for September 28.

It will be a chance for groups and clubs to promote themselves and tell the public what they do, alongside displays, music, dance and adventure activities. There will also be competitions, guided walks around the town and fancy dress for people of all ages.

Maureen Watson, curator at Whittlesey Museum, said: "It is hoped that all local groups and clubs will be represented and involved to make this a whole town event."

The next meeting will take place at Whittlesey Town Hall, in Market Street, next Tuesday starting at 7pm. For more information, contact Whittlesey Town Council on 01733 351296.

WIISBECH: Students get their kick and raise thousands

WISBECH taekwon-do students have helped to raise more than £2,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, where the terminally ill daughter of one of their black belt instructors was cared for.

Hannah Gray, from Downham Market, died at the age of six on December 1 last year after suffering from heart disease.

Her family and students from the Carter Schools of Taekwon-do in Wisbech, Peterborough, King's Lynn and Downham Market wanted to pay tribute to the doctors and staff who looked after her.

Students from the schools each completed 1,000 kicks in a week during March.

Mr Carter, who is still counting the donations, said this week that £2,140 had been raised.