WISBECH: Shocked traders hear of sub machine gun claims SHOCKED members of a town s chamber of commerce were told last night of a stand off between travellers and migrant workers in which a sub machine gun was allegedly waved. Wisbech traders disc

WISBECH: Shocked traders hear of sub machine gun claims

SHOCKED members of a town's chamber of commerce were told last night of a stand off between travellers and migrant workers in which a sub machine gun was allegedly waved.

Wisbech traders discussed the reports last night at their monthly meeting and passed on the information to PCSOs who were in attendance.

One chamber member said today that the incident is alleged to have happened on Saturday in a town centre pub.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S WISBECH STANDARD.

MARCH: Still time to enter the grand parade for summer festival

THIS year's March Summer Festival will include the traditional parade through the town starting from City Road car park at 12.30pm on Saturday 14th June. The Festival Committee would like to involve as many local groups and individuals as possible to provide a spectacle for the whole town to enjoy.

The theme for the festival is "Save the Planet" and the parade will consist of floats on car trailers along with walkers and some exciting additions such as a Royal Navy Field Gun. Floats have been designed on the theme of save the planet, some from re-cycled material; entries so far include a large octopus.

The Committee would welcome anyone who still wants to join the parade either as a walking group or with their own decorated car trailer. Anyone who would like to be a part of this event, please contact Penny Hicks on 01354 660049

WISBECH: Woman tells Hereward Radio of her treatment success

A WISBECH woman has been speaking to listeners of Hereward Radio in Peterborough telling of the treatment that has let he talk properly for the first time in 30 years.

The station reported that Lucinda Morton suffered from a stammer but went on the same programme that helped Gareth Gates.

"I wouldn't leave a message on an answer-phone - by the time I said who it was, the time had run out - thank god for text messaging!"

But it was more serious than that: bullying led to depression which in turn led to drug addiction.

In the end, her children were taken away from her.

"When I had the social services involved in my life, I couldn't stand up to them very well, because I couldn't say what I wanted to them. I just hid - and I ended up losing my children," she told the station.

Now things are much rosier, she says thanks to the course she went on.

She can talk properly for the first time and she is in a position to look for her first job.

WISBECH: Fire crews sent to accident near B & Q

Two crews from Wisbech and a rescue vehicle from Dogsthorpe were called to a road traffic collision close to B&Q on Elm High Road in Wisbech.

This was a collision between two cars. One casualty was released by fire-fighters using specialist cutting equipment and taken to hospital by ambulance.

Crews returned to base by 1.02pm.

FENLAND: New court case helps to combat hare coursing

POLICE are continuing efforts to combat hare coursing in Cambridgeshire with the Rural Community Action Team (RCAT) tackling the problem head on.

On Wednesday (May 28), 27-year-old Dean Lee Marney from Sidcup, Kent, pleaded guilty at Wisbech Magistrates Court to trespassing in pursuit of game.

He was ordered to pay fines of £285 yesterday (Thurs, May 29) at Peterborough Magistrates Court.

The court heard that on Tuesday, February 26, Marney entered private farmland near Sixteen Foot Bank, March, with a dog and was spotted poaching by an RCAT officer who arrested him.

PC Alan Peart, from RCAT, said: "I hope that this strengthens the message that hare coursing in Cambridgeshire will not be tolerated.

"I would like to thank everyone who helped with this particular case and for their continued efforts to protect our county from this anti-social behaviour."

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Time to tackle summer drink and drug driving

A CAMPAIGN to tackle summer drink and drug driving will start in Cambridgeshire today (Sunday June 1).

The national campaign will run throughout June and will see stop checks across the county to breath test drivers and carry out Field Impairment Tests to check whether drivers are under the influence of drugs.

PC Tony Barrios said: "As the weather warms up there is bound to be an increase in the number of people going out and drinking.

"Anyone doing so and planning on driving has a responsibility to themselves and other road users to ensure they do not drive under the influence.

"Our message is clear - if you drive under the influence of drink and drugs, expect to be caught and brought to justice."

There has been a reduction in drink driving in recent months with 149 people arrested in the Christmas campaign in 2007, compared to 188 arrests the previous year.

PC Barrios added: "Cambridgeshire Constabulary is committed to reducing the number of drink drivers and we will do all we can to ensure that those over the limit or under the influence of drugs are caught and dealt with appropriately.

"Drink and drug drivers are not only putting their own lives at risk but also the lives of others."

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Major success for council farms estate

AROUND £11 million was generated last year by Cambridgeshire County Council Farms Estate to help meet the costs of providing services to the whole community.

Income from rents, the sale of surplus land and buildings and profits from new projects has produced the bumper crop of cash.

The money will be used to help meet the costs of providing services such as schools, roads, public transport, social care services and environmental enhancement.

Farm rents and income from the Red Tile Wind Farm near Chatteris generated £1.98m and the sale of surplus land and properties brought in a further £8.7m.

County council cabinet member for resources, Councillor John Reynolds, said: "In view of the ever increasing demands being placed on the council's finances, it is key that the Farms Estate continues to perform so well and to generate such significant amounts of money which can be used to help underpin the considerable costs of providing services and support to the Cambridgeshire community. I am delighted that the estate has again performed so well and I pay tribute to our officers who work so hard to ensure such excellent performance."

Rural Estates Manager, John MacMillan added: "The estate does much to improve the quality of life for everyone in Cambridgeshire by opening up the countryside, encouraging new tenants to take their first steps in farming and by teaching children about the rural environment and how their food is grown and produced and by creating miles of new footpaths and hedgerows to encourage birds and animals."

The Farms Estate, which is the largest of its kind in the country, with 240 tenants working more than 13,500 hectares (30,000 acres) of land, achieved another first when it hosted its first royal visit to Westmoor Farm, Chatteris, by the Countess of Wessex.

The estate hosted a series of guided walks and visits by 24 schools involving some £1,500 people, and undertook environmental improvements including new footpaths, opening up access to woodland and open spaces, and miles of new hedgerow planting.

More than 40 barn owl boxes encouraged breeding birds to buildings on the estate and over the last decade the estate has given 60 new tenants the opportunity to take their first step on the farming ladder.