Get ready for this year’s Grantham Carnival by heading to Grantham Museum next weekend and creating your own carnival mask.

The museum will be open on Saturday, June 8 and children can go along to make their own mask or headdress for the following week’s carnival.

Helen Goral, chairman of Grantham Museum, said: “It’s important that the museum supports local initiatives, and we’d like do our bit to encourage more people to come to the carnival.”

Doors open at 10am and children can make their creations out of a variety of materials in preparation for the carnival itself.

On the same day, the museum will be holding a second hand sale of clothes, books and toys, as well as having a tombola to raise money for the museum.

Helen said: “It costs nearly £2,000 a month to keep the museum open and we rely heavily on members of the public and the local community to help us. Anyone who wants to donate prizes for the tombola or has any items for the secondhand sale are encouraged to drop them into the museum Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

A gang of would-be burglars stopped by police as they drove along the A1 were each jailed for 18 months at Lincoln Crown Court.

The gang were arrested after Lincolnshire Police stopped an estate car at Colsterworth as it headed south along the A1 in convoy with a second vehicle.

When the two vehicles were searched police found a “burglars’ kit” including walkie talkies, a jamming device capable of blocking the signals from burglar alarms, gloves, screwdrivers, a drill, a jemmy and a sledgehammer.

Judge Michael Heath, passing sentence at Lincoln Crown Court, told them: “Whilst there is no evidence of any actual burglary having been committed the fact is that the six of you agreed to commit burglary and you tooled yourselves up to burgle. In pursuance of the agreement you travelled a considerable distance.”

Jeremy Janes, prosecuting, said that three Romanian men found inside the estate car stopped at Colsterworth were arrested.

Minutes later the second car was brought to a halt at Great Casterton leading to the arrest of another three men.

The men, who all lived in the London area, had earlier travelled north to Leeds and were heading back south when police intercepted them.

Mr Janes said: “Inside the cars were the trappings of a gang of burglars.

“No specific property was targeted but this has all the hallmarks of a gang of commercial burglars.”

Sergiu Balan, 25, of Bridge Road, London; Catalin Sergiu Bojoaga, 33, of no fixed address; Dino Mihai, 36, of Bridge Road, London; Andrei Nico Iurascu ,19, of Strone Road, London; Alexandru Sirbu , 51, of Sherrard Road, London; and Daniel Vijiac , 34, of no fixed address; all admitted conspiracy to burgle between 5 and 8 January.

Giles Bedloe, for Balan, said there was a lack of sophistication about the way the gang had gone about attempting to commit burglary. He said his client had found it difficult to get regular work since arriving here and plans to return to his home country as soon as he is able to do so.

Mark Watson, for Bojoaga, said he arrived in the UK five months ago with the intention of earning money to send back home to his family but then lost his job and got involved in crime.

Sunil Khanna, for Dino, said: “He decided to come to this country to seek work. He was working as a labourer and sending home what he could but then there was no further work and that led to him becoming involved.”

Tony Stanford, for Iurescu, said he had worked at car washes and labouring jobs and had been in the UK for over two years.

Mark Achurch, for Sirbu, said that like the others his client left Romania seeking employment but found himself unable to get a proper contract.

He added: “He regrets his behaviour enormously. He wants to go back to Romania.”

Chris Lowe, for Vijiac, said he was a man of good character.

He added: “He arrived here in the hope that he would secure a better life. The reality has been very different. It has been a torrid experience for him and he intends returning to Romania as soon as possible.”

Families are invited to get a close-up view of life on a farm on Sunday, June 9, which is Open Farm Sunday.

The Spence family will open Great Wood Farm, in Boothby Pagnell, to the public for free, giving people a chance to go on tractor and trailer rides around the farm, get up close to pigs, piglets, horses, calves, ducklings, sheep and lambs, and watch sheep being sheared. There will be displays by wool spinners and a collection of new and vintage tractors and farm machinery. Grantham business Chandlers will man a stall and run a ‘Tractor Ted’ colouring competition. In the woods, Baytree Garden Centre will bring a range of owls. Bassingthorpe Beef, from a neighbouring farm, will be offering a hog roast, burgers and hotdogs.

This is the third year running that farmer Brian has opened up his farm for the national event, and last year 1,100 people visited.

Brian said: “It is so important to reconnect the public to where their food comes from and with our countryside.”

The event is being run in conjunction with the National Farmers Union, with representatives on hand during the day to talk about farming and the countryside. Asda is a sponsor.

Neighbouring Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre will also hold an open day, where visitors can make butter or watch a home-made lambing video, have their face painted or have a go on the bouncy castle.

The open day is on from 10am to 4pm. Information: www.greatwoodfarmeyc.co.uk/ofs

A paedophile who committed sex offences against three young girls has been jailed for 11 years at Lincoln Crown Court.

Barry Johnson committed serious offences against a young girl in the late 1990s before carrying out attacks a decade later on two other girls in the Grantham area.

Johnson, 50, formerly of Grantham but now living in St Giles Avenue, Sleaford, admitted a total of nine charges of sexual assault involving the three girls.

The offences took place between November 1997 and July last year.

Judge Michael Heath told him “The sentence reflects your overall criminality.

“This was for your own sexual gratification. The effects of what you have done are incalculable.

“You accept that you have a sexual interest in children and you recognise that you need professional help.

“The probation reports says you are a high risk of causing serious harm through sexual offending against little girls. I take the view that you are dangerous.”

Johnson was made the subject of an order banning him for life from having unsupervised contact with any girl under the age of 16.

He was also banned from working with children and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

The court heard one of the victims was just seven years old when Johnson abused her. The others were aged nine and 10.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, told the court that at first Johnson denied the allegations claiming he felt “sick to the stomach” and “disbelief”.

In a victim impact statement one of the girls said she felt “numb” and “sick” and could not move on with her life.

Mr Howes added: “He suggested the girls were lying.”

In mitigation the court was told Johnson had no previous convictions and had now admitted his guilt.

Police are dealing with a serious accident on Bridge End Road near McDonalds in Grantham, reported to involve two motorcycles and a DAF truck.

One motorcyclist has been taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham with a head injury which is not thought to be life-threatening.

South Parade is currently blocked off in both directions and there are major delays on the roads in the area as police investigate the accident.

A 10-year-old girl has triumphed over children across the world to reach second place in a worldwide spelling competition - and, incredibly, English is not her first language.

Martyna Lipska’s fierce focus knows no bounds. She set her mind on the top spot in the annual World Literacy Day competition which is held by video link and entered by hundreds across the world...and very nearly made it.

Martyna may seem familiar to some readers. This is because we featured her in the Journal’s pages in 2011 when she came in the top 50 in the same competition, and again last year when she finished in the top five.

The Isaac Newton Primary School pupil said: “In the previous years I took part and I got impressive scores, and I decided to have a challenge to get even better.

“I tried to practice every day and I played a few games at school to get ready. When the competition started, I had my headphones on and I thought to myself: ‘OK, I’ve got to do this.’

“Then I completed all the levels and then I realised that my ranking on the scoreboard was second. I told my parents when the competition finished that I came out second and they had as much joy as me. They are very proud of my achievements.”

Martyna competed in the eight to 10 age category, with competitors in other categories as young as four and as old as 18. Countries taking part included Kuwait, Australia, Pakistan, India and Malaysia.

Unsurprisingly, literacy is Martyna’s favourite subject at school. And although she does not yet know which career path she would like to take following education, her drive to succeed will surely see her do well.

Headteacher Stephen Tapley said: “I’m very proud of her. We’re thrilled. That English is not her first language and to be able to achieve this in her second language is really quite a feat.”

Andrew Howett finished seventh in the European 24hr Championship at Aldermaston, the first time the event has been staged in England.

Hungarian rider Gabor Doroghazi lead for the first 13 hours with Andrew in the top 10.

The course became treacherous due to rain as darkness fell and Andrew worked his way to eighth by sunrise, only for the effort to take its toll an mean he put in a couple of slow laps.

By 21 hours, he was up to seventh and held it to the finish, beating off the challenge of fellow Brit Mark Collinson in a race won by Craid Bowles.

Andrew is currently fourth in the British endurance series with three of the six round remaining. He said: “I was really pleased with the result as neither the course or the conditions were ones which usually suit me.”

His main target now is the 24hr World Championship at Mount Stromio, Austria, in October.

“That course suits me much better, so hopefully a top 10 place isn’t out of the question,” said Andrew, who is sponsored by Mt Zoom and Bikefood.

Robbie Rizk is a record-breaker and, according to the operations manager of Buckminster Gliding Club: “Could be Red Arrows material.”

Stuart Black was speaking after 14-year-old Robbie, along with Buckminster Gliding Club colleagues Chris Bowden (19) and Jack Newman (23) were selected for the British team to compete in the FAI World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships at Oripaa, Finland at the end of July.

Based at Saltby Airfield, the local club has become widely recognised as a centre of excellent for glider aerobatics and hosts the UK National Contest.

Towards the end of last year, new rules were introduced to lower the age at which pilots can fly solo to 14. Rizk, whose father, George is a club member. was one member considered for this and he became the youngest person in the world to take part in an aerobatics competition when he was 13, meaning he had to fly with a safety pilot.

This year, his standard of flying has been judged ready for internatioanl exposure in what will surely be the youngest team at the world championships.

Black said: “The three of them will be flying high performance gliders which are capable of undertaking breathtaking manoeuvres at speeds of up to 175 mpg and pulling as much as nine G.

“Robbie is remarkable because of his maturity at that age - at 18 he will be truly outstanding if he carries on like this and could be Red Arrows material. He shows a great attitude, he has great skill, concentration and maturity.”

Before the Finland trip, the trio will compete in the UK championships this weekend at Buckminster.

Grantham Prep won the Grantham schools’ Year 3/4 competition at the Meres.

A total of 15 schools were represented by 90 children whpo played over four consecutive weeks.

Schools in the final included West Grantham Academy A, St Mary’s A, Gonerby Hill Foot, Corgby Glen, Malcolm Sargent A and B, National School, who finished runner-up at Grantham Prep.

Grantham Tenis CLub coach Paul Kennedy commented: The amount of players we have seen has been fantastic. They have shown us some brilliant tennis and it is great to see so many children leaving the event with smiles on their faces.”

Grantham Ladies beat Boston 5-4 with team of Lianne Tapson and Charlotte Palul, Liz Frobrisher and Liz Isles and Mel Bloodworth and Sally Walker.

But the men’s team of Richard Cragg and Paul White, James Drennan and Jonathan Cummins and Simon Corner and Mark Harris went down 7-2 at Louth in their first match of the summer season.

Wayne Clark sent in this photo of his daughter paying her respects to war heroes in Normandy.

The Journal’s Facebook friends chose this shot as the winner out of six put up for vote.

Wayne said: “We should be grateful for the sacrifices made by others.”

Have you taken any photographs recently that you are proud of? Well, don’t keep them to youself - share them with us and Journal readers! E-mail: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

Grantham will be handed its new mayor tonight (Thursday) during a traditional mayor-making ceremony.

Outgoing mayor Ian Stokes will replaced by Frank Turner, who represents the Green Hill ward as district councillor. Deputy mayor will be Ian Selby, Harrowby ward councillor.

Since 1897 the new mayor of Grantham has traditionally been dragged into the ceremony by colleagues. It dates back to the time when nobody could be found to be mayor and the chain of office was draped around the statue of Tollemache in St Peter’s Hill until a volunteer was found.

There will be coverage of the ceremony online at www.granthamjournal.co.uk and in Friday’s Journal.

The Belvoir Hunt’s kennels throw open their doors on Sunday, June 2, for a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of one of England’s oldest and most famous hound packs.

The open day in the grounds of Belvoir Castle features a lurcher show and dog agility, plus a family dog show with its popular ‘best sausage catcher’ finale. The event has trade stands, blacksmiths shoeing horses, a tug-of-war competition, and sheep shearing displays, a refreshment tent – and the chance to sponsor a hound.

The hounds, one of the few remaining packs of Old English foxhounds in the country, will be paraded by huntsman John Holliday. Visitors can see the hunt stables and hound kennels and trace hunt history through paintings and memorabilia.

Family dog show starts at noon. Access is from the Knipton gate and entry is by bucket donation. Details at www.belvoir-hunt.co.uk

Most of us are still reeling from the shock of Lee Rigby’s barbaric murder on the streets of south east London.

We saw that day some extraordinary examples of the sacrifices people make and the risks they run in service to their country and community.

Lee Rigby’s service as a Fusilier took him to Afghanistan and saw his life end in a brutal terrorist attack back home in the UK.

Igrid Loyau-Kennett’s service saw her stand up to the attackers, as they brandished their bloody weapons, and tell them that they would never beat us.

Mother and daughter, Amanda and Gemini Donnelly-Martin, risked their own lives by asking the killers if they could comfort the young soldier in his final moments, as his life bled away.

These four men and women, ordinary yet extraordinary, set an example that day which the whole world saw and from which all of us have something to learn. This was an attack on all of us in Britain - and, in particular, on the millions of Muslims who are proud to be British.

People like my parliamentary researcher, who was born and raised in Stamford and went to school at Queen Eleanor’s. He is a hard-working, conscientious and patriotic young man, as English as plum read, who observes Ramadan because he and his family are Muslim and celebrates Christmas because they are British.

Nobody was more appalled by Lee Rigby’s murder than good Muslims like him. And he knows that there is nothing in his religion that could ever justify such brutal acts.

Lee Rigby’s killers were evil men - and if there is a Hell they will surely burn in it. We should not allow their spurious claims of religious devotion to distract or divide us.

Cats are going missing from an area of Gonerby Hill Foot - and neighbours believe they are being poisoned.

A family living in Cliffe Road were shocked when their cat began foaming at the mouth and being sick sick. An emergency visit to see a vet revealed that cat food he had eaten was laced with rat poison.

Owner Emma Price said: “We were lucky he came home and we got him to the vets quickly.”

Emma knows of a neighbour whose cat has gone gone missing, plus she has received two fliers through the door asking after missing moggies. She wants to warn pet-owners in the area to be vigilant.

Vandals have smashed windows and slashed the tyres of nine cars parked on the forecourt of Crystal Motors in Dysart Road, Grantham.

Police are appealing for witnesses with any information about the incident which took place just before 1am on Friday, May 24.

Anyone with any information can contact Peter McAlindon at Grantham Police Station via the non emergency 101 number

A charity quiz night will be held in a village pub tonight to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The event is being organised by Ingoldsby sisters Kathryn and Ellie and will be held at the Green Man in Ropsley.

It is £2 per person to enter the quiz and there will be special quiz for children too.

A raffle will also be held to raise more funds for the cause. The evening starts at 8pm.

Ofsted inspectors have praised St Sebastian’s in Great Gonerby where pupil behaviour is judged to be “outstanding”.

The school’s new headteacher Linda Baldwin welcomed the report which judged the overall effectiveness of the school to be “good”.

Mrs Baldwin said: “It is a real testament to the hard work of all of the staff here.

“It is a team from the administrators to teachers and supervisors to governors and volunteer helpers - everyone gives their all and I think the report reflects that.”

Mrs Baldwin was particularly pleased with the praise the inspectors reserved for the behaviour of the 113 schoolchildren.

She said: “Anybody can come and visit the school at any time because whatever day of the week, whatever time of the year, this is a happy school full of very respectful, compassionate children and adults.”

The report also praised the new headteacher for the passion and ambition she has so far demonstrated and her “determination to improve the quality of teaching, learning and the achievement of all pupils”.

The inspectors have advised the school it can achieve an “outstanding” rating in the future by raising the proportion of outstanding teaching and by improving the quality of leadership and management to outstanding.

First World War authority Malcolm Baxter is helping to ensure the youngsters of today do not forget the sacrifices made by their great-grandparents.

Malcolm gives regular talks on the old Machine Gun Corps which was based at Belton Park during the First World War.

He said: “I lived in Queensway when I was young and my dad used to tell me about the Machine Gun Corps being just across the road in Belton Park so I got interested from there.

“My grandfather served in the Lincolnshire Regiment and I used to go on quite a few battlefield trips to places like Gallipoli and the Somme.”

Mr Baxter also works as a caretaker at Belmont Community Primary School and recently put on a talk there for the children.

He said: “I took in some gas masks - from baby to adult - and bells and whistles and they were very, very interested.

“ I also told them about some of the bombings in Grantham because both my mum and dad lived in streets that were bombed.”

“A damn disgrace” was how the outgoing Mayor of Grantham described three charter trustees at tonight’s traditional mayor-making ceremony.

Councillor Ian Stokes was reflecting on his year as mayor, which has seen him clash with the body of councillors responsible for electing the mayor.

After saying thank you to the trustees for their support, he said: “I must admit, I only had support from four of them and three of them were a damn disgrace and I will leave it at that.”

A retort later came from Coun Mike Cook as he paid tribute to new deputy mayor Coun Ian Selby, saying he will bring a “sense of humour which has been lacking just recently”.

The row did not appear to overshadow the occasion for new mayor Coun Frank Turner, who early on in the proceedings was dragged from the council chamber as is tradition dating back to 1897. After being robed, he returned to the chamber to collect the mayoral chain from Coun Stokes. Before his attack on the trio of charter trustees, Coun Stokes said: “It’s been a wonderful year. the mayoress and I have had an exciting time.” He went on to recall marking the Diamond Jubilee and attending St Paul’s Cathedral for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral.

It was Coun Bruce Wells who proposed Iam Stokes as deputy mayor, praising his “honesty, integrity, friendship and work he does in he community and as a presenter on Gravity FM”.

Coun Cook followed his speech, calling Coun Selby “loyal, hard working and sympathetic”. A quip as he looked down at a piece of paper about being unable to read Coun Selby’s writing earned laughs. He went on to call him “Mr Grantham”, a man who has Grantham down his centre like a stick of rock.

Before bringing the meeting to a close, Coun Turner announced the charities he will support throughout his year as mayor. They are the Grantham Journal Children’s Fund for its “sterling work” in helping needy children, Belvoir Castle Cricket Trust for encouraging over 6,000 children in the last three years to play the sport, and Grantham Hospice, which is in his ward as councillor.

A document which will heavily influence future applications for wind turbines is set to be given the green light by the district council’s cabinet on Monday.

The Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document will give criteria to be applied when determining applications for wind energy developments.

The document spells out considerations which developers must take into account when making a wind turbine application. When considering the siting of turbines, some of the principles that must be followed are:

* Avoid unacceptable harm to historic settlements, particularly in areas of open landscape.

* Identify and avoid assets and historic landscapes with largely unaltered or intact settings.

* Avoid unacceptable harm to areas with numerous heritage assets and high archaeological potential to reduce the likelihood of physical impacts.

l Avoid unacceptable harm to areas with intricate and small-scale historic landscapes and where historic features are the only scale reference.

* Avoid unacceptable harm to undeveloped skylines visable from key heritage assets and key long distance views into heritage assets.

* Use historic features as a scale reference when selecting turbine heights.

* Consider the potential for cumulative and in-combination effects on the settings of heritage assets.

* Consider the potential for indirect impacts on the setting of heritage assets including noise and shadow flicker.

The document also raises concerns about the potential impact on tourism in the area from wind farms.

The document states that £117 million per year is contributed to the economy in the district from tourism.

The report states: “Medium and large scale wind energy installations have the potential to affect tourism in the local area and can cause both positive and negative effects.”

The document will be considered by SKDC’s cabinet on Monday before being put before the full council later in the year.