BURGLARS targeted the petrol station and ATM cashpoint at Tesco in Market Rasen last night, Tuesday Febraury 21.

Offenders broke in through the front door of the petrol station kiosk and forced stole cigarettes and tobacco having forced open the roller shutter.

Police were called to the store just after 10pm when the alarm was triggered at the kiosk.

The thieves also attempted to access the ATM. Officers believe that the offenders were disturbed and fled.

Police are appealing for information and would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and who saw any suspicious activity.

Contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 448 of February 21.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

A HORSE keeper has been sentenced for repeatedly failing to look after animals in her care.

Renee Walker, 31, of North Street, Middle Rasen, has been banned from keeping horses for 12 months and ordered to pay £500 costs to the RSPCA, Grimsby Magistrates’ Court heard.

Walker – previously of Grasby Road, North Kelsey Moor – pleaded guilty to six offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “We hope the sentence will mean that further animals will be prevented from suffering.”

Walker failed to make sure a chestnut mare at The Orchards in Utterby, Louth, was protected from pain, injury and suffering between July 13, 2010 and August 3, 2010 after she did not get a vet to treat an injury to its nose.

During this time Walker failed to make sure the horse was given a suitable diet for its breed, age, sex and condition.

The court heard how Walker admitted failing to get veterinary care for a bay mare with an injured right front knee, between January 4, 2011 and January 6, 2011 at Pinneys Farm in Smithy Lane, Bigby. Walker did not make sure the horse was protected from suffering.

Walker admitted three allegations of failing to make sure the needs of a dun gelding were met, between January 1, 2011 and January 11, 2011 at Cress Cottage Livery in Marsh Lane, Healing.

She did not explore and address the causes of the horse’s weight loss, protect the horse from suffering by controlling internal parasites and failed to make sure it had a suitable diet.

Walker was also accused of six allegations of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, but these were dismissed by the court.

TAXPAYERS in Lincolnshire will again benefit from one of the lowest rates in the country after the county authority resolved to freeze council tax.

Lincolnshire County Council voted not to rise its precept on Friday.

The authority has confirmed that there will be no increase in its share of the council tax when bills are sent out in March, but has also taken steps to protect services that have an impact on public safety.

Councillor Kelly Smith, executive member for finance and HR, said: “This is a difficult time for everyone financially, and we feel it’s important to do all we can to make life easier for our residents.

“That’s why we’re freezing council tax for the second year running.”

Councillors took the decision to freeze council tax despite a further fall in one of the council’s main sources of income – the formula grant from the Government.

In the next financial year, Lincolnshire will receive 7.6 per cent, or £16.1m less to spend on services.

Councillor Smith added: “In the last year, the council has made savings of over £50m.

“And we’ve achieved this without severe cuts to frontline services or large-scale compulsory redundancies, relying instead on making the council ever more efficient.

“Despite our tough financial position, we have again protected services that have an impact on public safety, things like child protection, the fire service, and road maintenance.

“And we also continue to invest in major infrastructure projects, such as the Lincoln Eastern Bypass and next-generation broadband, which will pave the way for renewed prosperity in Lincolnshire.”

A CRUCIAL bus service is facing severe cuts – from one bus an hour to just two a day.

The number 3 bus could be drastically reduced because operator Stagecoach is facing a 20 per cent cut in its Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) for tax relief on fuel.

The bus travels between Grimsby and Lincoln and serves places like Market Rasen, Caistor, Nettleton, Holton le Moor, Middle Rasen, Linwood and Faldingworth.

Stagecoach’s commercial manager Jon Donnelly said the company was in the middle of talks with Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils and could not comment on the proposed cutbacks but said: “It’s not a strong service, the financial performance isn’t strong. It’s only just viable as it’s not a very busy service.”

But people who live in these areas are furious and fear a reduction in the bus service will cause all kinds of problems.

Nettleton grandmother Carol Barnes, 65, said: “I’m absolutely devastated. It would be an absolute disaster.

“My grandchildren use the bus to travel to school in Market Rasen and visit Lincoln and Grimsby at weekend – it would cause them serious problems.

“I know a lot of residents use the bus to travel to Caistor to go to places like the doctors, the bank and the shops.

“I don’t know know Stagecoach can say it’s not a very busy service.”

News of the proposed cuts comes one year after Stagecoach axed the number 3 bus on Sundays and bank holidays.

Middle Rasen resident Guy Grainger said: “I’m extremely annoyed. Just last year they got rid of services on Sundays and bank holidays.

“Two services a day would be no use whatsoever, the bus is usually pretty full. It would take us off the map, it would have a huge impact on the area.”

Market Rasen mayor Ken Bridger is worried about the proposed service cuts having an impact on employment.

He said: “We’re trying to improve transport so people can get to work. It would definitely have an impact on employment.

“We’re trying to encourage businesses to set up in the area but they’re not going to if we don’t have good public transport links.”

A LINCOLNSHIRE charity has benefited from financial penalties given to businesses by the Environmental Agency.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has benefited from more than £17,000 worth of donations in the first year since civil sanctions have been available to the Environment Agency.

Under the new civil sanctions regime, the Environment Agency can use non-criminal or civil enforcement, such as compliance notices, restoration notices, enforcement undertakings, fixed monetary penalties, variable monetary penalties and stop notices as alternative enforcement powers.

Charities across the region have benefited from thousands of pounds donated by offenders. A total of £184,626 pounds has been promised to environmental charities and £124,626 has already been paid.

Local, national and international charities have benefited from donations ranging between £1,119 and £60,000.

Paul Learoyd, chief executive of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, said: “We have benefited from two donations to date and are delighted to receive the support.

“As a local charity the money enabled us to do a number of special projects to protect and enhance the environment with benefits both for wildlife and people.

“From installing an otter holt to restoring flower rich meadows the positive effect of the donations is there for all to see - well, in the case of the otter, only if you are very lucky.”

Primary schools in Lincolnshire are benefiting from new phonics products and training which is driving up their pupils’ standards of reading.

Lincolnshire County Council is one of only seven authorities which has promoted the best take up of the training on phonics package with more than one in three schools already signed up for products.

Phonics teaches children how to recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes. It identifies the sounds that different combinations of letters.

THE PRICE of farmland in Lincolnshire has soared dramatically in the past year.

That’s according to regional agricultural business consultants Brown & Co. The firm is reporting that the average price in 2011 was £7,500 an acre – 25 per cent higher than the £6,000 an acre average land was making a year earlier.

Specialists at the firm say the big demand is for commercial arable farms in Lincolnshire.

The firm said factors in play include demand outstripping supply, the current strength of agricultural returns and the lack of attractive alternative investment opportunities.

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