Category: Cambridgeshire

A South Cambridgeshire man who drove dangerously around residential streets, reaching speeds of more than 70mph in 30mph zones in an effort to escape police, has been jailed.Sean Kimber, 49, of Manor Close, Little Wilbraham, was driving a car linked to burglaries when he was spotted by officers in Milton Road in Cambridge, on 5 May.When they signalled for him to pull over, he made off at speed and led officers on a pursuit around streets, forcing pedestrians and cyclists to dive out of the way as he drove at more than double the speed limit in places, including at more than 50mph in a 20mph zone.In Histon, he smashed through a wooden gate and sped over private land before being brought to a stop by officers and arrested.He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, criminal damage and using fraudulent registration plates.Sean Kimber, 49, of Manor Close, Little Wilbraham, following the crash. Pictures: Cambridgeshire policeKimber was sentenced to one year and three months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (17 July).Det Con Lisa Bacon, who investigated, said: “Kimber’s actions that day were nothing short of appalling. He drove dangerously and clearly with no thought about the danger he was putting other people in. “He narrowly missed numerous collisions as pedestrians were forced to take evasive action.“Thankfully, the pursuit ended and he was arrested before anyone was hurt.”

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has pledged improvements to resume teachingAuthor: Shaunna BurnsPublished 4 hours agoCambridge University has suspended undergraduate medical placements at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, over concerns about standards.In response, the hospital says it is focused on addressing the issues to resume teaching for medical students. Dr Rob Sherwin, Chief Medical Officer for Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, expressed disappointment over the decision but stressed the hospital’s dedication to making necessary improvements. He says the hospital staff’s commitment to education, training, and patient care remains strong, even amidst these challenges. Work is underway with NHS England and educational stakeholders to enhance the learning experience at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

A shoplifter has been banned from Co-ops in her home town for two years.Alison Edwards, 53, of Parsons Lane, Littleport, was handed the Criminal Behaviour Order at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (16 July), along with a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.Alison Edwards, 53, of Parsons Lane, Littleport, was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order on 16 July barring her from Littleport Co-ops, along with a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 monthsShe pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft after stealing items including alcohol and food from Waitrose in Ely and the Co-op, in Main Street, Littleport, on 10 occasions between 1 June and 9 July.PC Alex Thake, from the spree offender team, said: “Shoplifting has a significant impact on businesses, staff and the wider community, and we will continue to take action against those who repeatedly commit these offences.“This order has been put in place to prevent further offending and protect local retailers who have been affected by Edwards’ behaviour.“We recognise that there can often be underlying issues which contribute to offending, and while that does not excuse criminal activity, we hope Edwards engages with the support available to her to help address those issues and prevent further offences in the future.”

New facility aims to revolutionise aerospace, energy, and defence sectorsKing Charles at the opening Author: Charlotte BarberPublished 3 hours agoHis Majesty The King officially opened the New Whittle Laboratory in Cambridge on 20th July. This groundbreaking £58 million facility is poised to become the world’s leading research centre for jet engines and power generation.During his visit, the King engaged with researchers, government officials, and industry leaders from aviation and energy sectors to explore the Laboratory’s ambitious mission to condense development timelines for key aerospace and energy technologies from years to weeks. The King’s connection to the Whittle Laboratory spans multiple visits, notably breaking ground in 2023 post-Coronation and attending engagements as Prince of Wales in 2020 and 2022. Comprised of the Bennett Innovation Lab and the National Centre for Propulsion and Power, the Laboratory is designed to launch numerous industry-advancing missions and rapidly test innovative ideas. The facility’s conceptual approach encourages risk-taking and utilises Formula 1-style rapid fabrication and testing to accelerate technology development. Parallel to the opening, the Frank Whittle Summit convened industrial leaders and tech experts, presenting a forum for collaboration within aerospace, energy, and defence innovation. The Summit, supported by the Sustainable Markets Initiative, initiated by the King, gathered key figures from Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Siemens Energy, and others to spearhead transformative missions that integrate AI into hardware development. The innovation guided by the Summit aims to harmonise industrial progress with environmental stewardship, coinciding with the inauguration of the Hatton Professorship of Sustainability at Cambridge, championing the King’s legacy and commitment to sustainability. The Professorship, endowed with £7 million, reflects contributions from Trinity College and the Hatton Trust, enhancing collaboration between academia, industry, and government for sustainable technological advancement. Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

Fundraising campaign helps support boy’s recovery after incident near HuntingdonAuthor: Grace McGachyPublished 42 minutes agoA fundraising campaign has successfully raised over £100,000 to aid the recovery of a young boy who was attacked by a crocodile at a zoo near Huntingdon. The Go fund me page was set up after he ended up in the enclosure at Johnson’s Zoo in Old Hurst. on the 18th of June. He was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition and has since undergone several surgeries to address extensive injuries.The funds will provide financial stability for the family as they focus on their son’s long road to recovery, including necessary rehabilitation.If any funds remain after addressing the family’s needs, they will be donated to the Addenbrooke’s Trust to aid other families facing similar situations.The family deeply appreciates the generous donations and requests that their son’s identity be kept private.In an update on Wednesday (15 July( the boy’s parents thanked people for their generosity: “Today our son had his seventh surgery, where surgeons completed a nerve graft on his left arm. They harvested a nerve from his leg to replace a missing part in his arm. We hope this graft will allow him to regain function in his hand, but results will take months.”Tomorrow marks 4 weeks in the hospital. Upon arrival, he underwent a 12-hour operation for extensive tendon, nerve, blood vessel, and severe tissue damage. Those were the hardest 12 hours of our lives, involving resuscitation and amputation risk. “Four weeks later, our cheeky boy is talking and smiling. We are amazed by his progress and hope today’s surgery will be the last for now, allowing us to go home soon. The home journey will bring new challenges in his recovery and rehabilitation. We are taking time off work to support him. Thank you again for all your well wishes and support during this time. We are forever grateful for your help to stay by his side every step of the way.”Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

Make sure to plan your journey and check before your travel as these planned closures could affect you. 

Glatton Road, Sawtry

Temporary signals in place for third party works between June 22 and August 2.

Warboys Road, Bury

Temporary signals in place between July 7-21 for third party works.

Bedstone Way, Peterborough

Closed to all vehicles and pedestrians from July 27 for six weeks for replacement bridge joints.

Tunbridge Lane, Bottisham

Closed to all vehicles from July 15-31 July between the hours of 9.30am and 2.30pm for works.

Gadds Lane, Wisbech

Closed to all vehicles from July 13-22 between the hours of 8am and 6pm due to works by City Fibre.

Ermine Street, Caxton

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-24 between the hours of 9.30am and 2.30pm for works.

High Road, Thomolas Drove

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-21 between the hours of 8am and 6pm due to works by City Fibre.

Herne Road, Ramsey St Marys

Closed to all vehicles from July 20 until September 1 due to works by Cambridge Water.

Straight Furlong, Pymoor

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-31 due for works.

Birds Drove, Gorefield

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-26 due to works by Anglian Water.

Allen Drove, Gorefield

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-26 due to works by Anglian Water.

Chalk Road, Gorefield

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-26 due to works by Anglian Water.

Popple Drove, Gorefield

Closed to all vehicles from July 20-26 due to works by Anglian Water.

Stukeley Bypass, The Stukeleys

Closed in both directions to all vehicles from July 20 to September 20 for works.

Hasse Road, Soham

Closed to all vehicles from 8pm on July 20 to 5am on July 21 for works.

Parsons Lane, Littleport

Closed to all vehicles until July 21 due to emergency works by Anglian Water.

Bridge Road, Ely

Closed to all vehicles from 8pm on July 22 until 5am on July 23 for works.

Rampton Road, Willingham

Closed to all vehicles from July 20 until August 28 due to works by Cadent.

Upwell Road, March

Closed to all vehicles from July 20 until August 21 for works.

Have you got a story you want to share? Get in touch at oliver.murphy@newsquest.co.uk

Our political correspondent, Phil Rodgers, writes to the prospective Prime Minister with his thoughts on the challenges facing the Cambridge area.Dear Andy Burnham,It’s still slightly too soon to say ‘Dear Prime Minister’, as a few days still remain until you move into Number Ten, or perhaps a few weeks if a last-minute challenger appears in the Labour leadership contest. One way or another, though, it’s pretty safe to assume that you’ll soon be Larry the cat’s new housemate. I realise you’ll have a lot on your mind, and plenty of people wanting to bend your ear. Here in Cambridge, we are certainly very interested in what your leadership is going to mean for the many challenges facing our city. So I hope you won’t mind a few thoughts.The then Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham visited Cambridge and met Dr Nik Johnson, the then Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayorFirst of all, the prospect of a Prime Minister who went to university here is a welcome change. It’s certainly been long enough – the last Cambridge-educated PM was Stanley Baldwin, who left office in 1937 – and in the meantime no fewer than 14 of the last 17 Prime Ministers have been educated at another well-known university city. Many future MPs choose a degree subject like law, or history and politics, so some people might wonder if your choice of English literature was the best preparation for high political office. However, your former boss at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Lord Chris Smith, now chancellor of the University of Cambridge, would certainly disagree. He recently wrote in the Telegraph that there is “no better preparation for a career in public life than English literature, because it tells you more about character, relationships, society, joy, sorrow, emotion and intelligence than anything else ever could.”Lord Chris Smith, former master of Pembroke and now chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Picture: Keith HeppellAs mayor of Greater Manchester, you were instrumental in setting up the innovation partnership between Manchester and Cambridge, working first with your Labour colleague Nik Johnson, mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, and then with his Conservative successor Paul Bristow. Last year this led to the establishment of the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership organisation, which describes itself as “designed to expand and strengthen innovation ecosystems in both cities, drive investment, and define a new model of collaboration for the UK”. Earlier this year the partnership published its baseline report, analysing innovation activity in both cities. It’ll be very interesting to see how its work develops, and perhaps acts as a pattern for other parts of the country under your government.Andy Burnham comfortably won the Manchester mayoral election in 2024. Graphic: Phil RodgersOpinion polling for the upcoming Manchester mayoral election puts Labour narrowly ahead of Reform UK. Graphic: Phil RodgersHopefully your successor as mayor of Greater Manchester will be keen to continue the partnership with Cambridge – though it’s perhaps a measure of the turbulence of modern politics that the by-election for your successor is a great deal less certain than your last mayoral election, as the graphs show. However, the government’s hurried restoration of the second-choice vote for mayoral elections is probably going to make things easier for Labour – and may well be a crucial factor in the next mayoral election for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough too.In March this year I heard you speak at Churchill College in Cambridge during the annual conference of the Bennett School of Public Policy, always a very interesting event. In a wide-ranging talk there were several themes that shone through: the long struggle to build an integrated public transport system in Manchester, your support for devolution and place-based policy against centralised Whitehall control, your frustration with what you see as the Treasury’s focus on controlling spending rather than promoting growth. One particularly interesting question you were asked was which political leaders you admire. As well as a perhaps obligatory mention of Keir Starmer, you cited former Democrat mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, and said you were watching the new mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, with great interest.Net satisfaction with public transport is far higher in Manchester than in Cambridgeshire. Graphic: Phil RodgersManchester’s approach to public transport has certainly proved popular with its residents. As the graph shows a survey by Ipsos UK in 2024 found that net satisfaction with public transport in Manchester stood at 46 per cent, compared with just 8 per cent in Cambridge, and even lower levels in South and East Cambridgeshire. Bus franchising may eventually improve things in the county, but despite years of discussions about mass rapid transit for Cambridge, any implementation still seems a very long way off, while development plans threaten to add even more traffic to our already congested roads.On devolution, Cambridge is in an unusual position. While powers and budgets have indeed been devolved from central government to the Combined Authority, the greater Cambridge area now finds itself facing a certain amount of reverse devolution. This is due to the proposed Greater Cambridge Development Corporation (GCDC), which is set to take planning powers away from local councils and wield them directly, without the involvement of elected representatives. If there is one thing that unites local councillors across parties at the moment, it is the feeling that this would be a bad idea. Perhaps it is a policy that a government truly committed to devolution might want to revisit. We’ll have to wait and see what changes the early days of your government will bring for the city. So far there aren’t many signs of radical policy changes in the early days. Local government reorganisation seems set to roll on, the Cambridge Growth Company continues its work, detailed planning for East West Rail is likely to continue. While we may not see substantial change for Cambridge in the short term, it’s the longer term projects that will really make a difference to the city.The work of the GCDC is likely to be the most important thing central government does in Cambridge over the coming decades, and it is crucial for the city that it does it well. We know the people involved have a great deal of talent and experience, and we also know what a good redevelopment looks like – we see one whenever we travel to London via King’s Cross. But unlike Cambridge, the old King’s Cross was not full of articulate and well-organised residents determined to oppose development plans. For the GCDC to succeed, it’s vital that they work with the city’s elected representatives, making the most of local knowledge and expertise, rather than simply imposing change from outside. As well as ensuring democratic accountability, this approach has the best chance of preserving the best aspects of the city. For all its challenges, Cambridge has many strengths, and in many ways is a great place to live. Please don’t let central government screw it up.Phil

The county punches above its weight, with artisan gelato parlours, creative dessert cafés and family‑friendly chains.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of the 10 best places to get ice cream in Cambridgeshire:

1. Heavenly Desserts, Peterborough

Visitors rave about Heavenly Desserts’ beautifully presented waffles, cookie dough and gelato, repeatedly calling the ice cream “delicious” and portions generous.

Diners like the wide choice of sundaes, modern interior and attentive service, making it a favourite for post‑dinner treats and special occasions in the city centre.

Based in Peterborough, it currently boasts a rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 from more than 3,190 reviews on Google.

2. Jack’s Gelato, Cambridge

This iconic ice cream shop is a local favourite in Cambridge city centre, beloved by residents and visitors alike.

The location boasts beautiful ice creams and sorbets, which the shop describes as “local, fresh, mostly organic and always delicious”.

Located on Bene’t Street in Cambridge, visitors can enjoy unique flavours including Milk & Cookies, Coconut Ube and Coffee, Cardamom & Banana alongside classic picks like strawberry and vanilla.

It currently boasts a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based off more than 200 TripAdvisor reviews.

3. Kaspa’s, Peterborough

Visitors note that Kaspa’s serves consistently good ice cream and thick shakes, with waffles frequently described as “amazing” and great value.

Guests like the fast service, lively atmosphere and extensive menu, making it a crowd‑pleaser for groups looking for over‑the‑top sundaes and loaded desserts.

Based in Peterborough, it currently boasts a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based off more than 3,250 Google reviews.

4. Bohemia, St Neots

Bohemia’s dessert menu earns repeated praise, especially its waffles and sweet plates that often come with ice cream.

Based in St Neots, Diners highlight generous portions, well‑balanced flavours and a stylish, cosy setting.

Many Tripadvisor‑style reviews call it a brilliant place to linger over coffee and pudding after tapas or brunch.

It currently boasts a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based off more than 932 Google reviews.

5. Hadi’s Gelato, Ely

Reviewers repeatedly describe Hadi’s gelato as “light, creamy and so flavourful”, with Italian‑style scoops made fresh in small batches.

Feedback highlights generous portions, good value and fun flavours like mango and Belgian chocolate, making this a much‑loved stop near Ely’s centre on sunny days.

Located in Ely, it currently boasts a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based off more than 100 Google reviews.

6. Louie’s Desserts, Wisbech

Louie’s is a dessert shop and ice cream parlour that also sells milkshakes, cookie dough, waffles and doughnuts.

Reviewers note the excellent milkshakes, and customers can get a second shake half price when they buy one in a “Thirsty Thursday” offer.

Based in Wisbech, it currently boasts a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based off more than 700 FoodHub reviews.

7. Cherry Hill Chocolates, Ely

At Cherry Hill Chocolates, in Ely, visitors highlight artisan chocolates alongside rich gelato and chocolate ice cream.

Reviews mention friendly, knowledgeable staff, a tempting cabinet of flavours and the pleasure of strolling out with a cone or tub after browsing the compact but well‑stocked Fore Hill shop.

It currently boasts a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based off more than 50 Google reviews.

8. Sophie’s Afternoon Tea & Cakes, Ely

Reviews praise Sophie’s for indulgent homemade cakes, sundaes and iced coffees, with many noting desserts are sweet but “not too sweet”.

Guests enjoy the cosy tea room setting, welcoming service and the option to pair traditional afternoon tea with a scoop or two of ice cream on warmer days.

Located in Ely, it currently boasts a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based off more than 140 Google reviews.

9. Sunshine Café, Whittlesey 

Visitors love Sunshine Café’s old‑school banana splits and classic sundaes, often mentioning “lovely” ice‑cream‑topped puddings.

It’s praised as a friendly, good‑value spot where generous portions, proper café comfort food and traditional desserts make it a favourite with locals in Whittlesey town centre.

Based in Whittlesey, it currently boasts a rating of 4.3 out 5 stars based off more than 440 Google reviews.

10. Hunts Desserts, Huntingdon

Hunts Desserts is frequently praised for fresh, made‑to‑order waffles, cookie dough and shakes piled high with ice cream.

Visitors like the wide choice of toppings and flavours for delivery or takeaway, describing it as a reliable evening fix when you want indulgent, American‑style desserts in Huntingdon

Located in Huntingdon, it currently boasts a rating of 4.3 out 5 stars based off more than 90 Google reviews.

After 18 months of negotiations, redrawn maps and rigorous debates, this week should have marked the beginning of the end for the reorganisation of local government in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.But when Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, made his announcements for other English councils, his response for the area was – no decision.He stated that “more time is needed to get the decision right.”It’s left council leaders baffled, MPs angry and lots of unanswered questions.Why are councils being re-organised?In December 2024 the government said unitary authorities would replace the current two tier system and would run services currently provided by county, city and district councils.It said this would save money and remove confusion for residents who often don’t know which council is responsible for which service.Cambridgeshire currently has a two-tier system, with a County Council and five district councils.Peterborough already operates as a single unitary authority. However the original plans said new authorities had to have around 500,000 residents to be financially sustainable. The population of Peterborough is less than half that.East Cambridgeshire District Council leader Anna Bailey said the delay will make it harder to achieve a proper and safe transition by April 2028. [BBC]What were the options?Four options were put forward for the government to consider. All proposed two or three unitary authorities.A public consultation also took place.Different councils backed different options.Huntingdonshire preferred an option where they would form one unitary.Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire wanted an option that would see them form one joint council.Peterborough preferred an option where parts of Huntingdonshire would combine with the city.The County Council wanted two councils, splitting the county in two.Why are council leaders worried about the delay?County Council leader Lucy Nethsingha said council workers ‘need clarity’ on their future [Phil Shepka/BBC]Despite the delayed announcement the government has said Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must still hold shadow elections in 2027 and have new councils operational by April 2028.The Conservative leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, Anna Bailey, said this will put strain on staff, who can’t start the process of preparing for a transfer of services and will make it harder to achieve a proper and safe transition by April 2028.Lucy Nethsingha, the Liberal Democrat leader of Cambridgeshire County Council said she has ‘major concerns’ about the delays and added: “Council workers deserve clarity about the future.”Cambridgeshire County Council is responsible for highway repairs [Laura Foster/BBC]What will it mean for council tax and services?Council leaders said services will continue as normal and residents won’t notice a change. Bins will still be collected, social care will continue and highways will still be repaired.However some longer term plans are already being delayed. Cambridgeshire County Council didn’t procure a new highways contract because of the re-organisation plans.Changes to council tax haven’t been confirmed. However different councils currently charge different rates and it’s not known whether the rates would be equalised as councils merge.Peterborough residents pay the cheapest council tax, £1,836.72 per year for a Band D property.A resident in the same band in Huntingdonshire pays £1,956.28 to the county and district councils.For Cambridge City residents that figure is £2,024.49. These figures don’t include other council tax elements such as those paid to the police and fire service.When will the decision be made?Steve Reed said the decision will come “as soon as possible.” A later statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it would be ‘by October.’The times will be very tight as parliament returns from its summer recess on 1 September for just two weeks. There is then another four-week recess for the party conference season. MPs then return on 12 October.Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.More on this storyRelated internet links

A three-year-old boy who suffered critical injuries after “ending up” in a crocodile enclosure has undergone his seventh surgery, his family have revealed.The boy, who has not been identified, is now stable following the incident but has been a patient at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge for four weeks.His family has said the tot has undergone a nerve graft on his left arm and they hope it will help him to regain function in his hand.They also revealed he had undergone a gruelling 12-hour surgery shortly after the incident in which he suffered severe tissue damage in both his arms, neck, head and face.Johnsons of Old HurstPolice were they were called to Johnson’s of Old Hurst, near Huntingdon on June 18 and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.Detectives said the boy and the man were not known to each other and the latter was released on bail after being deemed unfit for interview.In a statement, the boy’s family said: “Today (July 15) our son had his seventh surgery. In that surgery the surgeons completed a nerve graft on his left arm.”They harvested a nerve from his leg to replace part of the nerve that was missing in his left arm.”Over time, this nerve will hopefully embed and help our son to regain some function in his left hand.”We won’t know whether the nerve graft has been successful until tests can be carried out in a few months time.”Tomorrow marks four weeks of being in the hospital.”Shortly after we arrived on the 18th of June, our son underwent a 12 hour surgery where the surgeons performed miraculous things, they were faced with tendon damage, nerve damage, blood vessel damage, broken bones and severe tissue damage in both his arms, neck, head and face.”Those were the worst 12 hours of our lives as before that we were signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation.We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world.”4 weeks later and the cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again.”We are amazed at how far he has come.”We are not at the end of our journey but are hopeful that today’s surgery will be the last for now which means if everything goes well we will be able to go home soon.”Owner Tracey Johnson, 55, dashed into the crocodile pen to retrieve the boy despite the presence of at least two large Nile crocodiles.Chris Newman, 67, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, described Tracey as “a very courageous and brave lady”.A GoFundMe has been set up to support the boy’s recovery and rehabilitation, as well as to provide the family with financial stability while they support him in hospital and throughout the coming months. It has so far raised more than £85,000.Continue Reading