Five Peterborough stories you may have missed

The Stilton Cheese Rolling Festival has been looking for event sponsors, a near-miss incident at the Helpston level crossing was caused by the signaller's error and more police officers have been patrolling the city.

Here are five stories you might have missed from Peterborough.

Campaigners fighting to keep under-threat Woodston Library open said they were "pleased" it had been saved.

In 2023 the Peterborough library was added to the Peterborough City Council's plan to dispose of 79 assets - including community centres and libraries - to balance its budget deficit.

Jennie Storey, from the campaign group Friends of Woodston Library, said they have been informed the library was "coming off the list for the next three years for which the budget has been set".

Britain's youngest MP has revealed he was raised a Jehovah's Witness and as a child was a "regular participant" in what he now describes as a "high-control religious group."

Sam Carling, Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire, said that aged 11 his strict religious upbringing began to clash with an intrinsic part of his identity when he realised he was gay.

Carling was highly critical of the organisation when he spoke on 2 March in the House of Commons, where Parliamentary privilege allows MPs to discuss issues without the risk of legal action.

He claimed Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings regularly equated homosexuality with paedophilia.

He said there was a "culture of non-reporting and forgiveness for child abusers" within the organisation and that it had covered up child abuse "on a catastrophic level".

Carling, 23, also claimed Jehovah's Witnesses were ordered to shun family and friends considered to have committed a "serious sin in the eyes of the religion".

He called for the group to be stripped of its charitable status and is campaigning to improve safeguards against child sexual abuse.

A community iftar held at Peterborough United's stadium was an opportunity to break down barriers and celebrate cohesion, organisers said.

About 300 people of different faiths and no faith, joined worshippers at London Road on a chilly Monday evening to break that day's Ramadan fast.

The free event was organised by the city's Khadijah Mosque and the football club's community charity, The Posh Foundation.

One of the imams, Osama Zafar, said "This is what Islam is about - about community, about unity."

The organisers of an annual cheese rolling festival have been looking for sponsors to support the event.

More than 3,000 people were expected to attend the Stilton Cheese Rolling Festival at the Stilton Pavilion in the Cambridgeshire village, near Peterborough, on 24 May.

Adam Leon, one of the event's volunteers, said: "The donations are not critical, but it will help massively. It's going to be tight this year but we need the sponsorship help for the following year. But there's always a way forward I think."

A railway signaller forgot that a train was approaching and used an emergency system to lift the barriers of a level crossing, causing a near-miss incident, an investigation has found.

The incident was recorded at the Helpston signal box near Peterborough at 08:16 BST on 21 October, according to a report published by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

It revealed the signaller had activated a sealed release mechanism - an override system designed to be used for emergencies or equipment faults only.

As a result, the barriers were lifted and the "wig-wag road traffic lights" were extinguished - and a waiting car had begun to move forward.

Cambridgeshire Police has increased the number of patrols across a city with 30 additional officers.

Darryl Preston, the police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said officer visibility was "important" and was "about reassurance".

In other news, young people will be able to vote for their next Youth MPs as Peterborough prepares for elections in the coming days.

The winning candidate will give their views "at a local, regional and national level through the UK Youth Parliament," Peterborough City Council said.

Peterborough United striker Pemi Aderoju has signed a new long-term deal at the club. The 21-year-old has made nine substitute appearances for the Posh this season. He scored his first goal for the club against Wigan in a 6-1 win.

Peterborough Sports are now nine games without a win in the National League North after a 4-0 defeat at Kidderminster Harriers. Sports are now second bottom of the table and three points from safety.

Peterborough United Women continued their unbeaten record in the Division One Midlands with a 7-2 win over Worcester City at London Road. Jake Poole's side are still second behind Boldmere St Michaels but have played two games less.

Peterborough Phantoms secured back-to-back victories in the English National Ice Hockey League with wins against Hull and Swindon. Phantoms are qualified for the end-of-season playoffs and sit fifth in the standings.

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