Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

A charity received an anonymous gift worth £350,000 and a nature reservation project inspired by a Romantic poet reported early success.

Here are five stories you might have missed from Peterborough this week.

A road bridge that has been partially closed for nearly two years is expected to reopen on 28 February.

The £32m King's Dyke bridge between Peterborough and Whittlesey was opened in 2022 to ease traffic caused by a railway level crossing.

It was partially closed in June 2024 after cracks were spotted in the westbound carriageway, causing disruption to residents and businesses.

The Chinese community in Peterborough is approaching Lunar New Year with a renewed sense of optimism, embracing the theme of "freedom and success" associated with the Year of the Fire Horse.

The festival begins on Tuesday and marks not only a new 12 months but also a hopeful chapter after challenging periods shaped by the pandemic and social change, local organisers said.

A landscape restoration project inspired by one of the nation's most beloved nature poets has already seen good results, according to the project's chairman.

The 19th Century poet John Clare grew up in Helpston, Cambridgeshire, then a part of Northamptonshire, and wrote about the loss of the scenery he loved as a child.

The John Clare Countryside Project was set up in 2019 with the aim of connecting Peterborough to Stamford, Lincolnshire, through green corridors of farmland.

A housing charity has been given a £350,000 property in a village to help create two new affordable homes for local people amid growing housing pressures.

Warmington Almshouses Charitable Trust has provided low-cost accommodation since 1862 in the village, between Peterborough and Oundle.

The house is located in Warmington and will be converted into two self-contained homes. Charity chairman, Steve Cheeseman, said the team was "astonished and incredibly grateful" to the anonymous donor.

An 80-metre (262ft) knitted display depicting scenes from World War Two will return to Peterborough Cathedral in the summer.

The Longest Yarn II: Britain at War, features 80 hand-crafted panels of moments from wartime Britain - from the beginning of the conflict in 1939 to VE Day in 1945.

Peterborough City Council reacted to the news that it would have to hold local elections in May after previously being granted a delay. Shabina Qayyum, the Labour leader of the council, admitted she had concerns about how her party would fare.

"Now we're going to have to manage running elections at the same time as restructuring and organising a new authority," she said. Dr Qayyum added that she was "worried about May", but would "humbly accept the results".

Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, both Reform UK and the Green Party said they expected to win seats from Labour.

Meanwhile, the council and its waste contractor Aragon Direct Services highlighted through a social media campaign the abuse bin collection staff received while working. Council figures show crews reported 29 threats of violence between 2024-25.

Peterborough United slipped to a second consecutive defeat as they lost 2-1 at Barnsley in League One. Posh took the lead through Kyrell Lisbie but a goal in each half for Conor Hourihane's side was enough to earn all three points.

Peterborough Sports are just two points above the National League North relegation zone after losing 3-1 to Spennymoor Town. The Turbines have failed to win any of their past four games.

Peterborough United women beat Northampton Town 3-0 in the Nene Derby. The win saw Posh return to the top of the Division One Midlands table.

Peterborough Phantoms suffered their heaviest home defeat of the season at the hands of Romford Raiders. Phantoms lost 5-2 at the Bretton Rink and remain in fourth place in the standings.

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