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Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

News imageBBC A skeleton of a very large dinosaur with a long neck in a large room at the Natural History Museum. BBC
It is hoped the exhibition will bring "lasting benefit to Peterborough's local community"

An embroidery of Peterborough Cathedral's ceiling was revealed after eight years of work, while a prehistoric giant's visit was confirmed for next month.

Here's five stories you might have missed from Peterborough.

Hindu temple raises £50,000 to fight site's sale

News imageBharat Hindu Samaj Two woman dressed in sarees and a man in a jumper and trousers and another woman in a green shirt and white trousers sitting in a semi-circle praying in front a fire - inside a community hall with more worshippers in the background.Bharat Hindu Samaj
"Bharat Hindu Samaj is not just a place of worship, but our home," Kishore Ladwa says

A Hindu community has amassed £50,000 to fight a council's plans to sell the site of its temple.

Peterborough City Council decided to sell the land of the Bharat Hindu Samaj's temple to reduce its debts, and its cabinet selected Khadija Mosque as its preferred bidder in December.

On Monday, a High Court judge offered the temple a stay of execution after issuing a temporary injunction against the sale and the court will now decide what happens next, once the temple group and council have set out their cases in writing.

A council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the legal action being pursued... and will now engage in the legal process."

Female-only support for homeless is a 'life-saver'

News imageShariqua Ahmed/BBC Jo, a woman, with long brown hair, wearing a grey jumper, looking into the camera. She is standing in a garden with grass in the background.Shariqua Ahmed/BBC
Jo, 50, says Light Project Peterborough helped her get back on her feet

A cup of tea, a shower and a friendly chat in a safe space might sound like basics, but vulnerable women living on the streets say they are "life-savers".

Every Friday morning, Light Project Peterborough (LPP) opens The Garden House, its respite centre for female rough sleepers, where they can find help with issues such as healthcare and housing.

The charity for homeless people says it has seen a rise in women seeking help, with about 20% of people they support being female.

Volunteers embroider a copy of a medieval ceiling

News imageTom Jackson/BBC A group of people standing under the cathedral's nave. The long piece of embroidery is placed in front of them.Tom Jackson/BBC
About 25 volunteers have been working on the artwork which is due to be completed next year

Dozens of volunteers have recreated 900 years of Peterborough Cathedral's history through embroidery.

On Tuesday, a large-scale needlepoint interpretation of the cathedral's medieval painted nave ceiling was unrolled for the first time after eight years of work.

School celebrates its diversity with handmade dolls

News imageSt John's Preschool Six colourful wooden dolls representing different cultures.St John's Preschool
The wooden dolls were each handcrafted by a member of staff in their own time - a process they said was therapeutic

A city pre-school says it is championing inclusion by creating handmade dolls to reflect the diversity of its pupils.

St John's Pre-school in Stanground says it teaches children from families from a range of countries including Pakistan, Nigeria, Lithuania and Kuwait, as well as the traveller community.

Cathedral to host giant dinosaur skeleton model

News imagePA Media A girl and a boy holding hands and looking up. They are standing underneath a vast dinosaur skeleton model with its front legs on either side of them. Its back legs can be seen behind them. They are at the Natural History Museum.PA Media
The prehistoric giant was "the largest known dinosaur ever to walk the Earth", said Bethan Parry of the Natural History Museum

A full-scale model skeleton of one of the largest creatures to ever walk the Earth is to go on display outside London for the first time.

The cast of the Patagotitan mayorum dinosaur measures 37m (121ft) from head to tail and it is eight metres (26ft) tall.

The Natural History Museum is lending it to Peterborough Cathedral from mid-April.

The week in politics

Peterborough City Council signed off the extension of a public spaces protection order (PSPO) covering the city centre. It allows the council and police to more readily hand out fines to curb crime, street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

The authority also extended its contract with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) to provide mental health services by three years. The £5.5m contract will cost the council £121,000 more per year, but it said it still provided best value.

The council launched an online consultation asking people for input on design and features for a new swimming pool. It will replace the Regional Pool on Bishop's Road, which was demolished.

The week in sport

News imageGetty Images Harry Leonard during a Peterborough United game. He is wearing the blue Posh kit and moving towards the camera. The stadium of fans is blurred behind him. Getty Images
Posh striker Harry Leonard is still out due to injury

Peterborough United have confirmed Harry Leonard has had an operation on a hernia problem. The striker had been needing pain killing injections to manage the issue. He's likely to be out for more than a month.

The general manager of Peterborough United Women says more needs to be done to avoid women's matches being postponed. Sam Winch's comments come after Posh women saw a fifth game of the season called off. It is the second time their fixture at Sheffield FC has failed to go ahead.

Michael Gash is back in charge at Peterborough Sports after former manager Phil Brown asked to move into the role of director of football. Gash started the season as co-manager, but was sacked in September after a slow start to the campaign.

Peterborough Phantoms suffered a double loss weekend in the English National Ice Hockey League. Ashley Tait's side were beaten by MK Lightning on Saturday and then lost at home against Telford Tigers on Sunday.

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