Elizabeth Fish

A primary school in a south Lincoln village has signed up for a four-week sustainable travel challenge.

Swinderby Primary School is one of 11 schools in the LN6 area signed up to the LN6 Golden Boot Challenge.

The challenge encourages children, parents and teachers to walk, cycle, scoot, use public transport or car share to and from school.

Children will get points for travelling in these ways, while the schools compete against each other to be Golden Boot Challenge winners.

The winner will win scooter or cycle storage for their school, and also the chance for someone to win a new bike.

The challenge was set up by Access LN6, which encourages more sustainable travel in the south of the city.

The competition will run from April 28 to May 23.

Jeffery Day, Headteacher at Swinderby Primary School, said: “We’ve recently introduced a Park and Stride site within walking distance of our school – the more people that use the site will mean less congestion at the busy times of dropping-off and picking up.

“It should also mean that car users do not leave their cars parked in inconsiderate places that cause obstructions for pedestrians, residents or other motorists.”

Councillor Richard Davies, Executive Councillor for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “Our LN6 Golden Boot Challenge is all about encouraging children, parents and teachers to think about the way they travel, and offering them opportunities to travel sustainably.”

Four Typhoon jets based at RAF Coningsby, near Lincoln, have been deployed to help in NATO’s Air Policing Mission in Eastern Europe.

The Typhoon FGR4 left the Lincolnshire base on April 28 to take part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The jets will help the Polish contribution to the BAP, a defensive mission undertaken by rotations of aircraft from a number of nations on a four month cycle to reassure Eastern states.

The Typhoons are prepared for flight at RAF Coningsby. Photo: MoD

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft deployed to take part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Photo: MoD

Typhoons are also used for air policing within UK airspace as part of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) and in the Falkland Islands.

RAF Coningsby Station Commander Group Captain Johnny Stringer MA RAF said: “The men and women of the Typhoon Force are fully prepared and committed to this NATO mission, one of many undertaken by RAF Typhoons at home and abroad. I know they will do us all proud.”

The Typhoon FGR4 landing at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Photo: MoD

The Typhoon FGR4 aircraft arriving at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania to take part in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. Photo: MoD

Wing Commander Ian Townsend, Officer Commanding 3(F) Sqn, added: “Personnel from 3(F) Sqn lead the Typhoon Force deployment in support of the Baltic Air Policing mission having spent the previous 6 weeks preparing intensively for the task ahead.

“We are trained, equipped and ready to participate in this enduing NATO mission which has similarities to the standing Quick Reaction Alert task held at RAF Coningsby throughout the year.”