Josh Francis

A Lincoln busker is showing off his homemade musical creations in the city centre and gives passers-by the chance to join in.

Part time gardener Peter Rollings created his own musical instruments using just scrap materials such as cocktail sticks, mop handles and pipes.

“I make homemade instruments, and just mess around and see if I can come up with any new ideas. It goes down well with busking and open mic nights.

“I’m also allowing anyone to join in if they’d like to.”

He added: “I used to play in conventional bands like rock bands and found some people lack enthusiasm and I like playing live.”

Rollings also mentioned that he wanted more freedom to play live, so he created the music “machines” to play wherever he goes.

The above picture from a recent busking session demonstrates some of his homemade machines he takes out to entertain the public with.

He said: “With me I have the Brightimer which is like a dulcimer but I mucked around with the name and made it brighter. It’s a big box with a giant string which is made from little cocktail sticks.

“I also have the Flanjo, which is like a banjo but just flows around.

“Plus I have the xylophone which is made out of mop handles and is hit by small hammers; people can also join in with that one if they want to.”

While Rollings believes he’s an amateur, his schedule is already starting to fill up, with a number of gigs and sets around the city.

Rollings practices with Lincoln Gamelan at the Croft Street Community Centre on Sundays, between 6pm and 8pm. To get involved, contact the centre on 07989 160602 or by email.

Mr Pickles is one of the rabbits rescued by RSPCA Lincoln

Fewer animals received as presents were abandoned following the Christmas period in the Lincoln area, the local RSPCA branch have said.

Charlotte Childs, Lincoln’s RSPCA branch administrator, explained that overall fewer pets were abandoned so far this year, compared to previous years.

“It’s not as many as you think. Between the shop and the cat hostel, we’ve had in total about 15 animals brought in,” she said.

Cats and dogs tend to be the main abandoned pets, but Lincoln RSPCA noticed an increase in abandoned pet rabbits.

“It’s mostly cats and dogs, but we get an awful lot of rabbits. People think that it’s safe to release a rabbit into the wild, but pet rabbits have very little in common with wild rabbits — they have as much in common as dogs and wolves.”

However, late January could be too early to tell whether more of the gift pets will be kept on by their owners, Childs explained.

“It’s usually after Christmas, but it’s a few months later, around summer time, in which the number is higher. It’s usually after people have had them for a while and have decided they don’t want them anymore.

“When they usually come in they tend to have skin mites and bad dental problems. This time we had to put one down because of their severe health problems and sadly one died of natural causes.”

To help prevent more animals being abandoned, Charlotte Childs suggests people should start small and understand the kind of responsibility they are taking on.

“If a child has been badgering their parents for a pet, they should always start out small and they should realise it’s their responsibility as well to look after the pet.”

If you are interested in rescuing a pet, get in touch via the RSPCA Lincoln Facebook page or website for a viewing.