Five stories you might have missed in Peterborough

The UK's Eurovision entrant, who grew up in Yaxley, near Peterborough, prepared for the competition in Vienna this weekend, while police rolled out facial recognition cameras in the city for the first time.

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

The UK's Eurovision Song Contest entrant, Look Mum No Computer, will grace the stage in Vienna this weekend, but his career had more humble beginnings at a small gig venue in Peterborough.

Sam Battle, who grew up in nearby Yaxley, performed across Cambridgeshire as a solo act and as part of bands Yellow Snow and Zibra in his early days, putting him on the radar of BBC Introducing.

Among the venues he played was The Met Lounge in Peterborough. Steve Jason, its owner, said venues like his were "so important" for upcoming artists as "they have a place to test their material".

Campaigners who called for changes to a rural bus service to help students and workers have welcomed a new timetable.

From June, route 27 between Stamford and Peterborough will run from 07:00 BST Monday to Saturday, 30 minutes earlier than before, and more frequently.

The service passes through villages including Wittering, Wansford and Castor and is funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

A police force is preparing to use live facial recognition (LFR) technology for the first time to identify individuals wanted by the courts and police, as well as those who pose the greatest risk to public safety.

Cambridgeshire Police said the cameras would be deployed in Peterborough city centre on 16 May.

The system works by scanning faces from a live camera feed and comparing them in real time with a police watch list, which includes individuals with outstanding arrest warrants and high-risk offenders.

Firefighters have urged residents to park responsibly after poorly positioned cars delayed crews responding to a house fire in Peterborough on Monday evening.

Crews from Dogsthorpe and Stanground were called to Victoria Street in Fletton just after 20:00 BST. However, engines were slowed down by vehicles parked on both sides of the narrow road.

Station commander Gareth Boyd said incidents involving inconsiderate parking are "sadly quite common" and warned that delays could have devastating consequences.

A new bra bank in Peterborough city centre has been hailed a success after more than 400 bras were donated in less than two weeks.

The recycling point, installed at the Town Hall on 30 April, is part of a wider initiative supporting environmental sustainability and breast cancer research, the city council said.

North West Cambridgeshire MP Sam Carling was among more than 80 Labour MPs to call for Sir Keir Starmer to step down or set out a timetable for his departure. Some of his constituents agreed, including Peterborough-based 50-year-old Giuseppe Pizzo, who told the BBC his "time is up".

Meanwhile, a new fostering programme in the city was praised for helping carers and children feel more connected through its supportive "extended family" network. The model brings foster families together into small support groups with a specially trained carer who can provide practical and emotional support.

Preparation work began on the site of a new £8.3m footbridge across the River Nene. Cygnet Bridge will link Fletton Quays to the Embankment. It is jointly funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA), the Towns Fund and Peterborough City Council.

Plans were submitted to convert a vacant village chapel in Ailsworth, dating back to 1860, into a shop, Post Office and one-bedroom flat. And former Green city councillor Kirsty Knight joined the Conservatives after a spell as an independent, representing Orton Waterville ward.

Peterborough United midfielder Matt Garbett has been named in New Zealand's 26-man World Cup squad. The Kiwis have been drawn into Group G and will face Belgium, Egypt and Iran. The 24-year-old will become the first serving Posh player to compete at a World Cup finals.

Posh are also searching for a new head of medical performance after Jonathan Chatfield left London Road. Chatfield first joined Posh back in 2015. He returned to the club during the summer of 2022.

Peterborough Phantoms have confirmed the return of three players to their roster for next season. Netminder Will Bray and forward Barni Sari and Louie Kynaston have all re-signed for Ashley Tait's side.

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