Five stories in Peterborough you might have missed

Five Shiba Inu puppies were rescued from a hole in a tree where they had been hidden by their mother

The prime minister spoke to school children in Peterborough and a litter of five Shiba Inu puppies were rescued from a hole in a tree.

They are among five Peterborough stories you might have missed this week.

PM visits Peterborough

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said children would "learn better" due to the meals

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to children and kitchen staff at the Welland Academy in Peterborough while promoting the expansion of free school meals.

From September 2026, tens of thousands of additional children in the East of England will be eligible for the scheme after it was rolled out to all families on Universal Credit.

He said during the visit that "children with a decent meal inside them will learn better" and that the scheme was about "driving down on child poverty".

Disabled bay misuse puts Send families 'in danger'

Michelle King said the misuse of disabled parking bays was creating "barriers to education, healthcare and community life" for families

Families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) said misuse of disabled parking areas was making life stressful and unsafe.

Peterborough charity Little Miracles said it received regular complaints about people using bays improperly, forcing parents "to unload medically fragile children in dangerous areas".

In the year to November, Peterborough City Council issued 1,426 fines to people parking in disabled bays without the right to do so.

Puppies rescued after their mum hides them in hole in tree

The puppies, named Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom, were found hidden in a tree with mother Fern

An abandoned dog and her five newborn puppies have been rescued after she was found hiding them in a hole in a tree.

The dog — a stray Shiba Inu — now named Fern, had been seen wandering around for two weeks near Peterborough before local residents finally managed to catch her and deliver the litter to the Woodgreen Pets Charity in Godmanchester.

Council spends £1.2m on bridge before construction

The bridge is forecast to cost more than £8m in total

More than £1m has been spent on a new bridge before construction has even begun.

The Cygnet Bridge will link Fletton Quays to the Embankment and was originally supposed to be built by November last year.

It is now due to be completed by summer 2026, with £1.2m already spent on design, structural checks and professional fees.

'Microphone of peace' tours schools and youth clubs

The microphone being toured by Xidus Pain was designed in Philadelphia and made in Sweden

A rap artist and MC has said he feels "very blessed" to be taking a microphone crafted from melted-down firearms on a UK tour.

Xidus Pain, director of Beat This CIC (community interest company) in Peterborough, was handed the Microphone For Peace while in New York in September.

It has since been touring schools and youth centres the city as part a worldwide journey aimed at bringing people together "through something that was formerly negative" turned into a positive.

The week in politics

Rylan Ray has been suspended from the Conservative Party "with immediate effect"

A city councillor appeared in court charged with child sex offences. Rylan Ray, 25, of Westgate, Peterborough, is a representative for Eye, Thorney and Newborough.

He was remanded in custody after appearing before Luton Magistrates' Court, charged with 22 offences. Mr Ray is due to appear at Cambridge Crown Court on 5 January.

Meanwhile, plans for a new pool in Peterborough were given a funding boost in the Budget. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £20m of government money towards a new Peterborough sports quarter.

Councillors renewed calls to reopen the Parnwell Medical Centre in Saltersgate, which has been shut for nearly three years due to subsidence issues.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS), which oversees GPs across the county, said the site was due to reopen on 1 October, but understands further structural issues have kept the premises closed.

And Peterborough City Council asked people to come forward with ideas on how they can improve biodiversity across its county wildlife sites.

The week in sport

Stevenage's Jamie Reid scores a penalty against Peterborough

Peterborough United suffered their first defeat under new boss Luke Williams on Tuesday against Stevenage. Posh were beaten 1-0 with Jamie Reid scoring a penalty in the first half.

Peterborough Sports secured back to back wins in the National League North with a 3-1 victory over Bedford Town. Sports are up to 19th in the table.

Canadian forward Cameron Hough scored a hat-trick as Peterborough Phantoms beat Bristol Pitbulls 6-2 in the National Ice Hockey League. The win ended a run of five straight defeats for Ashley Tait's side.