Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

Kelly Slack said she devised a new scheme for rough sleepers in Peterborough after finding that temporary accommodation was ineffective

New temporary homes for people sleeping rough in a city were called "as plush as a hotel", while a campaign to tackle low literacy rates was launched.

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

Man who slept rough praises 'plush' new housing

Paul Smith, 52, said his new home was as 'plush as a hotel'

New temporary homes for people sleeping rough in a city were "as plush as a hotel", one of its first residents said.

Paul Smith, 52, said he was "surprised" by the quality of the facilities in Peterborough after staying at several other hostels and guest houses.

The four shared houses on Eastfield Road, which can support up to 17 men with complex needs, have on site support workers and security around the clock.

Church praises police care after pursuit crash

Church secretary Philip Laws said the church community was thriving a month after the "shocking" crash

A church secretary has praised a police force for checking in on his "shocked and sad" community almost a month after their building was damaged in a crash.

The driver of a Ford Ranger ploughed into the front of St Andrew's United Reformed Church in Peterborough on 4 May during a police pursuit.

Philip Laws said the congregation, many of whom are elderly, was left "shocked and upset" after the incident.

Reprieved bus service is a lifeline, say users

Laurisa Hallam said: "I don't know how I'd get back to college unless I paid more money to use a train, and that's too much money every day"

Bus users of a service that runs between a market town and a city have reacted with relief after the route was saved.

The March to Peterborough 33 route was to have been shortened from 31 August due to "extremely low passenger numbers", according to operator Stagecoach.

The Combined Authority Board has backed a proposal by Conservative Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow to save the service.

Hospital joins footballer's mental health campaign

The benches are located in the hospital's staff reflection garden and woodland walk area, and outside the main entrance, the Emergency Department and the nearby Cavell Centre

An NHS hospital has become one of the first to install benches as part of a campaign started by footballer Micky Hazard's national suicide prevention charity.

Legend on the Bench was founded by the former Spurs and Chelsea player and it installs specially designed wooden benches in community locations promoting the message "someone is always listening" for people experiencing mental health issues.

Peterborough City Hospital is installing five benches in safe spaces around its site in Bretton which are accessible to staff, patients and visitors.

Appeal for new books to tackle low literacy levels

Head teacher Sam Brunt said rising living costs had an impact on literacy skills

Users of a city library threatened with closure and a primary school have begun a campaign to tackle low literacy rates.

Friends of Woodston Library in Peterborough has asked residents to donate new books, saying its shelves "desperately" need restocking in time for the summer holidays.

Sam Brunt, the head teacher at St Augustine's Junior School, which is opposite the library, said he hoped the campaign would be a "major success".

The week in politics

The Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral (pictured) has applied to start emergency repairs at Laurel Court

Plans are under way to start emergency repairs on a historical building in Peterborough.

Laurel Court stands next to Peterborough Cathedral and parts of it are believed to date back to 1690, but its condition is deteriorating.

Meanwhile, almost 500 people have signed a petition calling for crossing patrols near schools to be saved from a council's budget cuts.

Peterborough City Council announced cuts to crossing patrols at primary schools in Eye, Old Fletton, Newark Hill and Werrington to save money, leaving lollipop men and women redundant.

CCTV in taxis would "make every journey safer" for drivers and passengers alike, according to a Peterborough councillor.

Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, who represents the Fletton and Woodston ward, is calling for CCTV cameras to be installed in taxis and private hire vehicles.

In December Peterborough City Council voted against the CCTV plan, following strong opposition from many drivers.