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Five Peterborough stories you may have missed

Lewis Adams
Sue Ryder David, wearing a red Christmas jumper and blue jeans, standing in front of his Christmas display with lights and inflatable snowman and nutcrackers and a merry Christmas sign lit up in multi-colour. Sue Ryder
David Woolridge spent four weeks getting his Christmas lights display ready

Warnings about an "epidemic" of pet abandonments, controversy over a building sale and the return of Peterborough's "lights man" are among the stories in the news this week.

'Lights man' dazzles with return of festive display

Peterborough From Above Picture of the house taken from above with a drone- showing yellow Christmas lights alongside inflatable animals.Peterborough From Above
The display features a golden tunnel of lights, a 6ft (2m) reindeer and 47 Christmas trees

People have been getting into the Christmas spirit by enjoying the return of a grandfather's annual lights display.

David Woolridge, 63, spent £1,500 and four weeks decorating his Longthorpe home, which he hoped would attract hundreds of visitors.

The landscaper's display features 47 Christmas trees, dozens of inflatable Father Christmases and a golden tunnel of lights – all of which raise money for charity.

"I love to see families coming together to see the display," said Mr Woolridge, who is known locally as "the lights man".

City facing an 'epidemic' of cats and dogs being abandoned

Getty Images Four kittens look at the camera from inside a cage. Two are leaning against the cage's frame. One has dark fur and the others have ginger fur. Getty Images
The RSPCA said there were a rising number of cases of animals being abandoned in Cambridgeshire

Peterborough is facing an "epidemic" of cats and dogs being abandoned by their owners and taken into shelters, charities have warned.

Daphne Wilson, chairwoman of Peterborough Cat Rescue, called on people to take "full responsibility" if they bought a pet this Christmas.

She said her small charity was at capacity and faced huge vet bills.

The RSPCA received 927 reports about neglected animals in Cambridgeshire in the first 10 months of 2025 - a 21% rise compared to 768 in the same period last year.

Padel courts to open in golf club's car park

Getty Images Padel raquets next to a padel court with blue flooring.Getty Images
The plans for padel courts, similar to those pictured, were changed following concerns about the loss of seven trees

Plans have been approved for two padel courts to be built at a golf club that dates back to the late Victorian period.

Padel X received permission to build the facilities in a car park at Burghley Park Golf Club, near Stamford, Lincolnshire.

The blueprints were different to ones submitted to Peterborough City Council in February, which would have led to the felling of seven trees.

Padel is a racquet sport that uses enclosed courts, which are about a third smaller than lawn tennis, and players can bounce the ball off the walls.

Cathedral dean talks of human value in 'turbulent times'

Paul Marriott A smiling Chris Dalliston looks directly at the camera. He is wearing tortoise shell spectacles and has short grey hair. He is wearing a red shirt with a white clerical collar. He is standing in a cathedral. Paul Marriott
The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston said "every human being is valued" in his Christmas message

The Dean of Peterborough Cathedral has used his Christmas message to say "every human being is valued" in what he warns are "turbulent times".

The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston said the world needed the promise of peace "more than ever" in times of uncertainty.

His message comes as the cathedral is on track to record a loss of about £500,000 next year.

The Dean hoped the recent appointment of a new chief operating officer would "strengthen their financial resilience" in 2026.

Councillors to review controversial sale of community hub

Ekta Patel Exterior of the temple building with a red door. Bharat Hindu Samaj is written in white at the top of the door entrance and there is an orange flag.Ekta Patel
The Bharat Hindu Samaj is used by worshippers from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire

City councillors have called for an urgent review of the sale of a community building that houses a Hindu temple and soup kitchen.

Peterborough City Council's cabinet approved the sale of the New England Complex in Millfield last week.

The building's sale is part of the authority's ongoing efforts to reduce debts by selling off assets.

A request by three councillors for an extraordinary scrutiny committee meeting to review the decision has been granted and will be held in due course.

Week in sports

Peterborough United won their fourth League One match in a row as they beat Leyton Orient 1-0, thanks to Declan Frith's injury-time winner.

In the National League North, Peterborough Sports drew 2-2 away at King's Lynn in Norfolk. It means the side have gone more than a month without a win.

It has been a good week on the ice for Peterborough Phantoms, who beat Romford Raiders 4-1 and 5-3. They remain in fourth place in the National Ice Hockey League.

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