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downsmail.co.uk Dumped pup looking for love


A SICK spaniel left in Birling to freeze overnight is now hoping to find awarm and loving home. But the RSPCA says inquiries


into the appalling incident, which left the female puppy surrounded by her own frozen faeces in a field off Snodland Road, will continue. The black and white year-old


pup was found by an off-duty po- liceman out walking his dog early on January 28. She had been thrown over a six-foot fence into the field to die and was suffering with a skin condition and a sore eye.


The dog – thought to be a small spaniel, or cocker spaniel, with a docked tail – has been looked after by the RSPCA at its Millbrook cen- tre in Chobham ever since. Inspector Rosie Russon said:


“This poor pup is lucky to be alive. When she was found, there were frozen solid faeces on the floor next to her; how she survived in such freezing conditions I don’t know. “It’s outrageous that somebody thought this was an appropriate way to dump their dog. Perhaps by leaving her in a popular dog walk- ing spot, they thought she would


be found quickly but, nonetheless, it was an extremely cruel thing to do to this poor little dog. She could have sustained terrible injuries from being thrown over the fence onto concrete.” Anyone with information about


the abandoned dog can leave a message in confidence on the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018. For more on making a home for a rescued animal, visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet.


Hunt for owners of stolen dogs


KENT Police are still trying to trace the owners of four springer spaniels recovered as part of an inquiry into the theft of dogs in the Birling area. A spokesman said photos of the two adult spaniels and two puppies


had been shared more than 6,000 times on the Kent Police Facebook page, prompting a number of calls from hopeful owners across the UK, but no match had been found, as yet. He said: “We have a number of people to contact as part of our inquiries in an effort to reunite the dogs with their owners.” In the meantime, twomen in their 20s and a 47-year-old woman,


fromWateringbury, have been arrested on suspicion of theft. They have been given bail and are due to return to Tonbridge Police Station at the end of the month. Anyone with details that could assist the police is urged to call Kent Police on 01622 604100, email west.division. media.appeal@Kent.pnn.police.uk or ring Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, quoting reference YY/1162/17.


Barry cooks up school dinner winner Shampoo thief


TALENTED school cook Barry Brewington dished up tasty in- ternational treats to win the acco- lade of South East School Chef of the Year. Barry (pictured), from Lark-


field, competed against eight other chefs from across the re- gion in the contest at the Nestle headquarters inWest Sussex. Against the clock and under


the scrutiny of judges, he had to prepare a main course and a dessert suitable for 10 and 11- year-olds, with a maximum spend of £1.30 for a single meal. Barry prepared Moroccan meatballs and Italian panna cotta, which gained him top place in the competition. He will now line up against


other regional champions in the national final on March 2. Barry (60) has worked in cater- ing since he graduated from the


same college in Thanet which trained celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes and Richard Phillips. He has been at Medway University Technical College, Gillingham since it opened in 2015 He said: “We get some lovely comments about the food from


students. The real test is whether there is any left on the plates, and there rarely is.” Barry enjoys cooking up his recipes for his partner Kathy and three grown-up daughters at his home in Lunsford Lane. He said: “The meatballs are something I often do at home for the family. I usually do them with gherkins and lots of spices so it is quite a spicy dish. But I adapted it for the competition because it is aimed at Year 6 children.” Contestants had to use Nestle ingredients so with the dessert, he served a flapjack made with Shredded Wheat and apple. He added: “The texture with the panna cotta works really well.” College principal Dr Karon


Buck said: “What a star and how lucky are we that we are able to eat the food he prepares five days a week.”


Inspector praises ‘improving’ nursery


A MEREWORTH day nursery has received a good grade across all areas of its service from Ofsted. A government inspector said Country Cottage Day Nursery, in Butchers Lane, provided a happy environment for 0-5-year-olds who made “good progress and gaps in their development were consis- tently improving”. Sarah Stephens, from Ofsted,


8 Malling February 2017


went on to note the good work of its five qualified staff in “skilfully reshaping activities to keep chil- dren’s motivation and interest, and the use of questions to help chil- dren think for themselves and ex- tend their understating”. Concluding her report on the day nursery, managed by Claire Ruth Dolley, Mrs Stephens said: “The provider evaluates her servicewell.


She recognises areas of weakness, identifies effective training for staff and sets targets for improvement. This helps develop the quality of the provision and provides good outcomes for children.” Her recommendations for further improvement included increasing the opportunities for children to learn about other people’s similari- ties and differences.


A WOMAN from Snodland has been found guilty of shoplifting from her local high street. Brenda Kelly Rossiter admitted stealing beer, shampoo and a book worth £16.50 from the store on De- cember 11. The 28-year-old, from Church


Field, Snodland, also took a bottle of whisky from a supermarket in Sovereign Way, Tonbridge, nine days later. The court heard that she then


stole cheese, sweets and a ready- meal worth £10.50 from the same shop in High Street, Snodland, on January 4 and returned the next day to steal meat, biscuits and washing-up liquid worth £31. West Kent magistrates sentenced Rossiter on January 24 to 60 days in prison, suspended for 12 months. She must pay £73 compensation.


Village talent ST PETER’s and St Paul’s Church is hosting an Aylesford's Got Talent event on Saturday, March 25, at 7.30pm. This is a chance to witness a vari-


ety of talents from the village. Tickets cost £5 per adult and


£2.50 per child, including partici- pants, and will include refresh- ments in the interval. Anyone who wishes to enter should contact Jonathan on 01622 717434. For tickets, call Aline on 01622 716608 or they can be bought on the door.


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