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Five Peterborough stories you might have missed

Joanna Taylor
BBC News, Peterborough
Paul Hayes/BBC A grey-haired man smiling into the camera with his hands on his hips. He is wearing a black T-shirt with a picture of a blue police box on it, and the words "An Adventure in Space and Time". Behind him, on display as exhibits, are two Cybermen costumes - robotic-looking alien villains from the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who.Paul Hayes/BBC
Derek Handley curated Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery's unofficial Doctor Who exhibition

Look out - the Daleks have arrived in Peterborough, and a refugee is giving cultural barriers to women's football the boot. Here's five stories from the city you might have missed this week.

Doctor Who display extends hours

Paul Hayes/BBC A group of three prop Daleks, conical robotic alien creatures, from the BBC science-fiction series Doctor Who, on display as museum exhibits against a white background. The two on either side are silver with blue trim, while the one in the centre stands slightly taller on a large black fender, with black stripes and a black dome section at the top, in addition to the silver and blue of the others.Paul Hayes/BBC
The iconic Daleks are expected to be a big draw for visitors at Peterborough Museum

Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery hopes an unofficial exhibition dedicated to the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who will encourage more people to visit.

It has extended its opening hours and will open on Sundays for the new exhibition called Adventures in Time and Space.

Many of the props and costumes on display belong to collector Derek Handley.

Footballer aims to get Muslim girls into sport

A 23-year-old woman with a passion for football is hoping to give the boot to cultural barriers that make it harder for refugee and Muslim girls to get into sport.

Fatema Baratyan played for the Afghanistan women's national team but fled the country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

She resettled in Peterborough and will be running free futsal sessions for girls aged between 12 and 14 in the city.

Demand for foodbank is heart-breaking - charity

Little Miracles A large pile of food and drinks including Cadbury fingers, Fox biscuits, Haribo sweets, cereal boxes, oranges and lemons in green plastic crates. There are also two full black drawstring bags among the piles of goods.Little Miracles
The food bank operates six days a week and sometimes even on a Sunday across the charity's centres

A charity that supports families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) said a rise in demand for its services was "heart-breaking".

Little Miracles supported more than 5,000 people in April across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with counselling, therapy, activities and family support.

It also operates a food bank and said demand had gone "crazy". It was "struggling to cope" and ran out of food last week, it added.

Play area approved at beer garden

Google A red brick two-storey building with white and cream panelling on the front, as well as two rows of windows and a red sign reading 'The Whittle'. There is concrete in front of it, an outhouse on the right side and a seating area with wooden picnic benches, a fence and a canopy over the top. Google
The proposed play area features equipment for children, soft flooring and a picket fence

A new play area has been approved at a city pub's beer garden.

Punch Pubs, which owns The Whittle in Stanground, has been granted approval by Peterborough City Council for a play area with a 1.2m (4ft) high picket fence and soft flooring.

Elderly people invited to join friendship clubs

Google A building with sand coloured bricks and two windows has 'The Salvation Army Church & Community Centre' written on the side in red writing. In front is a hedge and concrete path. Google
The Salvation Army, off Lincoln Road in Peterborough, runs two clubs for elderly people

A charity helping to beat loneliness said it was looking for more elderly people to join its friendship clubs.

About 25 people attend the twice-weekly Young at Heart sessions in Peterborough, but volunteers have invited more to come along.

The clubs, run by The Salvation Army in Millfield, offer craft activities, quizzes and a chance for conversation.

The week in politics

While Peterborough City Council did not have elections this year, there have nevertheless been a few recent changes in personnel.

The city's youngest councillor, 19-year-old Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, left the Labour group alleging "sustained bullying and marginalisation". The Labour Party said all complaints were "assessed thoroughly in line" with party rules and procedures.

Meanwhile, Nicola Day stepped down as Green Party group leader after four years, making way for successor Heather Skibsted. Chris Harper returned as leader of Peterborough First after a brief stint from former council leader Mohammed Farooq.

In other news, services that aim to help people lose weight could be dropped as the council grapples with a £440,000 shortfall in public health funding. It has also put out an appeal to businesses to save its annual Christmas celebrations.

The week in sport

Getty Images Jed Steer wearing an orange Peterborough kit with sponsor 'Mick George' written on the front. He is pointing to the left with a white goalie glove on his hand. There is a blurred crowd of fans behind him. Getty Images
Jed Steer made 50 appearances for Peterborough after joining them in January 2024

Peterborough United will need to add to their goalkeeping options this summer.

First choice keeper Jed Steer has left the club via mutual consent, while back-up stopper Nicholas Bilokapic has been made available for transfer.

Brad Ihionvien, Jacob Wakeling and Jack Sparkes have also been transfer listed.

In ice hockey, Peterborough Phantoms are searching for a new head coach following the departure of long term boss Slava Koulikov.

Koulikov has signed a three-year deal with National League rivals Sheffield Steeldogs.

He departs the Phantoms after 11 seasons, having won six trophies.

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