In this special feature, we take a look back at some of the biggest news stories in West Norfolk from March 2025…

As March got under way, several members of a West Norfolk gang who smuggled and distributed illegal tobacco were sentenced.

A HMRC-led investigation had found that hand-rolling tobacco was being purchased from Gibraltar, taken into Spain and then smuggled into various UK airports.

Among those sentenced was Calvin Newson, 39, from Hillington. He, along with a number of others, were jailed for their involvement with the fraudulent evasion of duty relating to the tobacco offences.

In crime-related news, five people were arrested on suspicion of murder following the disappearance of a man in Lynn.

The arrests were made simultaneously at addresses in Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough.

They followed enquiries into the disappearance of 54-year-old Maris Ile, a Latvian national who was living in Lynn and worked in Ely. He is believed murdered and remains missing to this day.

Nobody has been charged with any offences to date.

Celebrations were in order at Watlington Community Primary School on World Book Day, as their newly refurbished library was officially opened by then West Norfolk mayor Paul Bland.

The library, which is situated in the heart of the school, had been fitted out with new shelves, seating and books to give the 171 pupils a dedicated space to read and study.

While opening the library, Cllr Bland said: “This is a cause close to my heart.”

Meanwhile, tributes were paid as a former head teacher of Lynn’s St Martha’s Catholic Primary School died at the age of 91.

Pauline McSherry will be remembered fondly by the many pupils she taught over three decades at the school, many of whom had stayed in touch.

Known simply as ‘Miss’ by her former pupils, she was highly regarded as a wonderful teacher and one who would always find a way of injecting fun in the classroom and her sense of humour endured throughout her life.

Also in the education world, a significant milestone was marked in a school’s expansion and relocation as pupils visited the site and took part in a ceremonial steel signing.

The Fred Nicholson School is moving to Lynn Road in Swaffham, to better accommodate its growing number of pupils.

After the completion of the steel frame on the 3.2-hectare site and the installation of precast floors, internal work commenced in March.

Elsewhere, West Norfolk Council began a beach clean operation following a tanker collision in the North Sea.

Plastic nurdles had washed up on the West Norfolk coastline, with the authority’s team starting with collecting plastic pollution along an initial stretch between Holme-next-the-Sea towards Old Hunstanton.

The council was focusing initially on removing the larger burnt pieces of plastic from the beaches, while HM Coastguard was removing suspended nurdles from the water.

In Colkirk, first-time pub landlords were grateful for a busy opening day as they launched their business.

Michelle Toon and Gareth Embling recently took over The Crown in Colkirk, and said they had been blessed with community support.

The couple, who have been together for more than ten years, announced that they would be taking over the pub on Crown Road at the beginning of the month after the former landlords made the decision to close.

In less happy news, serious concerns over dangerous traffic outside a school resurfaced after a child narrowly avoided being hit by a driver mounting the pavement.

A new car parking scheme aimed at easing congestion around Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy in Lynn had looked to be a success after being used hundreds of times in December.

But in March, just months later, the near-miss prompted fresh calls for action to be taken before a tragedy occurred.

A business owner called for buses to stop cutting down a Lynn road ridden with potholes.

Roy Brain, a managing director of Calvert Brain and Fraulo on Portland Street in Lynn, expressed concerns to the Lynn News about the condition of the road.

He puts it down to numerous buses cutting down the street to get from the bus station to the train station.

Finally, a fast food restaurant closed and passers-by were left holding their noses after a sewer collapsed on Lynn’s High Street.

This occurred outside McDonald’s, with the restaurant forced to shut for a night.

People out in the town centre pointed out the bad stench at the scene – although some were quick to take shelter in nearby pubs!