THE £6 million transformation that "will get the heart of Grimsby well and truly beating again" will begin in just two months' time.

Birse Civils has today been unveiled as the main contractor for the ambitious project – one of the largest schemes the town has seen since the original construction of Freshney Place shopping centre.

The project aims to encourage economic growth, boost green transport and kick-start regeneration in and around the town centre.

Work on two major elements of the scheme will begin in May – a redevelopment of Riverhead Square, including a reconfiguration of the existing bus station and expansion of Freshney Place Shopping Centre, and a revamp of Station Approach, complete with a cycle hub and cycle path connecting train and bus stations.

As announced last year, the Government has awarded £4.3 million from its Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), and North East Lincolnshire Council has contributed an additional £850,000 to the scheme.

With contributions from other partner organisations, the value of the project is more than £6 million.

Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "I am delighted the respected and well-known engineering company Birse Civils has been awarded the main contract for this project.

"With their expertise on the ground, Riverhead Square and Station Approach will be developed over the next few years to encourage investment, create new jobs and improve access to public transport.

"Other elements of the scheme will promote health and wellbeing through increased opportunities for walking and cycling. And help will be given to those who have difficulties finding or keeping a job because of problems travelling to work.

"This project will get the heart of Grimsby well and truly beating again."

Tim Bowers, project manager for Birse Civils, said: "We are looking forward to starting this scheme for North East Lincolnshire Council. We have 10 years' experience of working on public realm projects and recently completed the City Park project in Bradford.

"We recognise that enhancing the public realm acts as a catalyst for regeneration and we will be bringing our skill and expertise to deliver this project for the community of Grimsby."

COMBINING an expansion of Grimsby's main shopping centre, and a revamp of the town's bus station, the redevelopment of Riverhead Square aims to create new jobs as well as improving the passenger experience for shoppers.

Discussions are continuing with a major high street retailer that is keen to move into an expanded Freshney Place as part of a 45,000 sq ft extension onto the site of the existing bus station.

In addition to the new retailer, the extension will also accommodate a further eight retail units, creating more than 200 jobs.

The bus station will be redesigned around the new development, with bus stops being relocated onto nearby Victoria Street, Town Hall Street and New Street.

The expanded shopping centre will also feature a staffed "super-stop", with toilets, a café and real-time passenger information.

Jason Longhurst, head of development at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "Work is also progressing with the owners of Freshney Place to deliver a major new development in Riverhead Square.

"This scheme would increase investor confidence, kick-start a new wave of regeneration in the town and create a substantial number of new jobs for local people.

"The bus station will be redesigned to create a high-quality environment with new bus stops, shelters and 'real-time' travel information.

GRIMSBY Town fans have the chance to wave players off to Wembley in person ahead of their cup final battle this Sunday.

Six mystery players will man a stall in Cleethorpes Tesco and sell merchandise for fans to cheer with as they take on Wrexham at the London stadium.

It is the first time the club has sold memorabilia anywhere else than their football club shop – showing they want everyone behind the boys this Sunday.

GTFC commercial manager Dave Smith is confident fans will turn out in force.

He said: "The fans have been fantastic so far and we know they will keep getting behind the lads.

"This is a great way for the supporters to give the players one last boost before they head off for Wembley."

The players will be in the store on Thursday between 2pm and 3pm where they will sell shirts, flags, scarves and more. They will also pose for pictures, sign autographs and chat to fans.

Merchandise will be on sale in the Hewitt's Circus store on Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm.

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Tesco customer services manager Jamie Welch is excited about the event.

He said: "There is a great buzz in the store and we are all looking forward to seeing how the lads get on. It is great for the fans, great for the players and great for the store – everyone wins. Now we have to hope Grimsby Town win on the day!

"I am a massive football fan and wanted to do something to get involved. It is really exciting."

The players' appearance will also raise money for the store's annual charity – Diabetes UK – after the club donated two tickets to be raffled off.

The Cleethorpes store will also sponsor GTFC's man of the match and will present the player with champagne once he returns from London.

Jamie added: "There will be all sorts of merchandise available which they have never sold anywhere else. There is already a lot of customer interest.

"Hopefully this is a cup competition they will win and they will be in the league next year."

See what else is happening in the run up to GTFC's Wembley appearance with our 16-page Wembley special supplement in today's paper.

MENACING vigilante Christopher Boulter viciously attacked a man with a baseball bat and "besieged" his home in a violent bid to "hound him off" an estate.

He tried to "lay down the law" and chillingly warned the terrified victim to get off the estate that night.

He "came back mob-handed" with other thugs and made "vile threats" after taking the law into his own hands, a court heard.

Boulter, 20, of Winthorpe Road, Nunsthorpe estate, Grimsby, admitted possessing a baseball bat as an offensive weapon, assaulting Hasan Yilmaz, threatening to damage property and using threatening words or behaviour on October 19.

Andrew Bailey, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Mr Yilmaz bought a house on Winthorpe Road and employed youths, including Boulter and his cousin, to help with some work there.

An argument flared about payment and some missing tools. Boulter went round with a youth and told Mr Yilmaz: "You said you were going to pay me in November."

They crowded round him, "got right in his face" and Mr Yilmaz punched out in a pre-emptive strike, hitting the other youth by mistake.

Boulter told him: "You have just hit a kid. He's only 16." He warned him: "We are going to run you off the Nunny."

They later returned with another man, thought to be the boy's father, and Boulter was holding an aluminium baseball bat. He warned Mr Yilmaz: "You're going tonight."

Mr Yilmaz told him: "I'm not going." Boulter raised the bat and hit him with it four times.

He tried to hit the victim on the head but Mr Yilmaz blocked the blow with his arm. Boulter shouted: "You're leaving tonight."

A woman punched and kicked Mr Yilmaz and a group of other troublemakers entered his garden. Boulter was brandishing a metal bar.

The other youth and Boulter hurled bricks. The one thrown by Boulter hit Mr Yilmaz, who picked up concrete to defend himself.

The vigilantes kicked the door and Mr Yilmaz leaned against the door to stop them getting in. A metal bar was poked through the gaps and a window was smashed.

Boulter later told police community support officers: "He'd better not be there tonight or I'll make him move out. I swear if you bring him back here, I'll do him over."

He told his accomplices: "Make sure that house gets done because they are taking me in."

Mr Yilmaz had since left the area, said Mr Bailey.

Boulter was jailed for a year.

GRIMSBY Town crashed to their fourth successive defeat at struggling Nuneaton – and maybe kissed goodbye to their automatic promotion hopes at the same time.

A toothless display in Warwickshire was no reward for the 266 Mariners fans who made the trip, with Andrew Brown's first-half tap-in proving the difference.

But, in all honestly, the hosts were good value for their victory – and could have won by more.

With Wembley looming on Sunday, maybe there were a few clues about the FA Trophy final line-up.

Skipper Craig Disley recovered from his hamstring injury in time to join Tom Naylor in the centre of midfield.

Centre-half Shaun Pearson was another doubt for the clash at the Triton Showers Community Arena, but shook off his hip problem in time to start.

And it was a completely new front line, with Ross Hannah and Lenell John-Lewis stepping in for Andy Cook and Richard Brodie.

The other intriguing change saw Aswad Thomas drop to the bench, with Bradley Wood beginning the encounter at left-back.

After the travelling fans from North East Lincolnshire impeccably observed a minute's silence for former Nuneaton goalkeeper Arthur Barber, the game kicked-off.

And it was the hosts who forced the first effort on goal when a ball into the Town box wasn't dealt with and Wesley York was given time to test James McKeown with the outside of his right foot.

But – other than an Ian Miller flick-on which was gathered by Lee Burge in the home goal and a wasted Town corner – that was it for an uninspiring opening 15 minutes.

It was far from dull within two minutes, though, as York beat Bradley Wood with ease on the right, charged into the box and squared perfectly for Brown to tap home from five yards out.

It was a moment of real quality from the hosts, and the quickfire York in particular, and for the third game in a row the Mariners were behind.

The game was in its 20th minute when Brown's striker partner Louis Moult found space on the right and looked to chip McKeown from 25 yards, although his clever effort drifted over.

McKeown then had to grab the ball above his head after John-Lewis had deflected another cross into the visiting box on goal.

We hadn't completed 26 minutes before the home side had created another excellent opportunity.

McKeown came for a long ball forward but found himself in no-man's land as Brown won the header, and when the ball eventually fell to James Armson, Town were thankful that Shaun Pearson was on the line to clear away.

Hannah powered a low drive narrowly wide at the other end, before Moult tested McKeown with a stunning 20-yard effort from a tight angle.

On the half hour mark, Nuneaton had managed five shots on target, Town none.

The Mariners had been poor, but there was hope when Jamie Devitt won a free-kick on the edge of the home box in the 34th minute – with Armson receiving the first yellow card – and Sam Hatton bent a shot off the wall and over.

Pearson met the resulting corner at the far post but couldn't direct his effort on target.

The centre-half was then turned superbly by Moult on the edge of his own area before the Nuneaton striker's powerful drive was flicked wide by Miller's boot.

In Pictures: Nuneaton Town v Grimsby Town

That man Moult infuriated the Mariners fans with two dives that would have made Tom Daley proud before the referee ended the half.

Town emerged for the second period early, with Marcus Marshall replacing Devitt, and the winger made an encouraging start as the away side aimed to fight back.

The Mariners enjoyed a lively spell in their opponent's half – probably for the first time all night.

However, it was again Nuneaton who went close next as Armson fed Brown and the forward sliced his left-foot shot wide from 15 yards out.

Sixty minutes had elapsed and the Mariners were still searching for a shot on target, while at the other end Moult forced McKeown into action once again with an instant volley from 25 yards.

Town bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst rang the changes, with Cook replacing Hannah before Thomas also entered the fray at the expense of Wood, who had struggled to contain York.

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But as the clash headed into the final 20 minutes, the visitors looked no closer to forcing an equaliser.

In fact, but for a crucial last-ditch header from Ian Miller in the six-yard, Nuneaton could have doubled their lead.

It was an awful second half in truth, with the hosts settling for their one-goal advantage, and Town unable to force any chances of note.

And as the minutes were ticking away, so were the Mariners' lingering hopes of achieving automatic promotion.

It was only deep into the three minutes of injury time that Town finally threatened to pull level, as Disley wasn't quite tall enough to flick a close range header on target.

From a debatable corner, Pearson and McKeown – yes goalkeeper McKeown – then had shots blocked, and moments later John-Lewis fired just wide.

But that was it – and attentions turn to Wembley as the Mariners look to end their woeful run of results and bring some much-needed cheer.

COULD Wonderland market be turned into flats?

The 59,000 square foot building taking up three acres of land has been sold for £302,500 – almost £100,000 shy of the auction guide price – to an anonymous "substantial property company" in the north west of England.

Eddison Chartered Surveyors managed the sale, and director, Tony Webb, said residents can expect work to begin on the site over the next year.

He said: "We are not entirely sure what they are planning for Wonderland, but we know they certainly want to do something with it. They haven't just bought it to sit there.

"They are investors with good funding facilities and they saw it as worthy of investment. It is in a prime location and they know there is potential there for redevelopment.

"This is great news for Cleethorpes."

The building, owned by Town And Country Markets, will close as a market indefinitely in a couple of weeks once the sale is finalised.

Councillors say this, combined with the sale of the Pier – which could see it extended and transformed into a family entertainment centre following a £1-million investment – shows growing confidence in the resort.

North East Lincolnshire Council leader Chris Shaw (Labour, Sidney Sussex) is keen to meet the mystery buyer to discuss their plans.

He said: "Businesses can see we are investing not just in Cleethorpes, but in North East Lincolnshire. We have proved to them we are open for business and at long last we have large companies wanting to come here.

"Redevelopment work is needed in this area of Cleethorpes. We will be only too happy to sit down and talk with the buyers. Property is something that needs to go ahead here."

However, Councillor Shaw wants work to start soon to avoid another empty building on the promenade, adding: "The market used to bring lots of people to the prom, now it doesn't as much. However, it would be a shame for the building to stay empty for a long period of time.

"If it is going to take a while, I would hope the buyer comes up with an alternative use on a temporary basis."

Chancellor George Osborne announced a raft of measures in his Budget speech today aiming to boost the ailing economy.

As the Chancellor revealed his plans, the Grimsby Telegraph enlisted the help of independent financial adviser Dawn Jones to take part in this week's Editor's Debate.

Dawn, who has 33 years experience in her field, was online for two hours answering questions and giving our readers the information they need.

Dawn said: "The types of questions I am faced with are hugely varied on a daily basis.

"The Chancellor is appearing to be completely adamant they continue with the austerity measures, but that doesn't mean there won't be shocks – positive or otherwise.

"This is a good way to speak openly and honestly.

"With finances, people often have the ostrich syndrome and bury their heads in the sand only for the problem to get worse."

In Pictures: Nuneaton Town v Grimsby Town

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ASHLEY Wright led the way for title-chasing The Gas Man with a superb break of 87 in his team's 6-0 victory against Peter Hogarth & Sons.

Former professional Wright, Dan Mumby, Scott Long (59), Rick Gilliatt, Paul Jackson (44) and Kev North were all in great form as Gas Man look set to take the Intermediate race down to the wire.

The team to beat, though, remains newly-promoted Icing Cabin, who chalked up yet another win – this time a hard-fought 4-2 victory over with Ray Edmonds B.

Jamie Barrett and Lewis Singleton won both frames on one table, while Scott Gibbons and Stephen Singleton shared with Daz Evans and Nige Otter on the other.

Mick Ponsonby scored a break of 42 break to pull the game back to 3-2, but then Terry Burns and Tony Aisthorpe completed a valuable win.

Meanwhile, Locate Supplies looked to be in trouble again as Al Goodhand, Mark George, Steve Johnson and Tom Keeley put Clee Cons A 2-0 up.

However the title hopefuls responded well with Mark Franks, Wayne Webber, Ian Crosby and Steve Fisher levelling the match, before Nige Emmerson andMark Graves put them 3-2 up.

They had to settle for a draw, though, as Jase Reynolds and Mick Goodwin made it 3-3.

Birds Eye saw off West End B 4-2 with a middle order 2-0 from Gordon Couling and Garry Avison enough for the Ladysmith Road side.

Art Young and Colin Crosby put Carr Lane Social A 2-0 up at Webbonet, paving the way for a further 2-0 from Alan Young and Gaz Horsfall.

Knowing they had suffered a rare home defeat, Brian Hotson and Mick Chew brought respectability to the scoreline winning the final two frames.

AGREEING to gay marriage is supposed to be a sign of how we have become a tolerant society. And, yes, we have moved a long way from when Oscar Wilde was imprisoned for his sexual behaviour.

Similarly, we no longer tolerate racial discrimination. The Archbishop of York is black, as is one of the young pretenders to the Labour throne. In the age of Obama, no one bats an eyelid. Meanwhile, Mo Farah is the latest British black sportsman to make the headlines, the latest in a line that included such luminaries as Lennox Lewis, Daley Thompson and Linford Christie.

Are we more tolerant though? To begin with, the same party whose Prime Minister supported gay marriage is quite happy to depict all those without jobs as skivers and shirkers. No matter that there are 2.5 million out of work nationally, with places like Grimsby a long-term unemployment blackspot. It is easier to attack the jobless than the shortage of jobs, especially as it means you can get away with cutting benefits.

As for the disabled, we may have cheered them at the successful Paralympics, but they could all work if they really set their mind to it, couldn't they? Not surprisingly, the reaction to this kind of thinking saw George Osborne booed at the summer games.

Then there are the Muslims. We may accept black Christians and others who accept our way of life, but those following Islam are different, aren't they? I mean, they want to impose their own laws, don't they, that go against British democracy? Sadly, as so often is the case, the minority of extremists cause the resentment.

"I'm not a racist, but ..." used to be a phrase trotted to show our supposed tolerance, though it really only showed the limits to that toleration. I suppose it is the same today. Whether it is being hostile to immigrants ("they take all their jobs") or criticising single mothers ("they keep having kids to get more money and housing"), we can all fall into the trap of stigmatisation. That's not to deny us the free speech to express such views rather that we feel tolerance must be earned.

A TALENTED duo of Grimsby Boxing Academy (GBA) fighters jet off to Denmark today to take part in the Hvidovre Box Cup.

With more than 450 boxers – from the USA, Germany, Russia and beyond – expected to feature in the prestigious competition, pair Dan Wellings, 23, and Bailey Dyas, 13, will face a difficult task.

But it's one they shouldn't fear – the Grimsby club have twice taken part in the Copenhagen event before, winning five gold and two silver medals in the process.

Head coach Andy Cox told the Telegraph: "We are all very excited to head out to Denmark and we think we have a very good chance of doing well.

"We have been there and won some medals before, so that gives us much-needed confidence.

"Our fighters have been doing really well against other boxers from this country, so we want to throw them into the ring with people from other nations and see how they get on."

The GBA fighters will be able to rely on good form ahead of their international challenge.

Wellings – the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire lightweight champion – successfully defended his belt with a comfortable victory over Darryl Felstead earlier this month.

Following a cagey start to the bout, Wellings took control from round two and, ultimately, recorded a unanimous points triumph.

Meanwhile, on the same Benny's ABC card, Grimsby's Bailey Dyas gave as good as he got before falling to a points reverse against Hallam Rickett.

The Oasis Academy Wintringham pupil showed signs of his dominant best against the home fighter, but a late counter-attack eventually condemned Dyas to defeat.

Youngster Connor Burrows completed the local involvement on the night, putting in a good show before losing to Aaron Joseph.

GBA's Danny Hall added: "We had three very good performances, even though all the results didn't go our way. I'm very pleased will how our lads are performing."

With the trip to Denmark expected to cost Wellings and Dyas £400 each, the club were pleased to receive support from local sponsors.

Paul Greaves, from Approved Roofing, handed over a cheque for £100, while the Wintringham Academy contributed £300 to the cause.

TWO animal charities have joined forces to help homeless dogs.

The Blue Cross and Jerry Green Dog Rescue have worked together to ensure 100 homeless dogs have been treated and neutered.

Vets from the Blue Cross animal hospital in Grimsby pay weekly visits to Jerry Green Dog Rescue in Broughton, North Lincolnshire, to carry out the neutering procedure.

They also vaccinate dogs against dangerous diseases.

The partnership also means dogs don't have to travel long distances to a vet's practice because all the treatment takes place at the centre's own clinic.

Susan Knox, Blue Cross chief vet, said: "Numbers of unwanted animals ending up abandoned and in animal charity centres are rising.

"Animal charities like The Blue Cross and Jerry Green Dog Rescue take in so many unwanted litters of puppies and kittens – some literally thrown out with the rubbish.

"We believe the only solution is for more pets to be neutered so we were more than happy to help Jerry Green Dog Rescue treat their dogs and are delighted that the successful partnership has now seen 100 dogs."

David Foulds, Jerry Green Dog Rescue chief executive, said: "We are so pleased that the partnership with Blue Cross has reached this successful milestone.

"We believe that it is important to neuter our dogs before they go to their new homes, and teaming up with Blue Cross means we are now able to help even more dogs in need."

ALL dads know when the phone rings at 5am the chances are their beloved – and convincingly apologetic – daughters will be at the other end sheepishly asking for a lift home.

Most will curse, turf their heavy legs out of bed and drag their work-weary body into the car. A dressing gown for a cape, they transform into superdad.

So when devoted father and local Labour councillor Ray Oxby got an early morning call from daughter Rachael, 28, it took a moment for his mind to adjust.

Besides being seven years past the "taxi-request phone call years", Rachael was a solicitor in Oman – how could he possibly drive there in time?

His slumberous fog lifted, and through it came Rachael's excited voice: "Dad, Dad! Will you climb Mount Kilimanjaro with me?"

For Ray, there was only ever one answer: "Of course I will darling". And he smiled and turned over. He was the best dad in the world.

Those five words were the beginning of a journey that would take Ray and Rachael miles from home, but closer together than ever.

Ray said: "I knew she had been feeling a little lonely in Oman. I wanted to support her as any dad would."

After a night in Zanzibar, they flew to Tanzania's Dar-Es-Salaam, caught a flight to Katmandu Airport for the last night of "luxury" before heading off to base camp.

The ambitious pair signed up for the Rongoi route, a gruelling six-day challenge to climb 19,600ft to the summit – a climb that claims 20 lives each year.

Filled with optimism and a healthy dose of trepidation – Ray's superhero alter-ego couldn't help noticing the perilous cliff edges, creeks and quarries his daughter tip-toed along – they set off.

Ray continued: "Every day we climbed for six to eight hours and while the physical fitness was a challenge, it was nothing to the altitude sickness. From day one I couldn't keep anything down.

"We had to jump from boulder to boulder, through water cuts and ravines. I watched as my daughter jumped and prayed she wouldn't miss. There was a significant risk of falling and breaking a bone. It was quite stressful and in many ways traumatic to see."

Despite the worry, Ray, the oldest in the group and not a natural at exercise, felt immensely proud of Rachael and himself.

"It was the most sustained exercise of my life with some very pleasurable moments with my daughter," said Ray.

"I was constantly looking for the risks and didn't see the environment around me. It was only afterwards, when I looked at the photographs, that I realised how beautiful it is to see a sunrise over a layer of cloud."

On day three, Ray was starting to feel the effects of altitude sickness. Unable to keep his food down, he grew weaker with dehydration and more disorientated. His lower lip started turning blue and he was in urgent need of hospital treatment.

The next day, the worried porters refused to let him carry on.

In an emotional departure, Ray, had to leave Rachael to finish the trek without him.

He said: "I don't remember much about it. I heard noises and voices but I didn't know where I was. It felt like a dream. I turned to my daughter and said, 'This is your challenge'.

"It was an emotional, dramatic split and one we both felt."

The porters helped Ray on the ten-hour trek down, and although a hospital was on standby, he refused to go. "Intensely worried" about his daughter, he waited for her return, finding comfort in a hot shower at the hotel.

Rachael finished 24 hours later, and ran into the arms of her father. His superdad cape floated peacefully in the wind behind them.

The trip raised £2,000 for the NSPCC and not only brought Ray closer to his daughter, it taught him not to take Grimsby for granted.

He added: "I am extremely proud of Rachael and myself for doing it with her.

It was great to come together to share this challenge.

"The experience brought it home to me how fortunate we all are to have creature comforts like a nice cosy bed and warm shower.

"The people there, the porters who helped me, cannot afford an education and have to pay for hospital treatment.

"We take what we have for granted. It was an overwhelming experience and one I will never forget."