THE words "superfast broadband" really makes my blood boil!

It is my pet peeve – how can internet providers say that they can give "super fast broadband" if they can't keep a reliable service in the first place?

I live in an area where the internet speed is shocking, the maximum I have ever seen the download speed was 1.1 megabyte per second (Mbps), which is below the Government's target of 2Mbps for 2015.

Other companies say they can get you a better deal on your internet, which is great but if they can't deliver then why say they can give a faster service? Why say it at all?

Or are they just after our money?

I use the internet to play games, chat with friends over Skype and Facebook like most people do, but as soon as another computer uses the internet, it just slows down and lags, we all know what lag means to me.

In other areas, such as London and Manchester, they have incredible broadband and 4G connectivity with up to 10mbps and it is still rising.

Grimsby could do with some of this technology and innovation. One thing is for certain – Grimsby and the surrounding small villages could do with a rapid change from our current slow speeds that we have to live with, even if it means digging up roads to fit fibre optic cables, I am more than happy to make that sacrifice.

AS regular users of the Discovery Centre cafeteria at the Boating Lake, at least once a week, 52 weeks of the year, my wife and I would like to register our protest at the ridiculous table service scheme.

They are not overseeing a branch of Langham's or the restaurant at the Savoy, this is a seaside cafe/snack bar where the public can go for a coffee or a quick bite to eat.

The Discovery Centre has neither the facilities nor staff numbers to do a table service successfully.

If any member of staff does not report for work one day – and let's be perfectly honest, what business does not have staffing problems on a day-to- day basis – the hare-brained scheme puts more pressure on the staff there, who are doing a perfectly good job without cack-handed interference. Before long you will have no regular clients.

I hope that they realise that there is no way to check if people walk out without paying because:

1. There are two entrance/exits from the cafeteria and

2. The person taking the orders are not taking the money.

This becomes more of a problem with this scheme being extended to the outside tables.

This cafe is owned by the council, who need every penny the cafe generates, apart from the fact that as a council tax payer I object to any scheme that has the potential to lose money, never mind give it away in freebies to people who don't pay for their food and drink.

Finally the Discovery Centre cafe runs and has run in the past quite smoothly and does not need any tweaking or interference from some meddler.

They should remember the old saying, if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

David McIntyre, Mallard Close, Healing.

In response, Sue Marshall, operations manager at the centre, said waitress service had been introduced due to customer demand and was proving popular with the growing number of visitors.

She added: "Our regular customers have told us they are very happy with the new service and feel it has made it a more comfortable and relaxed environment for them .

"The majority of cafes in and around the area use waitress service and the new operation has also increased visitor numbers to the cafe and our takings are up."

I READ with interest the Viewpoint on the Discovery Centre on March 19.

My friend and I went for lunch today. We arrived at 12.20pm and at 1.15pm were still waiting for our food.

The toilets were dirty with paper over the floor and one of the toilet seats was broken.

Other customers appeared to be unhappy about the service and in many cases had to clear dirty crockery to sit at a table.

Details supplied

Sue Marshall said customers regularly feedback on how impressed they are with the service and the facilities provided, but as the customer hadn't provided contact details, it was impossible to verify the length they'd had to wait.

"We pride ourselves on serving customers as soon as we're able, but on the day in question we had a staff member ring in ill at late notice, so that had a knock-on effect for which we apologised to customers on the day," she added.

"With regards to the toilets, they are cleaned daily and the reported broken seat was, in fact, just wobbly and was repaired the following day."

RE: CAPED POOSADER.

I can't fault him, but like many, believe he shouldn't "have" to do it.

People pay their rates and street cleaners, who get well over the minimum basic pay, should be doing what they are paid to do.

I personally keep the surrounding area where I live swept and litter-picked; and my brown bin full of leaves from the autumn out of the street around me – where the lack of street cleaners have failed to remove them.

The general thing now is discard things when you've finished with them, even if there's a bin nearby.

I've even seen adults sat on the wall of the river and rather throw the empty can in the water rather than put them in a bin six feet from them.

A good example to set for the future generations.

It makes you wonder what these people's homes are like when they have such total disregard for the environment around them?

MW Wressell, Corporation Road, Grimsby.

The Telegraph says

People's inability to bin their waste has been a problem for some time, and with the council cuts we are facing, the onus will be on us more to help out.

Is that too much to ask?

THE family of a New Waltham man who died after suffering a major heart attack on the way home from work have thanked all those who tried to save him.

Dave "Ecco" Ecclestone, 57, was driving along Estate Road 1 on South Humberside Industrial Estate, Grimsby, last Monday when he was taken ill.

Passers-by called for an ambulance and attempted CPR until paramedics arrived and they managed to get his heart beating again.

Dave was rushed to the intensive care unit at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital but failed to recover and passed away on Thursday.

His wife and best friend of 33 years, Diane, 54, and their sons, Chris, 33, Steve, 30, and Andy, 28, were by his side.

Andy, who is area manager for three local pubs and lives in Waltham, said: "It came as such a shock because dad had always lived life to the full.

"He was always the life and soul of the party and loved spending time with his family and friends.

"He was also a very thoughtful man and always put others before himself. I think that's why he came back from the heart attack to make things easier for all of us.

"I'm getting married in Cuba this August and I know he will be up there somewhere looking down on us."

Born in Bradford, Dave lived in Leeds until 1997 when he moved to North East Lincolnshire to follow a promotion at work.

He spent 27 years at BASF, formerly known as Ciba, and was on his way home from a night stint as shift manager when he suffered the heart attack.

Dave was a massive football fan and travelled around the world to games, including attending the last two World Cups in Germany and South Africa.

He supported both England and Leeds United and was also a fan of Rugby League, supporting the Leeds Rhinos.

Energy company salesman Steve, from Cleethorpes, added: "Dad loved going to games and we went with him a few times.

"He had a big group of friends who were England supporters and they got in touch to tell us they were having a drink in his memory at the World Cup Qualifiers in San Marino on Friday.

"He planned to go to the next World Cup in Rio and when it's on we will all be watching the games in his memory."

When he wasn't working or spending time with the family, Dave enjoyed having a drink at the Farmhouse and Harvest Moon pubs near his home in New Waltham.

Chris, of Humberston, who also works at BASF, said: "We would like to thank everybody who tried to help dad when he collapsed because they gave us a few days longer with him.

"The people who called the ambulance and gave him CPR, the paramedics who cared for him, the police and the doctors nurses at the hospital have all been fantastic.

"We can't thank them enough for everything they did."

Dave leaves behind six grandchildren – Chris' children with wife Ruth are Joshua, 12, Ethan, 7, and Paige, 1; Steve's sons with partner Jade are Cameron, 8, and Dylan, 4; and Andy's son with fiancée Jemma is Lukas, 2.

Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for details of the funeral arrangements.

BUSINESSES want to know why it has taken four days for North East Lincolnshire Council to remove huge mounds of sand from Cleethorpes Promenade.

At the time of going to press, the seafront road remained closed from the junction near Willys Pub and Brewery all the way down to Wonderland Market.

Oddball's Crazy Golf owner Terry Procter has been closed for two days after his course was swallowed by a foot of sand on Sunday.

He claims this is because sand blew from the makeshift bank built by NELC to protect the promenade.

Mr Procter said: "I understand you can't control nature but this has been going on since Friday.

"Building that bank was an act of complete stupidity, in my opinion. It has made the sand go up in the air and land on my golf course. Because of their complete lack of activity, the sand has built up. We're having a complete disaster."

Jason Longhurst, head of development at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "We're doing all we can to remove the drifting sand, but we are being hampered by the very strong easterly winds.

"The current low tide means the sand is very dry and this is making the situation worse. Teams using excavators, diggers and tractors have been working to move the drifting sand, but wind speeds of about 45mph are making this difficult. Sand is likely to continue to drift until the inclement weather ends."

IF YOU are on the hunt for a cracking Easter deal – make sure you head for Freeman Street Market on Friday.

In an egg-stra special deal for Grimsby Telegraph readers, the first 300 people to arrive with their token from Friday's paper will be presented with a free Easter egg.

The offer is available from 10am and, although there is only one egg per person, while stocks last, the market's manager Sean McGarel said there was plenty more to see and do at the popular shopping outlet.

He said: "We have got a cracking display and it's a great opportunity for people to get down to the market and see how it's changed since our refurbishment.

"This is all about saying thank you to our regular customers and Grimsby Telegraph readers, while hopefully attracting some new customers to come along, too."

THE ANNUAL point-to-point races took place on Saturday at a rain-soaked Brocklesby Park.

With the official going changed from 'good to soft, soft in places' to 'soft' as the incessant downpour made a direct impact – tractors were even need to help vehicles off the course.

Many race-goers braved the adverse conditions to see former National Hunt star, Punchestowns, score in the Singleton Birch Men's Open race.

Returning to the racecourse for the first time in two years, Punchestowns put on a brilliant display in the hands of Johnny Bailes, showing his racing enthusiasm remains strong.

Local rider Tom Strawson, on board Reach For The Top, also ran gallantly in defeat.

After the race, Alistair Forman from Singleton Birch presented the trophy to a delighted Judy Wilson, the owner of Punchestowns.

Meanwhile, Tom Strawson collected the Fighting Star Cup for being the first local horse past the post.

However, Strawson was much closer to winning the opening DDM Agriculture Brocklesby Member's race – Sam Klug won that on board Awesome 'Arry.

Jill Dawson, who has been overseeing the training of Murphy's Promise, was in the winners' enclosure with her husband Mike after the AGA Ladies Open race.

Palypso De Creek, who had one close rival in Playing The Field, had been an intended runner in the Hunter Chase at Leicester the day before, but found this a much easier assignment.

The 10-year-old was superbly ridden to victory by Claire Hart.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire rider Jacqui Coward teamed up with her mum Cherry to record a double.

Firstly, Bob Woodhouse's Alforone scored in the Nunn's Mitsubishi Ltd Restricted race, where just three of the eight runners completed the course in testing conditions.

In the Paul Wiseman Electrical Contractors Ltd Open Maiden race, it was Botany Cove who relished the soft ground, beating Victoria Branson's Ghost Charger – who is trained at Cadney by Jane Kent.

All Great 'N' Theory followed up his success at the South Wold meeting for owner, and rider, David Renney in the Clark Weightman Midlands Area Member's race.

Lady Vicstar won the St Hughes Hospital Jockey Club PPORA Mare's Maiden.

Finally, Geoff Hunter was deservedly bestowed the Lilian Pickering achievement award for his work at the Brocklesby event over the past 50 years.

GRIMSBY Town are looking to bring in two more players to aid the club's promotion push – following Richard Brodie's shock departure yesterday.

The 25-year-old has returned to parent club Crawley after the Mariners ended his loan contract at Blundell Park by mutual consent.

News of the striker's exit came just 24 hours after he missed a penalty in Town's shoot-out defeat to Wrexham in the FA Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday.

It brought to an end a largely unsuccessful three-month stay in Cleethorpes for the former York City man, who was originally due to spend the rest of the season with the Mariners.

His departure has created a gap in Town's squad and joint boss Paul Hurst has now revealed that the management duo are trying to bring in as many as two new faces ahead of the promotion run-in.

Speaking ahead of tonight's clash with Gateshead – which will be staged at Hartlepool United's Victoria Park – Hurst said: "It's something that we've thought of for a while.

"The enquiries that we've made have seen us hit a bit of a wall so far, but we'll continue to look at it.

"However, we can't just bring in anyone for the sake of it – they have to be of a certain quality.

"There's one or two that we'd like to get in; I think two is probably the number that we'd be looking at.

"The areas that those are in changes all the time.

"In Tom Naylor, we've got someone who can play at centre-half or midfield.

"Where we choose to utilise him may have a knock-on effect on who we look to bring in.

"In the wide areas, we've got three lads and it would be nice to bring another in."

One player who Hurst does not foresee joining the club's promotion push is Doncaster Rovers' midfielder James Harper.

The former Premier League man had been linked with a loan switch to Blundell Park, but the joint boss has distanced himself from any move.

He added: "I got a phone call asking if there was any truth in the rumour linking us with James.

"He's a player that is available, but I don't think that will be happening.

"He's certainly been a good player and he's been in Doncaster team not that long ago so I'm not sure it would be something that he'd even look at.

"We are aware that he's available, however it hasn't gone any further than that."

Tonight's clash with the Heed offers the Mariners' an opportunity to get back on track after Sunday's Wembley defeat extended their winless run to five games.

And Hurst is acutely aware of the need for his side to get back to winning ways as they bid to cement their place in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off places.

He continued: "The top spot now looks unlikely for us but if we get in the play-offs, who knows?

"If we are to get in the play-offs, the chances are that we will have picked up some good results along the way.

"I do still feel that there will be some more twists and turns along the way but we've just got to make sure that we do our job and get in the position and then, over two games, we'd fancy ourselves.

"The aim is the play-offs and it would be great to get another trip to Wembley – you never get tired of playing there.

"It would be great to go back there again and give ourselves the opportunity of being promoted, which has been the aim from day one.

"There is a lot of hard work to do and it will take a massive effort from everyone for us to do that."

WHAT'S next? A swarm of locusts?

Wind travelling at 45mph has whipped tonnes of sand onto Cleethorpes Promenade for the fourth day in a row.

And clearing the 2ft deep mounds from the main prom – which has been closed between Willy's Pub And Brewery and the Pier on the instruction of police since Friday – is proving a "losing battle" for Balfour Beatty.

It comes just days before the Easter bank holiday, already cursed by the Stainforth landslide, which buried the main trainline into Cleethorpes, and last week's freak deep freeze.

Now, anxious traders have accused Balfour Beatty – who are partners with North East Lincolnshire Council – of "not acting quickly enough" to reduce the impact of the sandstorm, which hit on Friday afternoon.

Co-owner of Hawaiian Eye Café, Jane Wood, shut two hours early yesterday, and fears this could be the toughest start of the season yet.

She said: "It is a disaster. We've had a third of the number of customers we would normally have had.

"We feel abandoned by the council. It happened on Friday and, until today, no one has been to see us. They haven't done anything.

"We have a bank holiday coming up – this, with the landslide and cold weather, makes it a very worrying time and an upsetting start to the season."

At the beginning and end of winter, NELC takes away the sand that has built up against the sea wall to keep the beach at a safe level.

However, the Grimsby Telegraph understands a trader contacted the authority two weeks ago to ask why it appeared this hadn't happened this year. At the time of going to press, the situation had not been clarified by the council.

Owen Taylor, of arcade business Taylor Made Fun, estimates a 75 per cent loss on last year – which enjoyed temperatures in the 20s.

He said: "We appreciate this is an act of God, but at times it feels we have a reactive rather than a proactive council.

"We cannot control what has happened, but we must get back to normal as quickly as possible. This is largely out of our control and that's the worst thing about it."

Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of NELC, reassured businesses they were doing all they could to help the resort, including an extra ten buses between Doncaster and Cleethorpes and deploying four diggers to clear the promenade of sand.

He said: "If the wind drops before Easter it will be clear but, as leader of the council, the one thing I can't control is the weather. There is no point in officers carrying on clearing the promenade if the wind stays as strong. It is a waste of public money."

Portfolio holder for leisure and tourism, Councillor Mick Burnett, added: "We cannot change nature, but we will work with it and do the best we can to sort the problem."

An NELC spokesperson said they hoped the prom would be "drivable" by today. However, this does not mean it will be open.

A YOUNG mum attempted to rob a Grimsby convenience store while viciously brandishing two knives because she was desperate for money to "get out of town".

Georgina Hall, 22, of Alexandra Road, left shop assistant Lisa Sellers "terrified" after bursting into the store in Gilbey Road at 12.50pm on March 3, before demanding cigarettes and cash from the till.

Appearing at Grimsby Crown Court, Hall admitted the offence – which she committed while "intoxicated on a mix of drink and drugs" – and was subject to a community order imposed for threatening police officers with a knife in December last year.

In CCTV footage shown to the court, Hall can be seen climbing on the shop counter on a number of occasions and lashing out with two kitchen knife- length blades towards the clearly distressed shop assistant.

Jayne Bryn, prosecuting, said it was only when local resident David Usher heard the commotion and came to the door of the shop, the incident came to a head.

She said: "He heard screaming and shouting and came across. He could see the defendant was armed with knives and was trying to climb over the counter."

Hall then turned the knives towards Mr Usher, shouting she "needed the money to get out of town".

He prevented her shutting the door of the shop, causing her to come outside and confront him.

However, when he asked her to put the blades down, she did so and ran away, leaving a trail of blood from a cut to her hand.

Speaking after the incident, Miss Sellers said she "could not bear to think" what could have happened had he not intervened.

Hall then walked into the kitchen of a property in nearby Elsenham Road, where she asked the shocked occupant of the house for a tea towel to stem the bleeding, adding she had "done something stupid".

When the woman's partner came into the kitchen with their eight-year-old and asked her to leave, she did so, taking a sock from the family's laundry basket for the wound to her hand.

Jailing her for six years, of which she will serve two behind bars and spend the rest on extended licence, Judge David Tremberg said she was "a young woman with a record of persistent violence" who presented a "high risk" of re-offending. He said: "Most people learn from experience. Sadly, at this stage of your life, you are not willing or able to do so."

Grimsby Town joint boss Paul Hurst rounds up the latest issues at Blundell Park.

ON THE WEMBLEY EXPERIENCE...

" The overriding feeling is one of disappointment because we went to go and win the trophy and we didn't manage to do that. It is a massive disappointment for everyone concerned but from our point of view, as staff and players, we've got to pick ourselves up pretty quickly for tonight's game at Gateshead, which is a very important match. Whatever the result was at Wembley, we were never going to have long to dwell on it because the league games comes around so quickly. It's very easy to feel sorry for yourself and feel down but you've got to roll your sleeves up and get on with your jobs."

ON GATESHEAD

" They've obviously changed manager since then, but when we played them last they were a very well-drilled, well-organised side, playing three in midfield and looking to play out from the back. I think that's changed slightly and I think it's been more 4-4-2 of late. At the weekend, by all accounts, they were the better team in the first half and went in at 0-0 but ended up losing 3-0 at Dartford. So they'll be keen to get some more points on the board because a lot of the other teams down there are picking up points. Gateshead have got some good players, who can hurt you and have some experience but for whatever reason, it hasn't worked for them. But it will be far from easy and we know that. It will be a big ask but I'm sure the team that we put out will give us everything. It's at Hartlepool. That could help us in the fact that it's a neutral ground and it will be interesting to see how many of our fans will go up there. Obviously at the weekend, they went to Wembley and gave us great support and it's asking them to dig in their pockets again for what will be a bitterly cold night again. On the other hand, there's a question as to how many Gateshead fans there will be there. It will be very much a different atmosphere, so much so that we'll almost need to create our own atmosphere. Will it suit us? I'll be able to tell you at about 10 o'clock tonight. I want to get back to that winning feeling – I want that more than anything. It will be a difficult game but we're not going up there with the intention of anything less than winning the game."

ON INJURIES…

" Craig Disley and Frankie Artus are carrying knocks and are both very stiff. There are a few more on top of that who are very stiff. Frankie felt his hamstring after 20 minutes in the final. We're hoping that it's just a bit of Sciatica rather than anything else because he managed to complete the game and did very well. That's credit to him because he wanted to be out there. Craig came through but then he felt his knee. Again we're just hoping that is just the workload. Both may well be okay and may be involved with us tonight but they didn't join in with the recovery session that the players did. I don't think it's anything too serious with either of them. But they're certainly both doubts for tonight. Derek Niven is still not quite right. He hasn't made the injury worse but it's just a case of waiting for that pain to go away and we're not too sure how long that will be. Certainly we're hopeful that Derek will be available to be involved in some of the games next week, but it's about taking it one day at a time. Liam (Hearn) be in the squad. He is not ready to start but whether we put him on the bench to try and have an impact from there is a decision we'll have to make. He is in our thoughts but he's certainly not ready to start a game."

ON TEAM SELECTION...

" We've got to pick a team that gives us the best opportunity of winning tonight and we've got to look at the lads that did play on Sunday and judge whether they've got another 90 minutes in them. Others will have to play and get on with it – we can't change all 11, but it is going to be a team selection that takes a lot of thought. I think a lot of the lads who didn't play on Sunday will come into contention. Then it's a case of picking who we feel are able to play another game so soon. We hope there is a bit of frustration from Sunday and that they are disappointed and angry so we take it out on Gateshead."

ON THE PROMOTION RACE…

" That top spot looks unlikely but if we get in the play-offs, who knows? As I've said before, if we are to get in the play-offs, the chances are that we will have picked up some good results along the way. I do still feel that there will be some more twists and turns along the way but we've just got to make sure that we do our job and get in the position and then, over two games, we'd fancy ourselves. The aim is the play-offs and it would be great to get another trip to Wembley – you never get tired of playing there. I'm sure we'd take even more fans and hopefully it will be a different result for them next time round. After the initial disappointment on Sunday, thoughts turned to the fact that we've still got a chance of going back to Wembley again. Were we better to get to Wembley and lose or go out to Buxton in the First Round? I know which one I'd rather choose. It would be great to go back there again and give ourselves the opportunity of being promoted, which has been the aim from day one. There is a lot of hard work to do and it will take a massive effort from everyone for us to do that. Macclesfield have got some difficult games but that said, they've done quite well against the teams up there and they'll fancy their chances. Forest Green are not on a very good run at all but you look at their fixtures on paper and, without being disrespectful to who they're playing, I'm sure they'll think they have a chance. They've also had a good rest period so they'll be fresh going into those games."

NUNSTHORPE'S primary school is using government funding for deprived children to turn the school around under the new Oasis banner.

Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe has made "reasonable progress" in raising standards since opening in September after its predecessor was judged as "inadequate" and placed in special measures in November 2011.

Nunsthorpe Community School, as it was then, was inspected again in April 2012 – before the new building reopened as an Oasis Academy – and inspectors said that progress between those dates was also "inadequate".

However, Mark Gillyon, principal since September, said a new report shows the school has turned around.

"It's the first step in a long journey, although we know there is still much to be done," he added.

The school is in a highly deprived area where more than 43 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals – students who are often low achievers, according to national research – and a large proportion also have special educational needs.

Schools receive a pupil premium of around £600 every year for each student in this category, which amounted to about £140,000 extra this academic year.

Next year, it is being increased to about £900 – nearly £200,000.

Some schools absorb this into their budget, but Nunsthorpe has targeted it to help the struggling students it is allocated for.

It has been used to buy books and sound cards for students to keep at home in households where they are lacking, and school trips have been subsidised by up to 75 per cent, which has increased the proportion of such students who go on them from five to up to 50 per cent.

Mr Gillyon added: "The Ofsted inspector was very complimentary about how we had chosen to spend what is a significant amount of extra funding here."

The school has struggled academically and has not hit Government floor targets for English and maths in the eight years since they started keeping detailed records.

Last year, 72 per cent reached level four in maths – 12 per cent above the floor target – and while reading standards were good, writing let students down, bringing the overall English percentage below the required 60 per cent.

However, since hiring four more teaching assistants – paid for by the pupil premium and briefed to help those most in need – and spending £30,000 on an overhaul of the library – prospects are good.

Next year, the two categories become three – maths, reading and writing – and Mr Gillyon expects writing to be around the floor target and students to exceed it in the other two.

Read the full Ofsted report