THIS little boy proved he was a real fighter – now his dad is doing the same.

Archer Williamson was born 12 weeks early, weighing just 1lb 13oz, and defied all the odds to become a healthy and happy five-year-old.

His dad Ben, 28, has taken inspiration from his son's determination and entered into the Tough Mudder challenge – a 12-mile, military-style assault course – on Saturday, May 4.

He hopes to raise thousands of pounds for Bliss, a charity which provides the best possible care and support for all premature and sick babies and their families.

He said: "I decided I wanted to mark Archer's fifth year by doing something to raise money for charity.

"He fought through so much at such a young age and we were told on several occasions to prepare for the worst.

"Now he is full of life just a normal little boy.

"I want other families across the country to have support if their child is born premature which is the reason for choosing Bliss."

Following his birth in 2007 at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Archer was in a critical condition and fought off both bronchitis and MRSA.

Ben will not be alone during the challenge, he has entered as a team of six – made up of his family and friends.

Many of his team mates work for the family business, I & M Bathrooms in Cromwell Road, Grimsby, where members of the public can visit to make any donations to the cause.

Ben said: "This event will definitely be a challenge, we are not athletes, the most exercise we previously did was getting in and out of the work van.

"We have all started training now, heading to the gym and running during the week.

"It will be hard but as a team I hope we will push each other on, the thought of what Archer has been through will keep me going."

Adam Williamson, 26, is Ben's brother and is also joining the event.

He said: "I am looking forward to it, there are a lot of families who have premature children but some are not as lucky as Archer.

"It is all for a worthy cause and the end prize is a pint of beer – I will definitely be ready for that."

Mike Fisher, 18, is also taking part.

He said: "It will be interesting to see how far I can really go both mentally and physically.

"There will be no giving up on this, we will all complete the event one way or another. It will really help us doing it together as we can push each other on.

"Knowing Archer's story is really inspirational and will definitely give me that extra motivation on the day."

More than 600 babies were born prematurely in North East Lincolnshire in the last three years.

Early births carry many risks, including neurological impairment and disability, and the earlier they are born, the greater the risk is.

Anyone wanting to sponsor the team can visit www.justgiving.com/Adam-Williamson2

ON THE WEB: Read Archer's full story at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

GRIMSBY angler George Smith will cast off for his country this summer after being selected to take part in the Home International Shore Fishing Championships.

Smith is no stranger to international honours – this is the 19th year running that the 49-year-old has been picked to fish for his country.

And so, in familiar company, he will travel to Aberech in North Wales at the beginning of July, hoping to help his country to net the team title.

Smith will be one of the English side's key figures, given the fact that he is currently ranked as the number one match angler in the country.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Smith, of St Ives Crescent, explained: "I'm currently ranked number one because I've just won the National League for Sea Anglers.

"It's a huge honour and I was really proud when I found out.

"I was third last year but I've managed to win it this year so it means that I'll be going into the Home Internationals in good form.

"It's a big boost going into it and it should set me up well for the tournament.

"To represent your country is a huge honour – no matter how many times you've done it – so I'm always really proud to be called up.

"I'm really looking forward to it as I do every year. It's a great event and it will be nice to be a part of it again."

Even when he is not competing, Smith just cannot keep himself away from fish as he works as a filleter for Grimsby firm Seachill.

And, looking forward to the upcoming clash with some of the best anglers in the world, Smith feels both he and the rest of the English side have a good chance of success in Wales.

He continued: "We've got a good chance again this year because we've got a really strong team.

"It's a team that's made up of good lads who I know well.

"I like fishing in Wales because I know the area well and I think we've got a good chance of winning there – it's my sort of fishing and I'll be up for it.

"Last year we fished in Dover and before that Ireland and Scotland and we've always done ok."

He added: "I also know the Scottish, Welsh and Irish lads really well also so it will be a good tournament to be involved in.

"Also this year, there's a junior competition as well as one for Under-21s and ladies so it will be a big event.

"We'll go down a couple of days earlier to prepare and get to know what we're doing.

"If we all perform to how I know we can, I think we'll give ourselves a great chance."

Parents are joining together to shine the spotlight on a "hidden disability". Chief reporter SARAH CAREY finds out more...

COULD your child be among the one in four in the UK to have dyspraxia?

But, thanks to a group of determined mums who are doing all they can to support other parents and raise awareness of the "hidden disability", help is at hand.

The idea was the brainchild of Mandy Easters, of Humberstone Road, Grimsby, who felt there was no support available when her son Freddie, 9, was diagnosed with the condition last October.

She set up a Facebook group in the hope of contacting other parents in the same position and was overwhelmed when almost 80 parents signed up.

Now, she and other mums meet up to talk through their experiences, swap tips and do their best to get teachers and medical professionals to recognise the signs and support those with the condition.

Very often sufferers are simply dismissed as being lazy, forgetful, clumsy or day dreamers, when in fact it is their undiagnosed dyspraxia that causes them to have a short attention span or poor balance.

Communication is also a problem for many sufferers, which means they are scared to let teachers know they don't understand or are falling behind.

Mandy said: "I didn't know anything was medically wrong until Freddie was diagnosed.

"I looked it up and, as I went down the list of symptoms I realised all the things I thought were just 'Freddie being Freddie' were related to it.

"When I thought back to all the times I had told him off for being clumsy for knocking drinks over, or thought he was being lazy leaving his buttons done up (fine motor skills are also difficult for some sufferers), I felt so guilty."

And the other mums had similar stories, which document the wide range of issues faced by those with the condition.

Ruth Philps, whose daughter Georgia, 10, suffers with weak wrists, said she often pours milk all over the kitchen when preparing cereal.

Jenny Redman's daughter Chloe, 10, has been prescribed medication to help her sleep, as she can't switch off at night, while Michelle Ward's son Owen, nine, has problems using knives and forks.

Tina Tomlinson, a qualified teacher, said her 18-year-old son Michael was being held back from doing his chosen college course, as his condition meant he was unable to get the C grade he needed at English.

She said: "One of the issues they have trouble with is communicating what's in their heads, so to get the D he got was wonderful for him – it's just not enough for the course he wants to do.

"I wish there had been something like this group when he was growing up. There was nothing.

"It would have been wonderful to have someone to talk to and them to say 'yes, that's a dyspraxia trait. It's normal'."

Jenny added: "You get a lot of people saying don't label children with this or that but I believe it does more damage not to diagnose them.

"It's important for children, their families and their teachers to have information about why they are the way they are and what can be done to help and support them.

"If children aren't diagnosed or they don't get the support, it can cause long-term issues, which they take forward into work, relationships and the rest of their lives."

Find out more

For more information about the group and its work, visit its Facebook page Dyspraxia – North East Lincs Support Group.

Striking costumes and amazing acrobatics continue at the ten-day Cleethorpes Dance Festival, which ends on Monday.

Competitors are packing out the Cleethorpes Memorial Hall and we are joining them to ensure we can feature photographs of classes in the Grimsby Telegraph every day, and uploading more online at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

Make sure you log on now to check out the results so far and

our picture galleries - where you can also buy copies.

Tap novice (aged 6-7 years): 1, Chloe Kay, 2, Olivia Hides, 3, Heidi Britteon, 4, Madison Diamond

Modern novice (aged 8-9 years): 1, Ebony Sherriff, 2, Alice Wright, 3, Krista Jane Gaffney, 4, Poppy Stubbs

Song and dance open (aged 10-11 years): 1, Megan Allenby, 2, Saskia Ellis, 3, Libby Tice, 4, Harley Stephen

Ballet open (aged 12-13 years): 1, Victoria Keal, 2, Caitlin Gledhill, 3, Kezzia Dennis, 4, Seraya Culshaw

Ballet group without theme (aged 16-18 years): 1 and 2 Swaby Dance Centre, 3, Pat Yarborough Theatre Dance School, 4, Alexandra Bloy Centre of Dance

Ballet novice (aged 6-7 years): 1, Amy Ramsden, 2, Sophie Meggitt, 3, Maria Meske, 4, Georgia Baxter

Song and dance novice (aged 8-9years): 1, Casey Foyle, 2, Bethany Thompson, 3, Charlotte Horsfall, 4, Jasmine Thompson and Jenna Ornsby

Character novice (aged 12-13 years): 1, Bethany Brewin, 2, Chloe Sharp, 3, Alicia Blades Evans, 4, Alivia Green and Mackenzie Dye

National open (aged 14-15 years): 1, Grace Swaby-Moore, 2, Kye-Olivia Thompson, 3, Eve Smith, 4, Rebecca Holland

Song and dance open (aged 6-9years): 1, Chloe Hull, 2, Fleur Elise Frankland, 3, Hannah Forman, 4, Megan Potts

Ballet group without theme (aged under 13 years): 1 and 2 Swaby Dance Centre, 3, Pat Yarborough Theatre Dance School, 4, Happy Feet Dance School

Tap novice (aged 14-15 years): 1, Jemma Smith, 2, Charlotte Gardener, 3, Annabel Easton, 4, Joseph Tobin

Greek or natural movement (aged 6-11 years): 1, Megan Allenby, 2, Maddie Jackson, 3, Millie-Mac Armour, 4, Charlotte Jones

Ballet novice (14-15 years): 1, Ellys Cartwright, 2, Nadia Myciuk, 3, Paige Pogson, 4, Victoria Mitchell and Jemma Smith

Tap novice (aged 10-11 years): 1, Evie Linfitt, 2, Anouska Allison, 3, Amelia Clarke, 4, Arielle Hides

Cabaret duet with song (aged under 16 years): 1, Eleanor Wilkinson and Eve Smith, 2, Chloe Sharp and Natasha Sleeth, 3, Mackenzie Dye and Bethany Brewin, 4, Victoria Mitchell and Eve Simmons

National open (aged 12-13 years): 1, Ebony Webster, 2, Taya Kyme, 3, Aisling Stenton, 4, Alicia Blades Evans and Charlotte Beckett

Production (aged 16-18 years): 1, Pat Yarborough Theatre Dance School, 2, Clee Academy of Dance, 3 and 4 Pat Yarborough Theatre Dance School

Ballet novice (aged 10-11 years): 1, Anouska Allison, 2, Ruby Burchell, 3, Mia Wilkins, 4, Jemima Jefferies

A BUSINESSWOMAN is stitching her passions together to start sewing classes at her first shop.

Claire Kaye, 35, has opened Wren and Ivy, a vintage and retro-inspired gift store, at Waltham Windmill.

She stocks a range of interior homeware, ribbons, trims and haberdashery but her favourite of all are the variety of unique fabrics from designers across the country and in France.

After gaining a degree in fashion design, Claire now intends to share her talents with others and wants to start small sewing classes for beginners within the next few months.

She also hopes the new TV show, the Great British Sewing Bee – which started on Tuesday on BBC Two – will help to inspire other amateur sewers to have a go.

Claire said: "I belive anyone can be taught how to sew.

"It will be nice to run some classes inside my shop and I hope to have some dates available soon.

"In the meantime, I would encourage people to come and have a look inside my store as I have a lot to offer.

"I have some of my own creations on sale as well so people can pick up something different. I have always loved the 1960s era, but as I have grown up the fashion and designs of the 1930s and 1940s attracted me a lot more.

"I am delighted to have opened my own store, I just need people to spread the word that I am here now."

Claire is originally from Barnsley but settled in Grimsby 10 years ago after meeting her partner during a one-year work placement out in Australia.

Alongside the shop, she also works two days a week as a fashion technician at the Grimsby Institute – the job she used to do full-time before becoming a mum four years ago.

She said: "I enjoy keeping myself busy and I have a big passion for fashion.

"The thing I like the most is that you can create something so unique and individual to yourself and you know no one else will have it.

"This is what the sewing classes will help people achieve as well.

"Once I sort out when they will be, I can help people with felt making and creating things like lampshades."

Wren and Ivy is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.

If anyone missed Tuesday night's first episode of the Great British Sewing Bee, it will be repeated on BBC Two on Saturday, April 6 at 5.05pm.

A LINCOLNSHIRE MP welcomed David Cameron's announcement that immigrants will have to work hard if they intend to live in the UK.

Edward Leigh, who represents Caistor and Market Rasen, spoke out after the announcement that Mr Cameron doesn't want to see the country as a "soft touch" for benefits claimants.

Mr Leigh claimed that the tough reforms already implemented have seen net immigration fall by almost a third.

He said: "After 13 years of open borders under Labour, many people, whether here in Lincolnshire or around the country, are concerned about immigration.

"I welcome the new steps which the Prime Minister has set out to ensure that everyone who comes here pays their way and is able to give something back."

A DEVOTED couple – who lived for their family and each other – have died just weeks apart.

Kath and Wally Bird, of Edge Avenue, Scartho, were well known for their love of spending time with their daughters Denise and Jackie, five grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.

Sadly, Kath, 83, died on March 7, after suffering blood clots following knee surgery.

Wally, 81, died on March 22, from pneumonia and septicaemia – although his daughters believe he couldn't face life without Kath.

The couple met in the Army and were married in Kidderminster Register Office in 1951.

Later Wally brought his young bride Kath – who had been born and raised on a farm in Broughtyferry, Scotland – to Cleethorpes, where the family settled.

For a number of years, the couple ran Brown's Fish and Chip shop in Albion Street, before Wally went on to work as a lifeguard at Orwell Street Baths and Scartho Baths and later worked at Grimsby Hospital.

However, there was still plenty of opportunity for him to show off his legendary sense of humour – which had seen him employed as Bepe the Clown before the war broke out.

Kath also worked throughout her life, taking up posts at Carters and F A Would's builders, then later at Tates Head Office before she retired in 1990.

Another of the couple's loves were animals and they could always be relied on to find a zoo on any day out.

A particular favourite of Wally's were monkeys, and for a time he bred marmosets and squirrel monkeys.

Despite Wally's fear of flying, the couple also loved to travel, particularly taking cruises.

The couple's funeral will be tomorrow from 11.40am at Grimsby Crematorium. Donations can be made to the Blue Cross in memory of their beloved dog Toby.

NEW arrangements are now in place for people to make payments to North East Lincolnshire Council.

Residents are now able to pay their bar-coded council bills at a total of 95 outlets across the borough – 74 registered Paypoint outlets and 21 post offices.

The new service will mean that North East Lincolnshire Council will close its three cash offices at Grimsby, Immingham and Cleethorpes on April 26 in an aim to save money and help customers.

Customers who continue to visit the cash offices during April will be made aware of the new service.

Councillor Hazel Chase, portfolio holder for citizens and partnerships, said:

"The decision to move to this alternative method of collection has been made on the clear benefits to the council, residents and businesses. Customers will see huge benefits as the need to travel in to the town centre is reduced and they are able to pay their bills on evenings and weekends; businesses in local communities will see increased visits to local shops subscribing to the Paypoint scheme and the council expects over £50,000 of annual savings as it saves on staffing and supplies.

"We will, of course, prioritise and support our more vulnerable customers during the changes."

The council is also developing many of its online and new media services to ensure customer services are delivered in a way that fits with the lives of residents.

For more information, contact the council on Twitter by tweeting @nelincs or call 01472 313131.

"IT UPSETS me when I hear people define autism as behavioural issues – they cannot be any more wrong."

These are the words of Leanne Bucknole, 33, whose son Alex, 12, has Asperger syndrome – an autism spectrum disorder.

Yesterday, Leanne and Alex joined two other woman and their children for a short walk from Grimsby bus station to People's Park, in order to highlight World Autism Awareness Day.

Alex's condition means he finds it hard to socialise and is never left to go out on his own.

Leanne, of Pelham Road, Cleethorpes, said: "It is very hard looking after Alex at times, but it is even harder when there is so little understanding from others of what autism is. Alex is the most polite boy you could ever meet, he just does not take in what goes on around him.

"He wouldn't notice a road and, without guidance, would walk straight across it without looking first.

"His condition does not mean his behaviour is bad."

Sara Scrimshaw, 40, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 15.

She is now chairman of North East Lincolnshire partnership Board For Autism and works to encourage more people to join.

She said: "As part of the board, we go out and deliver training to people on how to communicate with an autistic individual.

"We have teamed up with Humberside Fire and Rescue to train firefighters on how best to deal with someone with autism."

Michelle Ward, 32, of Sherwood Road, Grimsby, is also a member of the board and her son Owen, 9, has dyspraxia – a condition which includes traits of autism.

She said: "As part of Owen's condition, he struggles using knives and forks.

"Autism is so misunderstood which is why I try and raise awareness wherever I go.

"I have autism as well, so I know just how much of a struggle it can be for those with the condition. I organised a short walk yesterday to mark the national awareness day."

THE Lincolnshire County Cricket League will kick-off their 50th anniversary celebrations with an awards dinner on Friday night.

Starting at 7pm, local players, supporters and officials with gather at Hemswell Court, near Caenby Corner, to honour those who starred during the 2012 season.

The guest speaker on the night will be former Warwickshire batsman Paul Smith, who is renowned on the circuit as being a colourful character.

It will be the first solely-run LCCL awards dinner – following the decision to hold a separate celebration from the Grimsby & District Midweek League – though tickets have already sold out.

Meanwhile, the LCCL are planning to stage a unique Twenty20 event at Cleethorpes Cricket Club on Sunday, June 23.

Bringing together four players from each team in the league, it is hoped the four-team competition will enable a wide range of local cricketers to take part.

Each LCCL side will be asked to nominate a batsman, seam bowler, slow bowler and an all-rounder – from which the final teams will be picked.

Coming together in celebration of the half-century, league chairman Bob Welton, pictured, is eagerly awaiting the T20 day.

He said: "We have been thinking about how to celebrate this milestone, and what better way is there to do that than bringing our players together?"

Starting in the morning, each team will play two games – with the winners and losers of each first round match battling it out for places later in the day.

The LCCL's main sponsors, Readers, have donated pink balls for the occasion, while the teams are also expected to wear coloured clothing.

A NEW cycle hub will be at the heart of Grimsby's drive towards greener transport.

The new facility, which will be located in a disused building at Grimsby Town railway station, will offer commuters and visitors the chance to safely leave their bikes in a secure, monitored environment, accessed using state-of-the-art electronic keys.

The Cycle Hub will also offer servicing and repairs, maintenance workshops, cycle training and a shower for commuters to freshen-up before going to work.

It will be run by Cycle Lincs, a not-for-profit social enterprise which already offers the region's only mobile cycle hire service, delivering and collecting bikes door-to-door.

Janine Walker, director of Cycle Lincs, said: "We are delighted to be a part of the Green Transport project. Cycling is such a fun, inexpensive and environmentally-friendly form of transport. And we want to see the town embrace it as a viable option for travel – with the bonus of getting fit and healthy.

"This is a great service for tourists or for people who are staying with relatives and fancy a cycle around North East Lincolnshire.

"There are so many things to see within cycling distance and you get a far better feel for the place when you are on your bike. The borough has such a diverse range of territory that it is suitable for all levels of cycling and for all tastes."

Cycle Lincs hire a range of hybrid bikes that are suitable on roads as well as light, off-road trails. They hire adult, youth and children's bikes as well as tagalongs, towalongs and child seats for those too young to ride on their own.

The scheme also has tandems and a Penny Farthing for those who fancy something a bit more unusual.

The cycle hub is one element in the £6-million transformation of Grimsby town centre, which includes the revamp of Station Approach and the Riverhead.

As part of the work, a new pedestrian and cycle link will provide an uncluttered route between the bus station and the rest of the town centre.

A new space will be constructed at the junction of Bethlehem Street and Station Approach to encourage slower traffic speeds and cycle movement, with the aim of encouraging more "active travel" and reducing the number of standing vehicles that currently occupy this space.

Also included in the £6-million project are a number of schemes aimed at boosting the use of green transport in the borough (see panels for more details).

Councillor Peter Wheatley, North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for regeneration and environment, said: "The cycle hub is one of a number of schemes to benefit from the successful bid by the council for Local Sustainable Transport Funding. Together, these projects will ease congestion and help to kick-start regeneration in Grimsby town centre and beyond."

ON THE WEB: Want to know more about the new cycle hub and other green transport schemes?

Put your questions to officers from North East Lincolnshire Council and its partner Balfour Beatty in tomorrow's web debate. Log onto www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk from noon tomorrow to take part.

NEXT WEEK: We look at how the £6-million project will support the town's economic regeneration.

A MOTION asking Prime Minister David Cameron to suspend Sir Bruce Keogh from his position in the NHS will be put forward at an extraordinary meeting in Grimsby next week.

It comes as part of the ongoing row about the suspension of children's heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary following a ruling by the High Court that the facility should be saved from closure.

Campaigners have been told that data used to suspend surgery was inaccurate.

Councillor Peggy Elliot – chairman of North East Lincolnshire Council's health, housing and wellbeing scrutiny panel – has put forward the motion following the recent suspension of surgery.

It has been agreed by leader of North East Lincolnshire Council Councillor Chris Shaw to hold a special full council meeting at Grimsby Town Hall on Monday to vote on the issue.

As part of the motion, Councillor Shaw wants to ask the Prime Minister what role the Secretary Of State For Health has in the decision making as he has seen little leadership from Government.

Councillor Shaw said: "Just weeks ago, we got the outstanding news that the High Court had ruled in favour of saving Leeds Children's Heart Unit from closure.

"Days later we are back at square one as Sir Bruce decides to suspend all surgery while an investigation into mortality rates takes place – we now know information used to suspend surgery is flawed.

"North East Lincolnshire councillors now doubt the credibility of Sir Bruce and I will be the one to second this motion.

"I hope all other councillors will vote in favour of the motion, as they did last time when we agreed to give money to support legal action against the decision to close the heart unit."

Councillor Shaw has also revealed that the motion will include the council agreeing to put forward more money should further legal action be needed to lift the suspension of surgery.

The special meeting on Monday comes as NHS England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the National Trust Development Authority, are in constant discussions about the next steps for heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

At the time of going to press, no decision from these bodies had been made despite rumours yesterday that surgery had resumed.

These rumours were denied but keep checking www. thisisgrimsby.co.uk for updates.

"COME and stay in Immingham and live on what we have to for a month – then tell me if you think what you're doing is fair."

That was the challenge laid down to Prime Minister David Cameron by one Immingham woman, who is being forced to leave her home of 46 years, her friends and her community because of the Government's "bedroom tax".

The measure, which came into force this week, is one of a raft of changes being introduced by the Government as part of sweeping reforms of the benefits system – which will be explored in a series of features in your Grimsby Telegraph.

It means many people claiming benefits who "under-occupy" their homes are being faced with the choice of paying an average of £14 per week to "top-up" their rent or move to a smaller property.

A Department of Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "It's only right that we bring fairness back to the system – when in England alone there are nearly 2-million households on the social housing waiting list and over a quarter of a million tenants are living in overcrowded homes."

In North East Lincolnshire, one in five of Shoreline Housing Association's tenants – up to 1,600 people – under-occupy their homes and are in receipt of benefits due to unemployment or because they have such a low income.

One, is single mum Deborah Kirk, who shares her three-bed Immingham home with her two-year-old son Kneale.

She took on the property when her eldest son Jordan, 22, still lived at home and the family needed three bedrooms.

However, now Jordan has moved out, she would need to find an extra £20 a week in order to stay in her home.

But, with a monthly income of £480, after her council tax and housing benefit has been paid, to feed and clothe herself and her son – and pay all the bills – this is a sum she says she simply cannot afford.

Mrs Kirk, who is yet to find another suitable home, said: "I am really feeling the pinch already. I struggle to make ends meet, but I manage.

"I have had to cut back on a lot of things already. There is no way I can find another £20 a week.

"This means I am going to have to move away from my home and everyone I know."

At the time of going to press, no response to Mrs Kirk's challenge had been received from Number 10.

When asked by the Grimsby Telegraph if he would step in on Mr Cameron's behalf, Immingham and Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers said: "Doing so would take me away from doing my job for a month, which would clearly be very difficult and would actually be disadvantageous to my constituents, but I'm very happy to meet with the lady and discuss her individual case."

Click here to find out more about the changes.

IT may have been a long time coming – but it was certainly well worth the wait.

Ross Hannah's spectacular volley in the Mariners' 2-1 win over Stockport on Monday was the striker's first goal since before Christmas.

The 26-year-old hopes the confidence boost of ending that three-month wait could set him up for a goal rush towards the end of the season as he and the Mariners look to consolidate their position in the play-offs.

That mission continues in tonight's game at Macclesfield (7.45pm). And after finally getting off the mark, the former Matlock man now has the Silkmen firmly in his sights.

Speaking to the Telegraph, ahead of the clash at Moss Rose, he said: "I go into every game wanting to score but as games pass you by and it builds up, you do start to wonder where your next goal is coming from but you've just got to keep going and putting yourself in the right areas.

"That's what I've been doing and against Stockport, it paid off.

"Words can't describe what that goal meant to me and how I felt after scoring it.

"To score a goal like that as well meant that it was almost worth the wait in the end!

"It was more instinct than anything because I didn't really have time to think about it.

"I had a defender near me and it just sat up nicely for me to hit it first time which I did and thankfully it's flown in the top corner."

The relief at ending his drought was there for all to see during Hannah's exuberant celebrations in the aftermath of his wonder-goal at Edgeley Park.

After watching the ball fly over former Town loanee Richard O'Donnell, the frontman sprinted over to the dugout to celebrate with Town's joint managers.

And he revealed that it was a way of thanking Rob Scott and Paul Hurst for keeping faith with him during his goal drought.

He added: "The gaffers had a word with me before the game at Stockport and said that they had faith in me and felt that a goal was just around the corner.

"So when I scored, I didn't have time to think about it, I just ran over to them to say a little thank you."

He continued: "I think all strikers are confidence players and that goal is just what I needed –it will set me up nicely for the games that we have left.

"But it's not about me though – the most important thing was the win. To go to Stockport and get the win was massive.

"We've stopped the rot now and we can push on – starting tonight at Macclesfield – and go on to have a winning run through to the end of the season."