TRIBUTES to Britain's first female Prime Minister have been pouring in from across North East Lincolnshire and beyond.

As reported on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk Margaret Thatcher died yesterday morning aged 87, after suffering a stroke.

Conservative MP Martin Vickers, who represents Cleethorpes, says Mrs Thatcher's influence is still affecting the thinking of all major parties.

He said: "She will be sadly missed.

"Whether you love her or you hate her, she had a major impact on the British political scene that still remains.

"She was a remarkable lady and one of our greatest peacetime Prime Ministers."

Councillor Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham), said: "I did meet Mrs Thatcher on several occasions.

"She was the one who inspired me to join the Conservative party.

"It is very sad to hear of her death."

The Iron Lady was no stranger to Grimsby and the surrounding area, having visited during her time as Secretary of State for Education and Science in 1971, when she was invited to officially open Signhills Junior School.

As former head teacher Rex Manders opened an extension to the school in 2003, he recalled meeting Mrs Thatcher at the original opening.

He said: "In her speech, Lady Thatcher stated that education was built on a tripod. I agree with this because the triangle is the strongest shape and we all have to work together."

Mrs Thatcher also visited Grimsby Docks and Top Town in 1977 before winning the 1979 general election and becoming PM.

Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, was the last Minister to be appointed by Mrs Thatcher in November 1990.

He came to the House of Commons in 1983 and enjoyed working with her while she was Prime Minister.

He said: "Mrs Thatcher was hugely admired for her political conviction.

"My condolences to her family and all those who were close to her.

"We will never fully appreciate how much Mrs Thatcher transformed this country, in my opinion very much for the better."

The former PM hailed from Grantham, in Lincolnshire, and won three general elections in a row.

She also visited Louth and Conoco's Theddlethorpe terminal and opened the Conoco rooms of Louth library.

Leader of the district council Councillor Doreen Stephenson said: "It is very sad to hear of the death of Margaret Thatcher. Margaret Thatcher's time in office saw real change and challenge and we should all be grateful for her dedication and commitment."

Local UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom, added: "The last real Conservative with a spine. RIP."

Mrs Thatcher, who became Baroness Thatcher, resigned as PM in November 1990 after a year in which her fortunes plummeted.

Her funeral is to be held at London's St Paul's Cathedral next week, with military honours, although a date is yet to be set.

The service is to be followed by a private cremation.

COURAGEOUS Charlie Marshall has offered to be an organ donor and provide the gift of life to anyone who needs it – as it was announced heart surgery will resume in phases at Leeds General Infirmary tomorrow.

The 12-year-old Laceby boy knows of the need more than most children his age, having been born with only half a heart and knowing he will one day need a heart and lung transplant.

The news came last night as North East Lincolnshire Council called for Prime Minister David Cameron to suspend Sir Bruce Keogh from his position as medical director of the NHS and Jeremy Hunt from his post as Health Secretary in the wake of the scandal.

As reported, Sir Bruce and senior Care Quality Commission managers suspended surgery at the centre over claims it had higher than average mortality rates.

But last night Leeds Teaching Hospital's Chief Executive Maggie Boyle said a review had found "no evidence of significant safety concerns in terms of governance, staffing or the management of the patient pathway for surgical care in the unit or referral to other units as required".

Charlie, who has already had 14 operations, described the team as being "like family", adding: "I trust them all."

In a presentation to his school mates at Healing School, he said: "Because my heart problem cannot be cured I will sometime in the future have to have a heart and lung transplant.

"When that will be I have no idea, but for now I am just happy to be like everyone else my age."

His dad Richard, 42, said: "Charlie enjoys visiting the children's hospice. He loves going on his Xbox and doing all the normal stuff a 12-year-old would do.

"We used to wrap him up in cotton wool, but not now."

His mum Megan, 41, added: "Each time we have gone to Leeds it has been for around eight weeks at a time. They are all brilliant."

Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for updates.

WE ASKED you to identify people Humberside Police wants to trace in connection with crimes committed in North East Lincolnshire.

And, thanks to your efforts so far, there are just a few left to name, so we can shop the lot of them.

Officers from Humberside Police have, with the help of readers, put names to faces and detected crimes that would have otherwise gone unsolved.

Now they are calling on you to take another look to see if you can help identify those final few and make the streets of North East Lincolnshire even safer.

The images, all captured on CCTV cameras, have been released in the latest part of the Grimsby Telegraph's In The Frame campaign to rid our streets of thieves and thugs – and can be viewed online now at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk

Usually, officers can identify people captured on CCTV, but there are occasions when suspects are not identified.

It's at this point that appeals such as In The Frame can prove invaluable, as Humberside Police know only too well.

Thanking readers for their efforts – and calling for help in identifying the remaining suspects – Detective Constable Christian Tomlinson said: "Working together to protect our community and targeting criminals helps make North East Lincolnshire a safer place to live and work.

"It also sends out a clear message to offenders that there's every likelihood they will be caught."

Can you help?

If you recognise any of these people, call Humberside Police on the non-emergency number 101 and quote the crime number attached to the photo.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

HUMBERSIDE Police wasted public money by imposing curbs on a Grimsby Top Town bar, according to a councillor.

Members of North East Lincolnshire Council's licensing sub committee heard police officers attended the venue after a street brawl involving two women and four men.

Committee chairman Councillor Ray Oxby called for a meeting with police chiefs and said the conditions imposed by police and number of meetings following the incident had been a "waste of public resources".

A number of those involved in the assault on Saturday, March 2, had been drinking in Chambers in Old Market Place.

They were later admitted back into the bar after the violent incident. Six people have been charged with assault and are due to appear in court at a later date.

In a report to the committee, Inspector Neil Pattison said CCTV of the incident outside Chambers showed women and men fighting in the street. Glasses and a chair were thrown as well as someone being hit on the head by a chair.

Inspector Pattison said: "At no point was there any intervention to protect members of the public from serious harm by the security staff from Chambers.

"In the aftermath, all involved were seen to re-enter Chambers, unchallenged by the door staff."

Chambers was then banned from selling alcohol after 10pm and no drinks were allowed to be taken outside.

Councillors reinstated the licence to 2am. Drinks sold after 7pm must be in polycarbonate cups, and all drinks taken outside must also be in them.

Read the report here

GRIMSBY Telegraph readers have been praised for putting suspects In the Frame.

Nearly half of those captured in CCTV footage and caught in the act in a series of thefts, assaults and burglaries have been identified after their pictures appeared in the paper and online at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk.

We published a rogues' gallery of 23 suspected criminals Humberside Police needed to identify in relation to offences carried out in North East Lincolnshire.

And, within hours of the feature appearing, Humberside Police and Crimestoppers were inundated with calls from people keen to supply them with the names for 10 of those pictured.

However, your work is not done yet.

Humberside Police's Divisional Intelligence Bureau officer, Detective Constable Christian Tomlinson, said: "We've now been able to potentially detect 10 of the 23 offences for which we made an appeal.

"This yet again demonstrates the successful partnership we have with the Telegraph and its readers.

"We hope to be able to run similar campaigns periodically to seek the assistance of the public to help make North East Lincolnshire a better, safer place to live and work.

"It will also make offenders think twice before they think about committing crimes, knowing that CCTV is ever-present, and there's every likelihood that they will be caught."

Those offenders who remain at large include:

A man who committed a robbery in Railway Street, Grimsby, in December last year.

A thief who stole a wallet from the Co-op in Coniston Avenue, Grimsby on Christmas Eve.

The offender responsible for a theft and assault in Penny's Store, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, in January. Can you help bring them to justice?

Editor of The Grimsby Telegraph, Michelle Lalor said: "The Grimsby Telegraph actively supports any group or initiative that aims to make North East Lincolnshire a safer place in which to live and work.

"We therefore welcome the opportunity to work with Humberside Police and look forward to working with its officers in the future."

Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for the results of court appearances by those identified In The Frame.

Police need your help to name more suspects wanted for crimes in North East Lincolnshire

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two assaults left two men needing hospital treatment.

Humberside Police are seeking information following an incident which took place during the early hours of Saturday, April 6.

A 30-year-old man who was inside Topkapi takeaway in Cleethorpes, at around 4am, was allegedly assaulted by an unknown man.

The victim sustained injuries to his mouth and attended hospital for treatment.

Following this incident the offender, described as a white, tall, short ginger hair and wearing a white polo shirt at the time, is alleged to have walked outside and assaulted another man, resulting in the second victim sustaining a broken nose and a swollen black eye.

Anyone with information about the two incidents that night or who the offender might be, call Humberside Police on 101 quoting crime reference 1966874.

An NELC spokesperson said: "The council took immediate action to try to prevent further unauthorised use of the car park and are asking the group to leave the land immediately.

"The council has also started legal proceedings to have the travellers removed.

"The gates to the car parks, off Kings Road, will be closed overnight from 7pm. Our advice would be not to use the car park which the travellers are occupying."

A public notice posted at the site also bars the travellers from returning for three months.

Under new rules launched under a Government crackdown late last month, travellers can receive a hefty fine of up to £20,000 if they set up illegal camps. The move aims to prevent lengthy legal battles like that over the Dale Farm gypsy camp in Crays Hill, Essex, which was occupied for ten years before evictions in 2011.

ICING Cabin travelled to West End B with the Express Appliances Intermediate Snooker League destiny in their own hands, but they eventually succumbed 4-2 to leave the title race wide open.

Hosts West End shuffled their pack and promised to test the Cabin's credentials.

And so it proved as Craig Rowbotham and Paul King won on one table, while recalled captain Martin Shaw and Dave Powell took their first frame on the other to make it 2-0 .

However, Scott Gibbons knocked in a 42 break to pull one frame back, and then veterans Tony Aisthorpe and Terry Burns made it 2-2.

In the last pairing, Andrew Warner and Daz Stanfield knew they had to keep Jamie Barrett quiet – and that's what they did, with in-form Stanfield hitting a 37 to condemn the Cabin to a shock defeat.

Meanwhile, at Clee Home Guard, second-placed Gas Man got off to a great start with Scott Long, Rick Gilliatt, Kev North and Paul Jackson winning the opening frames for a 2-0 lead.

Keith Southwell and Fred Parker pulled one back, but North and Jackson made it 3-1 on the other table.

Ashley Wright and Dan Mumby made it 4-1, before losing their last frame as Craig Taylor and George Padley made it 4-2.

This week's results have left Gas Man one point ahead going into the last game of the season, and have almost certainly eliminated Locate from the title race, despite their 4-2 win against Peter Hogarth & Sons.

An early 2-0 from Mark Franks and Wayne Webber won the match but, realistically, they needed all six to keep alive their hopes of a third title in six years.

At the other end of the table, we wave goodbye to Westlands D – who have fought bravely all season, but have now been relegated.

They lost 5-1 to Ray Edmonds B who themselves underperformed for most of the season, but showed their quality this week with an 82 break from Alan Edmond, 66 from Daz Evans and a 54 from Lee Plant.

The second relegation spot is between Clee Home Guard, who lost 4-2, and Ray Edmonds S.

With only three points separating them, it was a great time for the Edmonds team to find some form – and with Gaz Dannatt and Gill Wilson putting them 2-0 up at Carr Lane Social A, and Steve Arnold and Andy Stocks winning their first frame, they found themselves 3-0 up.

Gaz Horsfall, Alan Young, Derek Crosby and Joe Goodfellow all won a frame to make it 3-2 – and they nearly pulled off a great comeback, but Mark Hicks and Nick Mason took the last for a vital 4-2 win for the S team.

Mick Chew and Gordon Dawson put Webbonet 2-0 up at home to Ray Edmonds A, and then watched as Jamie Green (55), Andy Aisthorpe, Paul Clark (59), Daz Potter, Jamie Richardson (45) and Paul Smith took the remaining frames for a 5-1 win.

Jase Reynolds and Jimmy Yates put Clee Cons A 2-0 up 'away' at Clee Cons C, but Lee Pawson and Damon Gresham matched them as the Cons derby ended up in a 3-3 draw.

Hainton B finally mathematically relinquished their title after a 3-3 draw with sixth placed Birds Eye, who have done very well in their first season back in the top flight.

In section B, the title race is going to the wire with the top two still to play each other.

Both faced tough tests this week as they sought to out-do each in the run in.

Ray Edmonds D went to Westlands Heating, who could yet spoil the promotion party, and got off to a great start with Keith Fountain and Liam Oswin putting them 2-0 up.

It was soon 3-1 and Edmonds could sense a big victory, which would have put them in sight of the title.

However it did not come as Chris Yull and Stu Wilkinson had the final say, taking both of their frames for a 3-3 draw.

Cambridge F could reduce the gap between themselves and Edmonds D, but to do that they would have to overcome West End D, who had won their previous two matches 6-0.

It was to prove to be a very close affair with Garry White and Craig Allerston winning for Cambridge F and Dave Page and Euan Hunter making it 1-1 by winning on the other table.

Walt Simpson and Barry Jebson put West End 2-1 up and, before John and Keith Philipson won on a respotted black to make it 2-2.

Nick Mason played very well in the next as he and Paul Spall put Cambridge 3-2 u,p but back came the Westenders as Steve Donner and Dave Mac made it 3-3.

It was a superb night for West End C, who went to Victoria Street to face The Police who have been having a great season.

Unfortunately for the hosts they were out-played after Kev Ferguson and Pete Wood had given them a 1-0 lead.

Tony Smith carried Mike Needham to make it 1-1 and then some quality play from Terry Anglin, Tony Pearce, Frank Brookes and Bill Smith took West End to a 5-1 win.

Express Appliances could yet get promoted after a 5-1 win at Clee Bowls Juniors moved them to within a point of third-place, and they ready to pounce if one of the top two slip up.

However, to do that they will need a big win next week against Hainton A, who equally need a strong result.

The match between Westlands C and Cambridge Graduates ended up honours even after a spirited 3-3 draw.

A League

Locate Supplies 4 Peter Hogarth & Son 2

Ray Edmonds B 5 Westlands D 1

Clee Home Guard 2 The Gas Man 4

Clee Cons C 3 Clee Conns A 3

West End B 4 Icing Cabin 2

Carr Lane Social A 2 Ray Edmonds S 4

Webbonet 1 Ray Edmonds A 5

Hainton B 3 Birds Eye 3

B League

Cambridge F 3 West End D 3

Grimsby Police B 1 West End C 5

Westlands C 3 Cambridge Graduates 3

Westlands Heating 3 Ray Edmonds D 3

Clee Bowls Juniors 1 Express Appliances 5

DISCUSSIONS about bringing a major retailer to Grimsby town centre are continuing.

Talks are ongoing between the unnamed retailer, council bosses and Freshney Place over the project.

The planned new store would comprise a 45,000 square foot extension to the shopping centre, which will be accommodated by moving the bus station away from its current location.

The extension will boast a further eight retail units and it is hoped create around 200 new jobs.

Damien Jaines-White, North East Lincolnshire Council's economic development manager, said: "We were having ongoing discussions with Grosvenor who were part of the consortium that owned Freshney Place.

"The ownership of Freshney Place has recently changed and we have already met with the new owners to understand what their goals and aspirations are.

"We remain in touch with the retailer and the new owners who need a little bit of time to assess their new asset. Our ambition remains to expand the retail offer within the town centre, and we will continue to work to achieve that."

Amanda Austin, pictured, centre director of Freshney Place, said: "The shopping centre has played a vital role in serving local people since it was opened and we look forward to working with local business organisations to ensure that we deliver the best possible shopping and leisure experience to our customers.

"Freshney Place is a successful scheme that provides local employment for more than 1,000 people and is a major visitor attraction for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire.

"The proposed move of the bus station can only be good news in the further development of the town centre.

"The new owner of Freshney Place, F&C REIT, is confident that it can use its expertise to strengthen the centre's position as the retail centrepiece of the region and the landlord will be engaging very closely with North East Lincolnshire Council to do so."

A DAD has warned people to keep their garages shut after discovering thieves had broken in to his and taken three valuable bikes – in what he believes was a planned operation.

Roni Cox, 34, was asleep in his family home on Westward Ho, on Saturday, when the house alarm went off at 6am after intruders entered the garage.

But by the time he had got up and got to the front of the house – after his neighbour had banged on the door – the thieves were gone.

The offenders had bent the bottom of the garage door to get in and taken three bikes – his and his 16-year-old son's Marida downhill mountain bikes, worth £500 and £600, and his 12-year-old daughter's Claud Butler, worth £300.

They had left a vintage cycle, which belonged to his wife – which made them think the burglars may have had a plan.

Mr Cox, who regularly goes cycling with his family, said he was "livid" when he realised what had happened.

He said: "I had been cleaning my car the week before and had the garage open most of the morning with the bikes on show.

"The way they had come in and taken those three and had gone so quickly was as if they knew exactly what they were looking for.

"Be careful when you open your garage door – you never know who could be walking past."

Humberside Police are now investigating the crime and trying to get hold of CCTV from nearby cameras.

A spokesman said: "Three bikes were reported stolen from a garage at some time between 5.30am on Friday, April 5, and 6.30am on Saturday, April 6.

"Officers are trying to source CCTV images and we would ask members of the public to be on the lookout for them and to come forward with any information."

Information to police on 101, quoting log number 141 of Saturday, April 6, 2013.

AS FLOWER beds across North East Lincolnshire are removed to cut costs, Immingham has more floral displays than ever before and is saving taxpayers thousands of pounds.

Immingham Town Council has taken over responsibility for grounds maintenance from North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) for three years following a successful trial in 2012.

It is the first town council in the UK to do so and will save NELC more than £10,000 each year. NELC continue to fund the work but will save money as, previously, council employees were sent from Grimsby and spent up to two paid-for hours each day travelling.

Dave Jackson, clerk to the town council, said: "Immingham will look better than ever this summer.

"The people doing the work live in the town and as a result they really care about what it looks like."

The town council already employed a cemetery keeper and two multi-skilled grounds staff who have now had their roles extended.

Mr Jackson added: "The cost-saving means we've been able to put in four or five extra flower beds this year.

"Taking responsibility for our own maintenance budget also means we've been able to attract private funding. All of the beds on Pelham Road are now sponsored."

Councillor Mick Burnett, portfolio holder for Tourism and Culture, said: "Our arrangement is a prime example of how we can all work together to make savings while still delivering good-quality services."

NELC is in talks with Healing, Laceby, New Waltham and Waltham, in the hope of delivering similar schemes.

"Immingham Town Council has taken over street cleaning and grounds maintenance duties from the council for three years with the option to extend it for a further two. We need to save £370,000 from the grounds maintenance budget."

CLEETHORPES Leisure Centre's changing rooms are to undergo a £635,000 revamp.

The work will see a major overhaul to the existing poolside changing rooms by introducing a modern layout that meets Sport England's latest guidelines.

The refurbishment has been made possible by a £317,000 National Lottery grant, with the rest of the money coming from North East Lincolnshire Council's capital budget.

The Sport England grant is part of a £9.9-million investment, which will see 38 artificial grass pitches and swimming pool changing rooms refurbished across the country.

The announcement comes after last year's £150,000 Sport England grant to refurbish King George V Stadium, in Grimsby.

The designs for the new changing rooms at Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, which is used by thousands of swimmers every year, were drawn up in consultation with leisure centre customers.

The facility, which is part of the council's leisure portfolio, is now managed by Lincs Inspire Ltd, a non-profit organisation set up by the council to run leisure services in the borough.

Refurbishment work is set to be carried out at the end of this year.

Councillor Mick Burnett, portfolio holder for tourism and culture, said: "Swimming is one of the most popular sports in our borough so we're thrilled that our bid to create a new poolside changing village at Cleethorpes has been successful.

"This investment will bring the changing rooms bang up-to-date with a family-friendly layout, cubicles with baby changing, better facilities for disabled people and individual shower cubicles.

"The new changing rooms will encourage more people to take up sport and make full use of the excellent leisure facilities we have in North East Lincolnshire."

"I AM confident further reviews will find Leeds Hospital safe to resume all heart surgery soon – they provided my son with the best possible treatment."

These are the words of Joanne Rilatt, a leading campaigner in North East Lincolnshire, who together with other families has fought hard to save children's heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary.

Her latest comments come as health bodies begin a phased restart of surgery today, starting with lower-risk cases.

It follows completion of the first-stage of a review by a multi-disciplinary independent clinical team, which has been working to establish the immediate safety of the unit since Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, suspended operations almost two weeks ago.

A second stage of the review will now begin looking at other areas where improvement may be necessary.

This will comprise:

A review of the way complaints from patients are handled, including the issues raised by the Children's Heart Federation.

Completion of a review of patients' case notes over the past three years

In addition, NHS England will further explore issues that have been raised about referral practices to ensure they are clinically appropriate.

Mrs Rilatt, 41, whose son Benjamin, 8, underwent cardiac surgery at the Leeds children's heart unit, said: "All hospitals should have investigations and reviews on-going so I welcome this second stage.

"I am confident that Leeds is safe and I would want to take Benjamin back there immediately if he needed urgent treatment.

"I am delighted that surgery has resumed no matter how small it may be for now.

"We put words into action and never gave up, all families and children involved in campaigning against the closure of this unit should be very proud."

During the first stage of the review, NHS England received assurances from independent experts about the quality of surgery and staffing levels that were sufficient to allow the phased resumption of operations.

However, it has asked for significant improvements to the way the unit monitors the quality of care so it can be compared with similar services. The review found that the Trust's data for monitoring surgical results was uniquely poor, triggering concerns about death rates and gaps in information.

The decision follows a risk summit that drew together the Trust, NHS England, the Care Quality Commission and the NHS Trust Development Authority.

Sir Bruce said: "The information that came to light about Leeds raised some really serious questions and action had to be taken.

The Trust agreed to pause surgery until these questions were investigated.

"If we have learned anything from public inquiries such as Bristol and Mid Staffordshire it is that patients were harmed while organisations argued about the veracity of data used to measure clinical results, rather than addressing the underlying issues.

"We would not have been forgiven if a child had died or suffered unnecessary harm while we sat on our hands.

"I am pleased that we have now been given assurances by independent assessors that the immediate safety concerns, which were bubbling up from a variety of sources, have been addressed and that the unit can recommence surgery.

"We now need to explore some of the wider issues around how the unit operates as a whole.

"I hope we will soon be able to give the unit a full clean bill of health beyond this immediate reassurance of safety."

SCORING important late goals is becoming a nice habit to have for Grimsby Town.

After Cleveland Taylor's injury-time heroics on Saturday, Aswad Thomas was their hero last night when his 87th minute goal sealed the Mariners' place in the play-offs thanks to a 2-1 win over Dartford.

That result, combined with Forest Green Rovers' defeat to Hereford means that Rob Scott and Paul Hurst men will definitely finish in the top five this season – and could have another shot at Wembley.

Before kick-off, there were two pieces of team news for the travelling fans to digest after their long journey south.

The first was the absence of Shaun Pearson, who was replaced by Tom Naylor at centre-half. The second was the welcome return of experienced midfield duo Derek Niven and skipper Craig Disley.

The game was barely a minute old before the first stoppage of play. Ian Miller went down after a heavy aerial challenge and had to leave the field to have a deep cut to his eyebrow stitched up.

But when that treatment proved unsuccessful, Scott and Hurst were forced into an early change with full-back Thomas coming on at centre half.

With Pearson already absent, to lose Miller as well was certainly a huge blow for the Mariners to take so early in the game.

But after a weak shot from Charlie Sheringham was claimed easily by James McKeown, Town's unfamiliar pairing of Naylor and Thomas soon began to settle to their task.

However in the 26th minute, when the latter misjudged his header, a ball was lifted over the top to Nathan Collier, who, despite missing his initial kick, still brought a decent initial stop from McKeown. Jack Evans was first to the rebound, and he duly stabbed home from 12 yards to open the scoring.

In what had been an opening half an hour of very few chances, the first goal had come out of nowhere.

However, a disrupted Town rallied as first Andy Cook headed straight at Csaba Somogyi and then, seconds later, Lenell John-Lewis nodded wide.

The Mariners had looked the more likely side to score next, but only another superb save from McKeown denied the hosts from extending their advantage.

The ball was surrendered deep in the visitors' half and the ball was worked across to the left before being fired in low to Sheringham, who must have thought his half-volley from six yards was destined for the net.

However, a sprawling Town keeper stuck out a strong right arm to add another impressive stop to his ever-growing scrapbook.

At the other end, as the clock ticked over into first half stoppage time, Town won their first corner of the game. But, all too familiarly, the set-piece drifted harmlessly into the side-netting.

That proved to be the last meaningful action of a scrappy first half, and referee Bull promptly sent the two sides into the break.

In Pictures: Dartford 1 Grimsby Town 2

Cheered on by a healthy following from North East Lincolnshire – who had now moved behind the goal Town were attacking – the visitors started brightly with Cook testing Somogyi's reflexes within five minutes of the restart.

On 55 minutes, Town were handed their best chance to draw level when the experienced Mark Arber sliced his overhead clearance into Disley's path as the skipper burst into the box.

But, one-on-one, the 31-year-old opted to take another touch instead of pulling the trigger and the chance was gone.

Just seconds short of the hour mark, John-Lewis showed good strength to bring the ball down and play in Colbeck on the right. The Yorkshireman returned the favour, but John-Lewis could only head at Somogyi.

And the Hungarian stopper was called into action again seconds later to parry away Cook's downward header from a Hatton free-kick.

Town were building pressure and the joint bosses threw on Southwell for Cleveland Taylor and then Frankie Artus, for Niven, as they went in search of an equaliser on a rapidly deteriorating pitch.

Despite the surface, Colbeck showed a clean pair of heels to burst down the right before flashing a superb ball across the area. However, neither of the outstretched Cook or John-Lewis could produce a telling touch.

At the other end, with less than 15 minutes to go, McKeown had to be on his toes to rush out and clear as Jason Prior looked to burst through, while, seconds later fellow sub Danny Harris nearly got on the end of far-post cross.

But Town had been working hard for an equaliser since the break and, 11 minutes from the end, they were on terms.

From a free-kick, Artus curled in a superb flat delivery that Cook muscled his way through to nod down and into Somogyi's bottom corner.

It was nothing more than Town had deserved but they were put back under pressure right from the restart.

Dartford broke down the right and after a near post cross was chipped in, McKeown once again produced a fine, one-handed save to deny Harris.

Roared on by Scott and Hurst, the Mariners were pressing for that late goal and two minutes before the break, they had it.

Artus' superb corner was met at the far post by Thomas, who powered home to send the travelling fans into hysterics.

Their joy was only marred when Colbeck, who had been impressive all evening, was sent off after an altercation in the corner as the clocked ticked over to 90 minutes.

But they were in fine voice at the final whistle when Town's win was confirmed and news of Forest Green's 1-0 defeat filtered through – the Mariners are in the play-offs.