A COUPLE who have so far fostered more than 300 children show no signs of stopping.

Betty and John Love began their journey as carers 25 years ago and have not looked back since.

At the beginning they also adopted and along with their own children, their family of eight are now all grown up.

However, while their children were still young, Betty and John decided they wanted to help other youngsters less fortunate.

Betty, 62, of Grimsby, said: "We just love children, which I think was the main reason for becoming foster and adoption parents.

"Over the years we have had our ups and downs, as each child we get is completely different from the last.

"We have looked after babies that are poorly due to their mothers using illegal substances through pregnancy, to children whose main guardian has been taken into hospital for one reason or another.

"Our job varies enormously but it never gets easier to say goodbye to a child when they leave us – we call it a happy/sad time.

"Despite this, what we do is very rewarding and I would encourage anyone else to do it."

The pair were recently awarded for their long-standing services to fostering in North East Lincolnshire.

But Betty doesn't do it for rewards, she said: "The feeling you get when a child is happy with their new adoption home, or when a baby who was poorly gets well again, is fantastic and makes us realise we have done a good job.

"We have such a big extended family now and we keep in contact with a lot of our former foster children, many of whom are now grown up and have their own children. We would not have been able to do this for as long as we have if not for the support of the fostering and adoption team at the council.

"During our 25-year span, we have done every type of fostering possible, from looking after children with special needs to teenage girls, boys and babies."

John, 60, says anyone who is contemplating fostering should not pursue it with a judgemental attitude.

He said: "A lot of these situations where children are put into fostering cannot be helped, so people should not judge the parents or the child. I have enjoyed the past 25 years and would speak to anyone with queries about doing this."

Betty and John have agreed to host a live web chat with readers on www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk regarding fostering and adoption.

The chat will take place on Friday for one hour, from 11am to noon, with a representative from the council also attending.

DRUNKEN youths, boy racers and vandals will return if an award-winning Cleethorpes park is kept open overnight.

That is what residents fear for Haverstoe Park as North East Lincolnshire Council makes plans to keep the gates unlocked.

Now a petition against the plans has been launched and more than 465 people have signed it.

They fear history will repeat itself and have branding the move "short-sighted" because after the gates were left open for a period in 2000, there was an upsurge in antisocial behaviour and vandalism.

Councillor Keith Brookes (Haverstoe, Cons), said: "This park is bordered by residential housing. They are very worried this will happen again. History shows from the amount of damage caused last time this is a stupid idea.

"It is so short-sighted because it will cost the council more to clean up the vandalism."

The plans are part of NELC's bid to save £370,000 from this year's grounds maintenance services budget and £1 million before 2015-16.

But Haverstoe, Sidney Park and Sussex Rec are protected by covenants, which could stop NELC carrying out their plans.

Duke of York Gardens, Bradley Woods, St Christopher's Jubilee Playing Field in Humberston, Cleethorpes Country Park, King George in Cleethorpes, Roval Drive in Immingham and Mount Pleasant in Waltham, are now kept open overnight.

There are also "strong rumours" the Haverstoe park warden will be axed but NELC would neither confirm nor deny this.

Other council plans include: cutting the grass less often and maintaining the floral displays, shrubs and hedges less often. Healing, New Waltham, Laceby and People's Park bowling greens are also at risk of closure, as reported.

Haverstoe has six entrances to the park and backs on to Huntleigh Lodge Care Home. It is also used by schoolchildren at neighbouring Signhills Academy.

Friends of Haverstoe formed in 2000 after the park fell into ruin. Chairman Marjorie Bray said: "All our hard work and effort will come undone. There are more funds available for the park but there is no point spending the money now if it is going to be destroyed.

"This is a backwards step. We must look after our green spaces for future generations."

A spokesperson for NELC said: "We have a number of parks and open spaces that have been locked and unlocked daily at a significant cost to the authority. This is no longer sustainable. We may need to resolve issues around by-laws and covenants at Haverstoe, Sussex and Sidney parks, but the intention is to stop this practice as soon as possible."

Mr Brookes will present the petition in the coming days. He added: "We must persuade NELC this would be a backward step and hope it will see sense."

POP sensation Jamie Cullum is heading to Cleethorpes today – and you can read our exclusive interview with him tonight.

The singer will perform to lucky competition winners at an intimate gig at Parkway Cinema, where fans will hear songs old and new, including his sixth album, Momentum and new single, Everything You Didn't Do.

The Grimsby Telegraph has exclusive access to the star and will be interviewing him ahead of his gig, along with the lucky winners of the competition, which was organised by Lincs FM and Compass FM.

Cullum shot to fame in 2004 for his soulful singing and piano playing.

He made his name as a vocalist and pianist, but Cullum also plays guitar and drums.

He has sold ten million records worldwide has performed sold out tours across the world including appearances at Glastonbury music festival. In recent years he has taken a backseat from the limelight, but now critics are branding his comeback as "remarkable".

Owner of Parkway Cinema, Gerald Parkes, hopes it will be "another great boost for the area".

As reported, Parkway Cinema has previously been host to bands playing Seventies music and has become a well-known venue for comedians, with Alan Carr and Jason Manford both performing there.

We will upload our interview to www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk tomorrow night for you all to read.

So if there is anything you want to know, make sure you e-mail faye.preston@gsmg.co.uk and she will try and squeeze in your question.

GRIMSBY Town's fans will have their say at boardroom level for the first time ever – by the end of next month.

After hitting their target of 750 members and raising the required £30,000, the Mariners Trust have secured a seat on the Blundell Park board.

And chairman of the supporters group Chris Parker, pictured, confirmed that the historic agreement has been rubber-stamped by club director John Fenty.

"Prior to John heading off on holiday, he and I signed the documentation relating to the seat on the board," Parker told the Telegraph.

"It is a momentous occasion and it will enable us to give the fans much more information about their club.

"There will be certain things that we won't be able to put out – like the exact playing budget, which could disadvantage the club – but we will tell the fans as much as we can.

"Personally, I'm not totally convinced that being fully supporter owned – like Wrexham, I believe – is the way to go.

"In their case it was needs must, but I think supporter involvement and partial ownership is the way forward.

"I know he sometimes gets a bad press, but I must compliment John Fenty because he has embraced the concept of supporter involvement.

"If we can get the football club out there in the community then the community responds by generating increased gates, increased merchandising and everything else.

"That brings a feel-good factor as well as making financial sense."

However, the Trust's figurehead Parker insists he won't be joining the board himself.

"It will be another few weeks before the member of the Trust to sit on the board is decided," he added.

"I don't want to put a timescale on that but everything should be in place by the end of June at the very latest.

"What I will say is that it will most definitely not be me.

"That's not because I don't want to do it – it's more about maintaining a degree of independence for the Trust.

"And, as its chairman, I may want to speak out about things at times.

"The board of directors have to speak with one voice, and that's only right, but equally the Trust must have their voice as well.

"We've taken advice and discussed this through with Supporters Direct who 'govern' all the supporters trusts in the UK. They're very much of the view that the candidate on the board should not be the chairman of a fans group."

The Trust will now nominate two candidates for a place on the board, as Parker explained: "The agreement is that we will put two people forward for 'interview' because the directors need to know they can work with that person.

"I'm sure some fans may think 'here they go, dictating who they want,' but that seems pretty sensible to me.

"We agreed at a very early stage, when we first discussed the figures and the trigger amount for members, that we would put two candidates forward.

"We know who those two candidates are but won't be divulging those at the moment."

GRIMSBY Town could have a potential audience of 6.5-million viewers next season after the Football Conference struck a six-figure television deal with telecoms giant BT.

According to the Non League Paper, an agreement has been reached on a £300,000 deal that will see top-flight non-league games broadcast live on the telecom giant's fledging satellite channel; BT Sport, from next season.

The deal is said to cover 25-30 matches in its first season, with the potential for additional games to be screened from 2014/15.

Games will also be live streamed online on the station's website.

BT has already netted the rights to screen top Premier League games on the channel – which will be free to its broadband subscribers.

The landmark deal ends the Conference's three-year association with Premier Sports – who had paid £5,000 to home clubs and £1,000 to visiting teams for every live broadcast.

And Conference chairman Brian Lee told the Non-League Paper that the move will see the league's possible audience grow from 6,500 to 'much nearer' 6.5million

"It's great news. We've got an agreement in place for next season and it's the news the league wanted.

"We have had a good relationship with Premier Sports. They have given the league fantastic coverage, but we've got to look at this from a business point of view.

"The Football Conference will sit alongside the Premier League and the Bundesliga – and that to me is a big thing.

"We'll be getting high-level exposure – BT have gone into this in a big way. It's exciting.

"We will be going from a possible audience of 6,500 to one much nearer 6.5 million. That's the reality of the situation.

"It will allow us further opportunities in the future, which we are excited about.

"There could be more games to come the season after and if it's a success, there is a chance for an improved agreement down the line."

With the league in need of a new title sponsor, following the closure of long-term partner Blue Square Bet, Lee added that the hoped the BT deal would help in the search for a new partner.

"It can't do any harm, that's for sure," he said.

"Hopefully a potential new partner will see this as a fantastic time to be involved with a wonderful competition.

"Blue Square were fantastic to work with. It's such a shame they were unable to continue after six years but we're talking to a few interested companies, so we'll see what that brings.

"There's no timeframe, but we hope to have something in place for the start of the new season."

DUCKLINGS and cygnets have "gone missing" from a Grimsby beauty spot.

Nature-lovers living close to Duke Of York Gardens in Corporation Road, claim seven cygnets and ten ducklings have been stolen from the park.

However, Humberside Police say there is no evidence to suggest a crime has taken place – but have pledged to keep a close eye on the park, which has the River Freshney running through it.

Vice-chairman of the Friends Of The Freshney, Keith Watkin, has been saddened by the mysterious disappearance.

He said: "The last time I saw them was ten days ago and now they are nowhere to be seen. Now there are all sorts of allegations going around. I have told people that unless people are seen taking them, they cannot know for sure.

"I just don't know where they could have gone."

Last year, swan eggs were found smashed around the park and others were taken without trace.

Mr Watkin also claims that fish stocks are seriously low because some people do not return the fish once they have been caught.

The Friends have since upped security on the bridge leading to the nest to stop eggs being stolen.

He continued: "The park is open 24-seven and we have had incidents similar to this before. Some of the eggs were stolen and others were smashed. Fishstocks are very low. It is very frustrating because so much could be done with the park."

The adult swans are still in the park but appeared "distressed" according to Mr Wakin.

A pair of swans and seven cygnets have been seen close to the Willows Estate, but it is not thought they would swim that far. Taking, killing or harming birds or their nests is a criminal offence and carries a maximum £5,000 fine and/or six months in jail.

The RSPCA is now investigating and the Royal Society For The Protection of Birds (RSPB) is "sickened" to think the birds could have been harmed. Spokesman Chris Collett said: "Swans and ducks are often the source of pride in a local community so it is both saddening and sickening when these birds are illegally taken or harmed, particularly during the breeding season.

"If a crime has been committed here, we would urge anyone with information to report it to the police."

Contact Humberside Police on 101 if you have any information.

THERE'S no reason to feel blue in Cleethorpes!

Cleethorpes beach is officially one of the best in the country after maintaining its Blue Flag status for yet another year.

Awarded by Keep Britain Tidy, the accolade means it is one of the cleanest sandy stretches in the UK – and is a much-needed boost for this year's tourist season.

Additionally, Cleethorpes Central, Cleethorpes Marine Embankment and the area surrounding the Humberston Fitties, picked up the new Seaside Award, formerly the Quality Coast Award.

Portfolio holder for Leisure and Tourism, Councillor Mick Burnett, praised council staff who work all year round to keep the resort clean.

He said: "This is absolutely fantastic news. It tells people this is a clean and tidy, family-friendly resort for everyone to enjoy. It is vital for tourism which is why we are very proud to have it yet again.

"It requires a lot of hard work by council staff, who I offer my personal thanks to."

The resort faces a tough summer due to February's landslide at Hatfield Main colliery in South Yorkshire, which has cut Cleethorpes off to TransPennine train passengers. It is hoped trains will be running by July, but if the weather is bad, this could be delayed until September.

The first Saturday TransPennine Express train from Sheffield will run this weekend on a different line, stopping at Retford and Grimsby.

Mr Burnett added: "The landslide is unfortunate. It is a problem, but we will get on with it to get people into our fantastic resort. The Blue Flag Award is bound to help that."

Cleethorpes was judged on facilities, cleanliness and water quality – the criteria of which was its strictest this year – and is one of 55 Blue Flag beaches in the UK.

After a run of achieving the accolade, the status was lost in 2008 following the devastating floods of 2007, which affected the water quality, but regained in 2009 and continued to fly in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

East Lindsey District Council's beaches in Mablethorpe, Skegness and Sutton on Sea were also awarded.

Traders gearing themselves up for another bank holiday welcomed the news.

Gary Harding, of Tom's Bargain Centre in Alexandra Road, said: "There is a tough season ahead for all traders and the Blue Flag Award will only help that.

"It shows the good work of the council. They do an excellent job with the beaches and the roads in the area.

"This is bound to help the bucket and spade trade."

But Terry Allenby, of Harry Ramsbottoms Fish and Chips, wants the council to do more. He added: "This is really positive news but it is about the only thing our local council does to support us. They should be investing more money into attracting people here. Hopefully the Blue Flag will encourage more people to the resort."

Click here to find out how other UK beaches fared.

DEAN Keates is understood to have been offered a two-year contract with a League Two club – ruling out any possibility of a move to Grimsby Town.

That's according joint boss Rob Scott, who says that the Mariners would be unable to offer that length of deal and therefore it would be 'a waste of time' to pursue the out-of-contract Wrexham skipper.

As well as the two-year offer, Keates, 34, is also considering a new one-year contract from the Dragons but has already labelled it as 'disappointing'.

And while Scott admitted that Keates, is of the calibre that the duo will be targeting this summer, he doesn't foresee any agreement with the experienced midfielder.

When asked if he and Paul Hurst would be tempted to make an approach, Scott replied: "Dean Keates? I don't think we'll be able to get him. Keatesy is a good player and did well in a team that's performed well over the last couple of years.

"But from what I've read at least, he's got an offer of a two-year-deal and that's not something we're going to be able to compete with in terms of length of contract for a player of his age.

"It's a bit of a waste of time trying to go down that route," he added.

With Keates seemingly off Town's radar, the joint bosses have said they will look to other high-calibre targets.

And Scott said most would be 'astounded' by the scope of their mission to bring the right players into Blundell Park.

He continued: "We'd like to think we're fishing in a big pond because we're looking at players who could possibly pick up League One or League Two clubs.

"If I showed everyone the list of players – they'd be astounded at how many are on there.

"Gradually we'll tick those off as we either rule them out or they go to other clubs.

"That list of 50 or so players will gradually dwindle down to 15 or 20 names and then we'll have to see where we are.

"We can't compete 'big money-wise' – we know that. What we need to do is be prudent and spend in the right areas – that takes time to get the right players in."

FIRE chiefs have announced proposals to replace full-time firefighters with part-timers, reduce the number of crews on duty and vacate stations in quiet times to save cash.

The measures announced by Humberside Fire And Rescue Service are among 26 potential ways to cut £5 million from its budget.

Other proposals include reducing the number of watches on duty and converting full-time crews to "retained officers" – which would save hundreds of thousands.

Chairman of the Fire Brigades Union Rob Vaux has ruled out strike action over the plans, but has public safety concerns.

"This isn't about protecting the jobs of firefighters, but about the risk to the communities in which we live," he said.

However, Councillor Terry Walker (Lab, East Marsh), who represents North East Lincolnshire Council on Humberside Fire Authority, said it had to respond to cuts from central Government.

He said: "These are only options and nothing has yet been decided.

"We can still maintain standards – and no stations will close."

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders also said the quality of the service will not be compromised.

"It is inevitable the number of fire engines and staff will change as a result of funding cuts, but we have a plan to maintain the standards people currently enjoy for the foreseeable future."

The service revealed the plans during a presentation yesterday which will be released as part of an engagement process at the start of June – before a formal consultation process begins.

There are two or three proposals for each station – which can be read in the panel above – but they must only choose one.

There are also three options involving the merger of services at multiple stations, which could be implemented on top of others.

However, Mr Sanders said that compulsory redundancies would be "an absolute last resort".

He added: "We have started the process early to allow staff who can retire to exit and bring in the efficiencies behind that."

The maximum savings for the proposals only add up to £4 million, which means further savings will need to be made from support services and community safety.

Fire Authority members will decide in September which options to take forward to a formal public consultation and none of the cuts will be implemented before next April.

A DETECTOR saved the life of a 75-year-old woman, who was rescued from her smoke-filled Grimsby flat by firefighters.

Discarded smoking materials are believed to be the cause of the blaze, which broke out at George Janney Court in the early hours of yesterday while the woman – described by a neighbour as "a frail old lady who does not get out" – was asleep in her bedroom.

Neighbours raised the alarm – but could not get into her home off Victor Street to rescue her, as it was secured with a keypad, which they did not have the number for.

In desperation, they called the firefighters, who had to batter the door down to gain entry.

The neighbours were praised for helping to save her life as the drama unfolded shortly after 1.30am.

She was taken to the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

At the time of going to press, she was believed to still be in hospital recovering. Resident Ethel Sadler said: "She is a frail old lady who does not get out. It was upsetting that she was there and they had to break the door down to get to her.

"No one knew the combination of the key pad to get to her."

Another neighbour said: "It is a shame because carers have to use the key pad to get into the home. I think she could do with some more help."

Phil Leake, Community Safety Manager for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Incidents like this really do highlight the importance of having working smoke detectors fitted in the home.

"The alarm sounding gave the neighbours an early warning of the fire and enabled them to dial 999."

The manager advised residents to have smoke detectors fitted on each level of their home and check on a weekly basis they are in good working order.

Mr Leake added: "Working smoke detectors are cheap to buy, easy to install and really can save lives. There is no doubt this incident could have been far worse had there been no working smoke detectors fitted."

Community safety advocate Ben Watcham said: "This shows how smoke alarms save lives. The neighbours did exactly the right thing.

"It is important people have smoke detectors fitted and working."

A Humberside Fire Service spokeswoman confirmed the fire had started due to carelessly discarded smoking materials.

Shoreline head of housing Rachel Munoz said: "Our thoughts are with both the occupier of the flat and the residents of George Janney Court, who we would like to thank for their prompt action.

"Our employees have been working closely with the local care agencies to make sure adequate support services are in place and we will continue to liaise with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as we await further information on the cause of the fire.

"We encourage residents who live alone to fit a key safe in case someone needs to enter their home in an emergency, and we provide assistance in fitting these should any tenants require them."

For fire safety advice, log on to www.humbersidefire.gov.uk

EAST Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has been fined £3.5-million after missing a target on response times for the third year in a row.

Each year, ambulance services across the UK are required to meet set national performance standards through the NHS.

For 2012-2013, EMAS managed to fall within the target of getting to 75 per cent of life-threatening problems within eight minutes at 75.21 per cent, but missed the second target.

The other target for ambulance services to get a patient to hospital within 19 minutes of the call being received. The target is 95 per cent, but EMAS achieved 91.8 per cent.

EMAS is one of two ambulance services to miss this target, alongside the East of England Ambulance Service, and also the lowest of all the percentages achieved.

The percentage means that of the 234,120 responses made to life-threatening calls, 52 a day arrived off the target time.

EMAS said in statement in the first month of 2013/14 the target improved already by 1.21%. EMAS also found that if they could improve the speed of just 19 calls each day by eight minutes and ten seconds, they would meet the standard.

Dr James Gray, EMAS Medical Director said: "A tremendous amount of quality clinical care was provided to hundreds of thousands of people across the East Midlands during the 2012/13 performing year, and I thank our clinical colleagues and those working in the backroom functions providing support to them, for their continued commitment and dedication to provide the very best care, often during traumatic and challenging circumstances.

"The speed at which an ambulance response is given to an emergency call is important. There are also other elements that are as vital when providing emergency medical care.

"Negotiations with the organisations who pay (commission) us to provide emergency services have been successful and this year, we've been given additional funding which will be spent on extra frontline staff. This is on top of the 140 new staff we announced in March 2013.

"Our Being the Best improvement programme will also make a significant contribution to improving performance. It covers issues such as revising our staff rotas to ensure our resource levels match demand patterns; a management restructure to improve communication and support for staff and the introduction of Ambulance Hubs, Stations and Community Ambulance Stations to improve the speed at which we respond to calls and helps improve the working lives of our colleagues.

"These changes and investment, together with the continual development and improvement in the quality clinical care provided to our patients puts us in a better position this current performing year."

Under the new plans, there will be 9 hubs, 19 ambulance stations and 108 community ambulance stations across Lincolnshire.
Have you experienced slow ambulance response times? Email newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk or comment on this story below.

"THEY will never be forgotten."

That was the call from organisers of a fundraising campaign to remember fallen service personnel from North East Lincolnshire.

The regiments and squadrons they belonged to will soon have their names and emblems emblazoned on plaques in Cleethorpes, attached to the new Cleethorpes Remembrance Gate.

The stainless steel arch is due to be unveiled when the annual Armed Forces Day is held in the resort next month.

Plans for the arch, to commemorate the sacrifices of local Armed Forces personnel, were backed by North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee earlier this month.

Each of the plaques will cost £300 and be inscribed with the names of regiments, squadrons and naval crews.

PC Danny Fleming, of Humberside Police, who served for 24 years with The Scots Guards, appealed to all servicemen and women in North East Lincolnshire who have served to support the campaign and donate towards a plaque dedicated to their crew, division, regiment or squadron.

He said: "We are aiming to get all members of The Household Division to donate money so we can have a regimental plaque."

It will carry the star emblem of the Guards, with the motto Septum Juncta In Uno, meaning seven joined in one, representing the seven divisions of the Guards.

Mr Fleming said: "It will be an honour for the two Grenadiers, Jimmy Major and Matthew Telford, who were killed in Afghanistan in 2009."

Sergeant Telford's widow Kerry Telford said: "I support the idea of a plaque memorial. It is a lovely idea and thought from the Guards. It is something both our son Harry and I would be proud to see."

And Adrian Major, father of 18-year-old Guardsman Jimmy, of Cleethorpes, said: "The Remembrance Gate will be something people can look at over the years.

"There are memorials to those who were killed in the world wars. This will be a memorial of those killed in the latest conflict."

The arch will be put up on the two stone pillars in High Cliff Road opposite The Point, and will feature a 4ft by 2ft joint services crest, comprising the Army's crossed swords, the eagle of the Royal Air Force and a naval anchor in the centre.

The smaller steel plaques featuring the crests of the various different Armed Forces associations, will be fixed to the side of the two pillars, and the arch will be lit by two lamps, fixed to each pillar.

The associations are currently fundraising to pay for these items.

All the work will be carried out by Grimsby-based Blackrow Engineering.

Pledges can be made by e-mailing danielfleming3258@hotmail.com

STATISTICS highlighting the most peaceful places in the UK have put North East Lincolnshire in the bottom 20 per cent because of crime and disorder – and show we have fewer police officers than average.

Our area was number 271 in a list of 343 local authorities on the UK Peace Index – which is calculated using Home Office statistics on specific crimes and a 1 to 5 rating of police officers per 100,000 people.

It puts the borough in the bottom 20 per cent, with the majority of those below us being major cities – including areas of London, Manchester and Birmingham.

The statistics show our rates are above average in all four of the crime categories – murder, violent crime, weapons crime, public disorder – and particularly in violent crime.

Yet we have a below average number of police officers, with a rating on a 1 to 5 scale of just 1.370 per 100,000 people compared to 2.260 in 2005 – and the number looks likely to fall further as Humberside Police strive to save £30 million from their budget by 2018.

However, it also shows that crime has dropped in the area – coinciding with a national fall – with the overall score, again based on the 1 to 5 weightings incorporating crime and police numbers, dropping from 4.11 in 2005 to 2.82 in 2012.

Matthew Grove, Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner, said that there are many positives to take from the report.

He said: "The numbers in this survey do not fully reflect the true picture – that crime is falling, not just in North East Lincolnshire but in all areas of our region.

"I have every confidence that Humberside Police will continue to work with its partners and the public to build on the excellent progress that has already been made."

In the Yorkshire and Humber area – which is sixth in the UK – North East Lincolnshire was second to the bottom of the list of authorities, with only Kingston Upon Hull being less peaceful.

Even cities in the area were above Grimsby in the local table, with Bradford placed at 18th in the region and 255th nationally, Leeds 17th and 243rd and Sheffield placing 14th and 233rd.

However, a more peaceful way of life is just around the corner – West Lindsey was the 20th most peaceful place to live in the country and East Lindsey was 150th on the list.

Councillor Burt Keimach (Con, Market Rasen), Leader of West Lindsey District Council, was delighted to be so highly rated – but said that officials will not be complacent.

He added: "I'm really pleased that we rank so highly on such a long list and on the whole, West Lindsey is a very nice and peaceful place to live.

"However, serious crime is not the only thing to be considered – people care about the low-level things happening outside their front doors.

"We're constantly working with the police and looking to provide things for young people to do which will keep them entertained or we could have a problem."

What do you think? Do you think North East Lincolnshire is a peaceful place to live? Comment on this story or e-mail viewpoint@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk