AS ONE chapter ended, another began when the books from Grimsby's last independent book shop were donated to a local charity.

The final page has turned for the Chapter 5 book shop on Freeman Street as it closes its door next month.

However, its books will get a new lease of life when they are donated to St Andrew's Hospice.

Owners Mike and Diane Willerton, of Waltham, said: "It's a lovely way to end what's been part of our lives for the past 30 years.

"We knew of all the great and wonderful work done by St Andrew's and wanted to give them something to help raise money for the people they care for."

The pair closed their shop due to the rise of new technologies and the internet.

They said: "The latest technology of Kindles and Amazon has been the final nail in the coffin. Our trade has been gradually picked away by the changing market.

"We're upset we have to close but we've enjoyed every second of running the shop."

The pair aim to give more than 10,000 books to the hospice's chain of nine shops in the area which raise money for it.

The store will finally close its doors on Saturday, August 10, and will continue to trade as usual until then.

Emily Appleton, of St Andrew's Hospice, said: "It's a fantastic opportunity. Books are a key seller across our shops, and we hope that all together they can make in excess of £3,000, which is money that would go straight back into the charity.

"The first editions we will sell on our Ebay page to raise as much money as possible. We want to thank Mike and Diane for donating them, it's a lovely thing for them to do – they could have just sold them all but they instead chose to donate them to such a worthy cause."

The couple began their business after taking over a small store in Oxford Street, opposite the former Casablanca Club.

Diane said: "The place was a dive when we took it over. We turned it around before moving to four different shops. Mike completely renovated this shop and we always thought we would be able to leave the store to our family but, over the past few years, it has become obvious we sadly cannot continue.

Mike added: "It's so hard to have to close. There must be 60,000 people within our catchment area and it's sad to think one little store cannot survive."

LINCOLNSHIRE star Hollie Arnold said she felt "amazing" after becoming a world champion.

The former Holton-le-Clay athlete won javelin gold at the IPC World Championships in Lyon, France.

Arnold, 19, threw a new personal best of 37.45m to take the F46 category title.

She said: "I feel amazing. I'm lost for words really.

"I've had a lot of struggles in the last few months with glandular fever, but I came back stronger and that's what the best athletes do.

"I was confident going into it, but you can't be too confident because you don't know what the other athletes are going to come out and throw.

"But I'm really happy to come away with the gold."

Arnold, a former Cleethorpes AC competitor and an ex-pupil of Cordeaux School in Louth, now lives in South Wales.

Her mother, Jill, could not contain her excitement when she found out about the medal success.

She explained: "I was following the action from my home using a live results service and video stream on the internet.

"I started celebrating when I saw the result. There was myself, my neighbour, Hollie's best friend and her mum all in my house – and we started screaming when she won.

"The rest of the street must have thought we had gone mad.

"She has worked so hard for it and we are all very proud.

"She has had such a tough year so far. After suffering with glandular fever – and a low thyroid problem which leaves her feeling very tired – she has had to dig very deep.

"She has just carried on and got on with it.

"She also dropped a weight on her hand in training in the run-up to the championships and also had her ankle strapped up – so she was not 100 per cent fit.

"We are all excited to find out what she can do when she is in top condition!

"These are exciting times for Hollie."

Jill believes her daughter's strong mental attitude is partly down to her experience of the Beijing Paralympics back in 2008.

At the time, Hollie was one of the youngest members of Team GB taking part in the Games.

She explained: "She is so confident now and does not let anything faze her.

"Somebody lost her javelins before she was due to compete in Lyon – but she did not panic and it all turned out fine in the end.

"Going to Beijing for a month when she was just 14 taught her a lot of lessons.

"It has helped to mould her into who she is today.

"She had never been away from home before, so to do something like that was a big thing.

"Now, even though she is only 19, there are younger ones in the team who look up to her and are inspired by her."

GRIMSBY Central Library is set to undergo a £300,000 refurbishment aimed at extending the life of the 50-year-old facility.

North East Lincolnshire Council Cabinet this week backed proposals to replace essential electrical and heating systems, whilst also reconfiguring the building to allow existing library services to be consolidated within the basement, ground floor and mezzanine floor.

The second floor of the library, which currently includes the gallery and community meeting room, would close if the plans get the go-ahead.

Council bosses say regular users of these spaces would be supported to find alternative locations, ideally within the branch library network or alternative council buildings.

The central library will be closed to the public whilst the work is being carried out.

The proposals will now be looked at by the council's tourism, leisure and culture scrutiny panel, before a final decision is made on whether to proceed with the revamp.

The Cabinet this week also proposed to carry out a feasibility study and public engagement and consultation into the future provision of library services across the whole area.

Council bosses say the proposed refurbishment will extend the life of the building and allow its use to be part of the consideration of the long-term future of the library service.

In December 2011, Cabinet approved a programme of essential repairs necessary to ensure the continued use of the building, but investigations by independent contractors last year confirmed that the original plan was no longer practical or cost-effective.

Councillor Mick Burnett, portfolio holder for tourism, leisure and culture, said: "We have made a decision about the building based on value for money and looking after our library users.

"The building can't continue to operate as a library without significant investment in the infrastructure and we must also ensure it remains safe for our staff and the public to use.

"And in terms of the wider library provision, in the light of the continuing financial challenges, I believe we need to explore innovative solutions to ensure we retain a library service we can be proud of.

"To do that, we need to ask users and the wider community what they want and expect from the service and design it to reflect that within the resources we will have available in future.''

"EVERYONE of them is a prince or a princess."

That's the joy shared by staff at Grimsby's hospital where eight babies were born on the same day as the new prince delivered to The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William.

Amazingly, only one of the babies born at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital on Monday was a boy.

Labour ward co-ordinator Pauline Gautrey said: "It was particularly busy. I never knew she had gone into labour until I got home after 7pm, and by then she had given birth.

"None of us had much time to think about it because it was so busy."

She added: "We are over the moon that The Duchess decided on a natural birth rather than an elective section. You get so many celebrities nowadays opting for a section. As midwives, we would always encourage a natural birth."

The mums giving birth on Monday came from the Skegness area and Market Rasen area, as well as Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

Mrs Gautrey said: "We might not have been able to offer Kate Sky TV, but we could have given her a single room with en-suite facilities.

"And we allow partners to stay overnight, which encourages families to bond. We have camp beds in each room, which you don't get in many other hospitals because there are several mums on wards, so you could not have partners in the same ward."

Cleethorpes parents Claire and Matt Ward were celebrating the arrival of their second child, Evie Sophia, who was born on the same day as her four-year-old brother Harry.

Evie was delivered, weighing 6lb 6.5oz at 9.59pm.

The couple, who both work for North East Lincolnshire Council resources department said they were hoping birthday celebrations will be cheaper.

Matt said: "Maybe she will marry the prince."

Claire, of Harewood Grove, on Cleethorpes Country Park, said: "I knew Kate had gone into labour. We wanted to beat her but didn't quite make it."

She urged The Duke and Duchess to "follow their own way" in the upbringing of their son.

She said she hoped both Evie and the prince will share the same Cancerian trait of being "passionate about life."

Also on the Honeysuckle ward, mum and dad Gemma and Lewis Williams, of Phylis Avenue, Grimsby, celebrated the safe arrival of their fourth baby, Kaitlyn May Williams, who was born by cesarean at 2.28pm, weighing 7lb 6 oz.

Gemma said: "The first I heard about Kate was when I was in theatre. I had other things to think about than the Royal baby.

"I thought that since it was her first baby she would not be as quick as she was."

She added: "For us, this is our family complete as we already have three boys. It is all the more special because she has arrived the same day as the prince."

The Ramsden's International exports customer service assistant advised Kate: "Do whatever you want to do and don't listen to anybody else. Mum always knows best."

Lewis, a petrol tanker driver, said: "We had been booked in for 9am but then they had a couple more emergencies."

He added: "We hope the royal couple will have more. Life would be boring with just one. You have got to have a few."

To Debbie Hodson and Paul Gains was delivered a baby girl, Isabelle at 12.20pm.

She weighed 6lb 6.5oz and is a first baby for the couple.

Debbie, who is a teacher at Sutton-on-Sea Primary School, e-mailed a photo to her class so they were able to see her baby before breaking up for the school holidays yesterday.

Debbie, of Burgh-le-Marsh, said she asked about Kate when she arrived at the maternity hospital's Jasmine ward at 3.45am after setting off from her home at 3am.

She said: "It makes it extra special that she has been born the same day as a prince. Maybe we can introduce her and she will become his princess."

Coincidentally, Debbie is the same age as Kate and her mum Angie Hodson gave birth to her in the same year as William was born.

Roma Lilee Lydon was born in the Jasmine ward at 5.33pm weighing 5lb 12oz to mum Abbie Newell, 22, of Beeson Grove, Grimsby.

She shared the same experience as Kate in delivering their first baby.

She said: "I was a bit surprised to hear she had gone into labour about the same time. It was nice.

"I hope my baby grows up happy, as I have a happy home and I hope she is healthy."

The sales assistant at the Next store on Victoria Street said she began having pains on Sunday night and her contractions got started early on Monday.

Market Rasen-area couple Anna Tutty and Toby Collett still had not decided on a name for their first baby together.

He was delivered at 7.45am after they arrived at the maternity hospital from Faldingworth at 6am.

Baby weighed 6lb 9oz.

RSPB warden Toby, 32, whose parents Katie and Keith Collett live in Cleethorpes, told the Grimsby Telegraph: "You should be speaking to Kate and William asking them what it is like having their prince born on the same day as our boy. We were first."

He said: "Maybe you could run a competition in the paper to find a name for him! We are thinking of pushing the 42-day limit before we find a name."

He said his parents were delighted about becoming grandparents for the first time, just as Prince Charles has become.

Toby said: "It was nice there being just Anna and me. It is a very private time. For the royal couple you think about if something had gone wrong. How would they have coped? I am sure the Duchess would have been perfectly happy if everyone had ignored her. There are going to be a lot of comparisons with her and Princess Diana. We wish them all the best."

Anna, 32, an administrator, who already has two children, said: "We came to Grimsby because the hospital was recommended to us by everyone we spoke to."

On Blueberry ward there were anxious moments for parents Deanne and Mark Phillips, of Barrow-on-Humber.

Matilda Beth Phillips arrived at 4.57pm, which was ten days after her due date. She weighed 8lb 13oz after a labour which started on Thursday.

Dad Mark said: "She is going to marry the prince. But first we have to see her safely out of the neo-natal ward."

He added: "All the staff and midwives have been brilliant."

Deanne, 29, said: "Kate was late as well."

It all added up for mum Kelly Morton, who is hoping to study accountancy when her new arrival grows up.

Tiny Sienna Rose Boarder was in a hurry to share her special day with the future king and was born eight weeks premature, weighing 3lb 10 oz.

She arrived at 11.44am and is a fourth child for Kelly, 31, of Littlefield Lane, Grimsby.

Sharing the same age as The Duchess, Kelly said she did not know much about the birth of the Royal baby as she had to undergo a cesarean.

She said: "The first I knew was my son Callum texting me before he went to school to say she had gone into hospital."

See tomorrow's paper for a feature on how we have covered Royal visits over the years.

CUSTOMS officials at Killingholme have got the force to curb smuggling – and have received a governmental stamp of approval.

The Minister of State for Immigration, Mark Harper, personally thanked officers from the Border Force at the port after a series of successful seizures, when he visited a container yard yesterday.

He saw close-up the technology used to identify smuggled contraband goods.

And he had a special pat on the back for sniffer dog Norman, who has detected 11 tonnes of illegally imported tobacco and seven million cigarettes in the past year.

A £1 million scanner which takes an X-ray of containers was demonstrated to the minister, who was accompanied by Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers.

His visit follows two seizures at Immingham Docks with a combined total of 5.3 million counterfeit cigarettes, as reported.

They had been sent from The Hook of Holland last month.

The first seizure on June 11 involved about 2.5 million cigarettes concealed in a trailer listed as containing ready-mix plaster. The second seizure, the following day, involved 2.8 million cigarettes hidden in a container labelled as central heating boilers.

Had the smugglers succeeded, they would have cost the UK about £1.2 million in unpaid VAT and excise duty.

Last summer, the Border Force smashed a multi-million-pound cocaine route running from South America to Lincolnshire.

Officers at Immingham intercepted more than 70 kilos of cocaine with a potential street value of £6.5 million in three separate seizures in June and August.

In a container yard at Killingholme, the minister said: "It is a constant battle. Our Border Force officers are using intelligence and the latest technology to combat smugglers.

"On this site over the last month we have had two very successful seizures of 5.3 million cigarettes which means about £1 million of revenue protected and keeping the UK safe from those that are trying to take advantage. We work with port operators and haulage operators and have a good relationship with them.

"We want to facilitate lawful operators, so for those businesses importing and exporting products, we want to help them run their businesses and at the same time combat those who are breaking the law. It is about getting both parts of the equation right. It is part of the growth agenda to help Britain grow and clamp down on those who are trying to do us harm."

MESSAGES of support have come flooding in for Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell, who is recovering in hospital after undergoing open heart surgery.

The 78-year-old Labour politician had the operation to mend a leaky valve on Monday morning at Kings College Hospital, in London.

His wife Linda McDougall said yesterday that the procedure had been a success and that Austin was in good spirits. Today fellow politicians from the area have sent their best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers said: "I send Austin my good wishes for a speedy recovery and I look forward to seeing him back in Westminster."

North East Lincolnshire Council leader Chris Shaw said: "I wish him well and hope for a speedy recovery so he can carry on doing the work which he has done for many years which is representing the people of Grimsby."

Former Cleethorpes MP Shona McIsaac said: "I wish Austin a speedy recovery and hope that he gets back to full strength as soon as possible."

And Councillor Ray Sutton, chairman of the Grimsby Constituency Labour Party, said: "We are delighted the operation went so well and are glad that the NHS was still there for him. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him up and about in Grimsby soon."

Austin spent 11 days in Kings College Hospital after collapsing and banging his head outside the Houses of Parliament on June 3, and was fitted with a defibrillator.

Upon being discharged, he spoke of his hope that medication would stop the leak, but after undergoing tests last week, doctors told him that the valve would have to be repaired.

Linda, who went to see Austin in the cardiac recovery unit at 6pm on Monday, said: "So far he is doing really well. He was pleased to see me and we were able to laugh at the fact that he will always remember his operation because it took place on the birthday of the future King!

"Austin will be in hospital for a couple of weeks getting his strength back and then will be spending the summer quietly in Yorkshire reading to start fighting for Grimsby when the autumn term begins."

The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire is going green – by swapping her normal mayoral car for an environmentally-friendly electric model.

This week Councillor Peggy Elliott and her consort Steve will travel to their various civic engagements in a 100 per cent electric-powered Nissan Leaf, courtesy of Hartwell Grimsby.

It comes less than a month after new charging points were installed in two North East Lincolnshire car parks and means the Mayor can attend all her duties for the week on just a 40 pence charge.

Councillor Elliott said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to use an electric vehicle for my mayoral duties during which I will be helping the environment and raising awareness that the electric car is ideal for small journeys around town. And now we have the charging points in place, North East Lincolnshire has the infrastructure in place to support them."

Electric vehicles are still very much an emerging technology but are set to become much more popular over the next few years as manufacturers unveil new and better models at lower prices.

David Robertson, general manager at Hartwell Grimsby said: "We are proud to support the Mayor and North East Lincolnshire Council to raise awareness of this 100 per cent green environment incentive.

"Having installed the new charging points, the council is really supporting those who choose to move away from the typical diesel or petrol vehicle and to a greener form of transport."

Research shows that the biggest slice of car use is made up of small journeys and average daily motoring is just over 23 miles per car – making electric vehicles a viable option for most trips.

Average trip lengths, for the most common routine journeys are: commuting – 8.8 miles, business trip – 19.4 miles, school run – 2.3 miles, shopping – 4.3 miles, visiting friends – 8.7 miles, and entertainment – 7.3 miles.

Earlier this month charging points for electric vehicles were fitted at the council-owned car parks on Cartergate, Grimsby, and St Peter's Avenue in Cleethorpes.

The charging points were installed by Louth-based firm Scenergy Limited, and are run by charging company POD Point. In a bid to get drivers thinking green, users can register their vehicles for just £15 and receive unlimited electricity for the first 12 months.

NELC, which owns the chargers, has the choice to make them "Pay As You Go" in the future. Both charge points have been funded by central Government.

Scenergy manager Jonathan Wilson described the installation of the points as "a big step in the right direction", and expressed hope that it would drive up sales of electric cars, which are being sold at Hartwell, the Renault garage and Thurlby Motors in Louth.

SIMILARLY to Saturday's defeat at Scunthorpe, last night's loss contained plenty of encouraging signs but no Mariners goals.

Having completed a one-year deal earlier in the day, defender Paul Bignot was in the starting line-up.

He was joined by Chris Doig, who again looked to impress at centre-back, while somewhat surprisingly, Sam Hatton started in midfield.

There was a familiar face in the visiting team, with former Town favourite Alan Connell leading the Bantams' frontline.

In common with much of pre-season, bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst again cast their eyes over a 4-3-3 formation – or variation of it.

And once again the 'new' system helped the Mariners make an encouraging start.

Just five minutes in, Shaun Pearson glanced Paddy McLaughlin's free-kick a yard wide of the post before Bradford striker James Hanson repeated the trick in front of the Pontoon.

Andy Cook tested City keeper John McLaughlin for the first time ten minutes later, turning his marker in the box and hammering a right-foot effort straight at the stopper.

The frontman then headed straight at the keeper from a Paddy McLaughlin corner as a bright opening continued.

Cook was being supported by new arrivals Scott Neilson and Alex Rodman, who would quickly drop back into midfield when defending.

What followed, though, was the kind of lull in action and intensity only witnessed during pre-season matches – before Hanson planted a header over James McKeown's crossbar.

Kyel Reid drove a low shot wide of the home goal to end a half low on penalty box action.

The Mariners, however, had looked comfortable throughout, with their midfield trio of Hatton, Andi Thanoj and McLaughlin matching their League One opponents and stringing plenty of passes together.

Connell's BP return ended abruptly at half-time as he was substituted, while Craig Disley replaced Aswad Thomas in Town's only change.

Chances remained at a premium but some of hosts' passing play and movement, particularly between Neilson, Rodman and McLaughlin, was giving the crowd plenty of heart.

However, the first goal came completely out of the blue as the Bantams surged forward and sub Garry Thompson ghosted past Hatton on their right flank. His low centre was perfect for Hanson to side-foot from five yards out.

Scott Kerr replaced McLaughlin seconds later, giving Thanoj licence to push forward and his clever through-ball would have been perfect for 'a Liam Hearn.'

Unfortunately, Cook was the man in pursuit and a yard short of reaching the ball before Bantams stopper McLaughlin.

Town's front three was replaced in its entirety in the 70th minute, with Lenell John-Lewis, Ross Hannah and Dayle Southwell entering the action.

The change almost paid dividends immediately as John-Lewis fed Hannah in the box and the striker's shot was deflected wide, before Pearson glanced wide from the resulting corner.

Youth-teamers Paul Walker and Tom Charlesworth got another chance to impress for the final eight minutes – for Doig and Thanoj.

But neither of the youngsters could have done much about Bradford's second goal – a fine 25-yard free-kick from Mark Yeates which found the bottom corner.

Hannah went clear for the Mariners in the final minute but saw his effort blocked by the onrushing McLaughlin, before referee Ross Joyce decided enough was enough before the 90 minutes were up.

Town: McKeown; Bignot, Pearson, Doig (Walker 82), Thomas (Disley 46); McLaughlin (Kerr 61), Hatton, Thanoj (Charlesworth 82); Rodman (Southwell 70), Cook (John-Lewis 70), Neilson (Hannah 70).

Attendance: 1,330 (141 away)

PAUL Bignot is determined to do all his talking about Grimsby Town's promotion hopes where it matters most – on the pitch.

As reported online at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, the defender completed a one-year deal with the Mariners yesterday.

The former Blackpool man went straight into the action, making his Blundell Park debut in last night's friendly 2-0 defeat against Bradford City.

After impressing Town's bosses in Saturday's Lincolnshire Senior Cup defeat at Scunthorpe, a permanent deal was put on the table this week.

And the 27-year-old said accepting that offer was a 'no-brainer', having listened to Rob Scott and Paul Hurst's vision for the club.

"You hear people saying teams like Grimsby shouldn't be in this league, but I'm not going to be giving it that chat," he told the Telegraph.

"I'm just here to work hard – obviously I want to get back into the Football League and I know Grimsby want to get back in the Football League.

"So we've got to do our talking on the pitch.

"I liked what both of the bosses had to say about next season. They're singing off the same hymn sheet and want to achieve the same things.

"I want to be onboard with what they're doing – that's why I chose to sign here."

Explaining how the move came about, the ex-Newport County and Kidderminster player continued: "The gaffers invited me down a couple of weeks ago.

"They said they knew all about me and wanted to have a closer look and give me a chance to have a look at the club as well. So I came in and trained, and played against Scunthorpe at the weekend.

"They said they liked what they saw, but they needed to see me a game situation before they could put a deal on the table."

With trialist Chris Doig again in action last night – and seemingly in line for a deal – the Mariners' co-managers suddenly have much stronger defensive resources at their disposal. And Bignot's versatility won't do any harm either.

"Right-back is my strongest position but throughout my career I've played left-back for Crewe quite a few times and played centre-half a few times for Newport and Plymouth," he said.

A TROUBLEMAKER who sparked a two-hour stand-off with police after climbing on to the roof of a Grimsby supermarket will be detained in a secure hospital to protect the public.

While in custody, he had been involved in a violent prison incident which took six guards to calm him down and there were later plans to transfer him to Rampton high security hospital, a court heard.

SCENES of crime officers were called to Grimsby late last night after unconfirmed reports of an incident involving three men who may have been armed.

A white tent was erected by the specially-trained officers in Castle Street, as police officers stood guard outside a bookmakers shop on nearby Park Street.

The Humberside Police helicopter was also scrambled and was seen searching overhead.

Local residents, who did not wish to be named, said they were alerted to the incident by the sound of sirens at around 9pm.

They came out of their homes to witness what they said were three men running from Park Street in the direction of Castle Street.

Two of the residents said they thought they saw a weapon, possibly a gun, although that was not confirmed at the time of going to press.

One woman said: "I was on my laptop and nearly dropped it after hearing an almighty loud bang – to me it sounded like a gun shot.

"And then after that I heard lots of sirens and the police arrived."