GRIMSBY Town bounced back from consecutive pre-season defeats with a solid display in a 1-0 victory against a Hull City XI last night.

Town took the lead after 20 minutes through Lenell John-Lewis, from the penalty spot, and controlled the game for large periods at Blundell Park.

John-Lewis and substitute Andy Cook had further chances for the hosts, but a solitary goal from 12 yards proved to be enough in front of a respectable Main Stand crowd.

After signing for the Mariners earlier in the day, goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge made his debut for the club, protected by a back four of Sam Hatton, Shaun Pearson, Clayton McDonald and Paul Bignot.

McDonald, too, was making his first appearance in a Town shirt.

Liam Hearn was back among the matchday squad, but the Hitman had to settle for a place on the bench as John-Lewis, Ross Hannah and Dayle Southwell were selected in attack.

And the trio came up against a familiar face in the Tigers ranks – Conor Townsend, who spent a season on loan at Blundell Park in 2011/2012, captained the young visitors.

Despite a warm reception for the ex-Town man, it was Hull who were nearly celebrating in the opening minute when Danny Chambers, cutting in from the left, fired narrowly wide.

And there was more danger for the Mariners soon after, but Hedge introduced himself to the home fans with a superb stop to deny a powerful Matthew Dixon header.

Town began to edge their way into the contest and, after two set pieces in testing positions, they found themselves in front.

It came from the right boot of John-Lewis, who dusted himself down from an untimely Dixon challenge to find the net from 12 yards.

And it could have been two as half-time approached – but a spectacular half-volley from Joe Colbeck was well blocked by Ryan Fallowfield.

Bosses Rob Scott and Paul Hurst made eight substitutions after the break but, despite those changes, the flow of the game continued with the Mariners.

John-Lewis was particularly impressive up front, but the striker was withdrawn after 60 minutes as Hearn was summoned from the bench.

The Hitman was called into action alongside Paddy McLaughlin and last season's top goalscorer, Andy Cook, as part of a three-man switch.

And the latter had a decent opportunity to add to the Town advantage, but Hull stopper Joe Cracknell was equal to the task and the score remained 1-0.

SEVENTY years ago, Sidney Lewis was fighting in the longest continuous military campaign in the Second World War.

Today, aged 92, he proudly holds an Atlantic Star Medal, awarded to the modest pensioner for his courage.

Mr Lewis, from Immingham, was badly hurt when the Battle Of The Atlantic was at its height in 1943.

JONATHAN Hedge is looking forward to creating a successful partnership with fellow Grimsby Town stopper James McKeown.

The 25-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Mariners yesterday afternoon, and immediately made his debut in last night's friendly victory against a Hull City XI.

Hedge arrives at Blundell Park on a free transfer, following his release from Cambridge at the end of last season.

The goalkeeper was called into action just 10 minutes into the 1-0 victory against the young Tigers, making a smart stop to deny a powerful Matthew Dixon header.

And having kept a clean sheet on his very first day at the club, Hedge has set his sights on promotion.

He told the Telegraph: "The last two days have been a whirlwind – it all happened so quickly, but I'm delighted to be here.

"As soon as I heard the interest, that was my mind made up.

"Grimsby Town is not a Conference club.

"It is not where they want to be, and it is not where I want to be – we want to be in the Football League.

"I think we can go all the way – we got to the play-offs last season, and everyone here is pushing to go one step further."

Hedge, who played the full 90 minutes against Stephen Clemence's Development Squad, is no stranger to Conference football.

He made 18 appearances for the U's in 2012/2013, and played a further five times while on loan at Southport towards the end of the campaign.

Hedge also played 43 league games at Tamworth, after beginning his career as a trainee with Rotherham United.

But now the stopper is looking to build on his first outing by bringing the best out of himself, and Mariners' number one McKeown.

Hedge added: "I thought I did okay for my first game in a few months.

"It's always nice to get a clean sheet, but it's time for the hard work to begin ahead of the new season. I want to push James all the way and, if we create a strong working relationship, that will only help us."

A MOTORCYCLIST remains in intensive care today following another collision on the A18 – less than two weeks after the notorious road was closed for safety improvements.

Lincolnshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision, at the junction with Barton Street, half-a-mile west of Ludborough at 5.15pm on Friday.

It involved a silver Honda Fireblade motorbike and a silver Mitsubishi car.

The road was closed for almost seven hours.

The motorcyclist, a 52-year-old man from Driffield, was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary with leg and abdominal injuries.

The car driver, a 27-year-old man from Winterton, was treated for minor injuries at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, and released.

It comes two weeks after a couple were left with life-threatening injuries when their car skidded across the A18 and into a ditch.

A week before that, a nine-year-old girl ended up in a critical condition following a head-on collision on the stretch of road near Ashby-cum-Fenby.

In April, five members of the Cockburn family were killed after a crash on the same road.

The A18 was closed for three days earlier this month for safety improvements to be carried out following the spate of serious accidents on the road which featured in a BBC documentary, Britain's Killer Roads, in 2011.

PC Richard Precious is investigating the most recent collision and asks witnesses to contact him on 101, quoting incident 395 of July 26.

IT'S that time of year when most people look to their sheds to find something to cut the lawn – but not for Chrissy Kirk.

About five years ago, she was left some land after her parents passed away and decided to farm with something that didn't result in a trip to an abattoir.

After a discussion with a friend the idea of an alpaca farm near Louth was born and Chrissy has never looked back.

"I started off with buying my boys before we went into breeding to see what we were getting ourselves into," she said.

"It didn't take long before we bought some females and, in 2009, our first cria (the name for alpaca offspring), Apollo and Athena, were born."

From that moment, Chrissy's passion for the exotic animals grew and she rekindled her love of crafts to make unique items from their wool.

She said: "Our aim was to increase our own herd and increase the national herd at the same time and we breed healthy animals with strong confirmation and excellent fleece characteristics.

"We have now been breeding alpacas for more than three years and have several stud males available, Blizzard, Jeremy, Nipper, and this year we have introduced Spirit and Cloud to our list.

"I have always loved crafts so this provided a chance for me to get into felting and hand-spinning the wool."

Alpacas are not wild animals; they were domesticated thousands of years ago by native American people in the Andean Mountains of South America. There are two main types, the Suri and the Huacaya.

They eat mainly grass and hay, however, a protein supplement is fed regularly when needed.

Alpacas usually have one cria after an eleven-and-a-half-month gestation period.

They usually give birth in the daylight as this allows the cria to dry its fleece before the temperature drops at night.

Alpacas are sheared annually and produce an average of 3.5kg of fibre in a range of 22 colours with many shades in between.

They are a herd animal and cannot be kept singly, and will ward off foxes.

Male geldings are often run with sheep as guard animals.

Chrissy is often invited to Women's Institute groups and into schools to teach about the exotic species and to provide felting and spinning demonstrations.

Chrissy said: "I enjoy teaching people about alpacas as many people still aren't aware of them or think they are lamas."

Visitors are always made welcome to see her herd, at a farm called Homefield Alpacas, a few miles away from Louth, at Great Carlton, although it is preferred that an appointment is made first.

She also keeps a range of resident sheep and happy hens.

For more information about the farm visit www.homefieldalpacas.co.uk or call 01507 450804.

Send your pictures from events and celebrations, news and views, to pictures@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

SPOOKY!

This summer, North East Lincolnshire Libraries are once again running the National Summer Reading Challenge in partnership with The Reading Agency.

This year, the theme is Creepy House, so books about ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night are the order of the day.

Children aged four to 11 can join in the challenge at any public library in North East Lincolnshire. And with prizes, certificates and medals on offer for reading up to six books borrowed from the library, there should be something to suit all abilities.

Just turn up to your local library and ask about the Summer Reading Challenge.

In support of the challenge, libraries will be holding special events for children and adults alike.

During the week of August 5-9, and again on August 28, libraries will be running the Creepy House Quiz, and during the week of August 12-16, children will be able to make puppets and perform their own puppet show, too. Ask at your local library for times and dates.

And for adults, there are two talks at Cleethorpes Library. Hubble, Bubble, Toil And … Plants is a talk on August 14, about the superstitions and folklore of plant and tree medicine, by leading herbalist Hannah Sylvester, and Stephen Wade will give a talk on paranormal investigations in Lincolnshire, Tales Of The Unknown, on August 22.

Contact Cleethorpes Library on 01472 323650 to book your place.

Councillor Mick Burnett, portfolio holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said: "We need to encourage the children in the borough to keep reading over the summer holidays to help maintain and improve their reading levels.

"A good level of literacy is one of the key building blocks for life."

STAFF and students at Weelsby Riding For The Disabled school are riding high after their best-ever haul of rosettes in a national competition.

They won three first places, securing automatic selection for the RDA national championships next year.

Four horses and six riders from Cleethorpes and Grimsby RDA at Weelsby took the long road to Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, for the national championships.

They returned with rosettes for the three first-placed riders and a number of second-placed rosettes.

The Weelsby school's chief instructor, Shirley Kay, said: "We are very proud. We are delighted to have got three class champions."

Emma Wells, of Barnetby, rode Samwise, a piebald cob, in two disciplines, dressage and freestyle to music.

She won first place in dressage with a score of more than 78 per cent, making her the overall class champion.

That also gives her automatic entry into the 2014 championships.

Later, she gained 67 per cent, earning her second place in the freestyle event.

Emma, who is wheelchair-bound through muscular dystrophy, said she was delighted with her achievement.

She said: "It was great to see the name of Paralympian Sophie Christiansen, on the silver salver. Who knows, it could be the Olympics next for me?"

Jackie Smeeton and Julie Holmes took part in the walk and trot dressage.

Julie, of Stallingborough, scored nearly 75 per cent, giving her first place and the overall class champion title.

Jackie scored more than 73 per cent and took second place.

In dressage with canter test, Mark Griffin came first with 73.5 per cent and Karen Pocklington came second with 72.9 per cent.

In the freestyle test, Mark, 45, of Holton-le-Clay, came first overall.

Mark, who suffered a head injury in a road accident 14 years ago at Caenby Corner, said: "The extra preparation paid off. I didn't expect to win. It felt good to win and we celebrated with a few drinks and a disco at the end."

He added: "Looking back over the years you can see the improvement. There are always new challenges."

The riders thanked Shirley and fellow instructor Jenny Leggett for their patient tuition over the past year and the support of the school.

They also thanked Carol Scott, Chloe Denton and Roy Hampson for caring for the horses at Hartpury.

The group meets every Wednesday and Thursday mornings and welcomes new helpers.

Volunteers can contact association secretary Sally Amos on 01472 815027 or Roy and Jean Hampson on 01472 588107.

ON THE WEB: See other stories about Weelsby RDA by logging on to www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

CLUBS, schools, charities and businesses were awarded for their colourful and creative floats at the Cleethorpes Carnival.

There were nine awards given out at the ceremony from best sea themed float to best novelty float, after the floats were scrutnised on the day by a team of judges marking entries on such things as costumes, music and carnival atmosphere.

Leanor Pidgen, Cleethorpes Carnival Committee member, said over the years she has never seen such outstanding efforts.

"It is so nice to present certificates and awards because of all the hard work people put into their floats," she said.

"They really were beautiful and it was a hard task for the judges because people have upped their game.

And it was particularly rewarding as it had been feared that the 2012 carnival was going to be the last – until Young's Seafood stepped in to save the day.

"The carnival went extremely well with no hiccups. It is now huge with thousands and thousands of people supporting it.

"It is estimated en route there were up to 27,000 people and I would like to thank everyone for supporting all the charities which the carnival collected for.

"The atmosphere was terrific even though it was quite chilly on the seafront."

Cast Theatre School won the overall best float award, as well as best organisation with their Pirates Of The Caribbean theme.

Principal Sarah Hall said: "We began working on the float in January and there were around 10 members helping us.

"We didn't know if would be able to win this year again, but we have, which is fantastic.

"All the children were dressed up and were dancing to pirate-themed music.

"Every year I think the carnival gets better and better – we had Jack Sparrow jumping off the float and doing a fight scene.

"I would like to say a great big thank you to everyone who helped out and to Cristal Global for sponsoring us."

Eastfield Primary School, Immingham, also won several awards, such as best fish/sea-themed float and best school, and came second in best novelty float.

Class teacher Joyne Maddison said: "The children won a competition with Young's Seafood and so we decided to do a fish-themed float with lots of sea creatures.

"It took a good three weeks to create it and with the whole school helping out.

"We have never entered the carnival before, so it's great we have won so many awards!

"We raised money for Macmillan nurses and we haven't got a total yet."

A GRIMSBY town fan escaped jail after a judge heard he owed more than £3,000 in council tax – yet managed to pay for home game tickets every week.

Graham Belcher, 46, of Cromwell Road, Grimsby, admitted non-payment of council tax at Grimsby Magistrates' Court, dating back to March 2010.

North East Lincolnshire Council launched a prosecution against Belcher after he failed to respond to their warning letters – despite numerous visits by bailiffs – and argued he should be jailed after showing "wilful refusal" to pay the £3,567 bill.

District Judge Daniel Curtis heard how Belcher recently had Sky TV installed and paid £20 a week for Grimsby Town football home matches.

Belcher blamed his "stupid mistakes" and pledged to "knock a few things on the head" like clothes, DVDs and Town games, in order to pay the bill at £50 a week.

He said: "This is due to my stupid mistakes. I had people trying to get money off me at the same time. I had to pay them quickly or I would be in more trouble than I already was.

"As soon as I got them paid off I tried to pay my council tax."

The maximum penalty for not paying council tax is 90 days in prison.

Ordering Belcher to make the first £50 payment within a week, Judge Curtis said: "So you had money to pay your council tax but you decided to pay for different things. That is wilful refusal."

Judge Curtis told Belcher he was gambling 90 days in prison on being able to pay back £50 every week.

"If you don't, you will go to prison."

A TROUBLEMAKER who "bullied" and assaulted a teenage girl and hurled racial abuse at takeaway staff has been given an antisocial behaviour order.

Jade Mitchell, also a regular shoplifter, was given the order at Grimsby Magistrates' Court.

Mitchell, 20, formerly of Wootton Road, Grimsby, admitted assaulting a girl on March 6 and a racially aggravated public order offence on July 12.

The court heard that the assault happened at Freshney Place bus station, Grimsby, when Mitchell got involved in an argument with a 15-year-old girl.

She threw a drink over the victim and punched her in the head two or three times, before grabbing her hair and trying to pull her to the ground.

Mitchell threatened the girl, who had a young baby with her, before people intervened.

In the other incident on July 12, Mitchell stole cigarettes from a taxi driver, who was waiting for a fare. The driver did not dare challenge her because she seemed drunk.

Mitchell subjected three male members of staff at a takeaway to a torrent of racial abuse.

She was told to leave because it was not open but returned 15 minutes later, hurled abuse and spat at the workers.

Ghaff Khan, mitigating, said Mitchell had written a letter apologising for her actions.

Mitchell was given a 16-week suspended prison sentence and a two-year Asbo.

District Judge Daniel Curtis told Mitchell the racial incident was "very unpleasant" and was "aimed at people who all too often have to suffer this type of treatment".

On the assault on the girl, he told her: "You bullied her in public and thank goodness other people intervened."

After the hearing, Inspector Steve Lynn, neighbourhood policing team inspector for Grimsby town centre, said: "Most shopkeepers know Jade Mitchell well – too well, in fact.

"She causes trouble wherever she goes and, in the past, when she was subject to a ban by Freshney Place shopping centre, she took absolutely no notice and repeatedly tried to get in.

"This has caused problems for the security staff there and for police officers and police community support officers who have had to deal with her.

"She is, or perhaps was, an M-Cat user but, equally significantly, she is reliant on alcohol, which inevitably results in poor behaviour.

"She has caused problems of an antisocial nature wherever she lives because of the seemingly endless parties that she has had, which attract all sorts of undesirable people."

He thanked local authority community pride officers and Shoreline Housing for their help in obtaining the Asbo.

JADE Mitchell is banned from:

Using threatening, abusive, insulting or intimidating words or behaviour in North East Lincolnshire.

Entering or attempting to enter an exclusion zone covering Freshney Place, unless a passenger on public transport.

Remaining in retail premises if asked to leave by the tenant, owner or member of staff in North East Lincolnshire.

Causing excessive noise from loud music, slamming doors and shouting which causes others harassment in North East Lincolnshire.

TENS of thousands of spectators flocked to the promenade as thrilling displays in the long-awaited Cleethorpes Air Show got underway. From a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight by a Spitfire and Hurricane, to an elegant yet thrilling performance by the Gnats Display Team, the Air Show was twice as big as last year.

And although sea fog brought Saturday's flying to an abrupt end, Sunday didn't disappoint when it opened with the roaring Red Arrows.