A PRESSURE group, which campaigns to maintain a town's unique shopping experience, is cautiously welcoming plans for a discounted supermarket in the town.

Aldi is hoping to submit a planning application next month for their plans to demolish the derelict Malt Kiln and build a medium-sized supermarket there.

Nick Louth, from Keep Louth Special, said: "We feel that the development offers an attractive option to Louth consumers who need access to low-cost food, without running the risk of doing much damage to the premium offering within the town's independent shops.

"It is a far less damaging project than a large supermarket being built on the livestock market."

Though the size of the Aldi store is a little larger than Keep Louth Special would have liked to see, and it is not quite as well connected to the existing town centre, it would remove an eyesore, and would crucially provide 140 spaces of all-day free car parking.

Alan Mumby, the chairman of Keep Louth Special, said: "This is something the town is in desperate need of since the local authority steeply increased parking charges

"The crucial point is that Aldi provides only own brands and a limited fresh-food offering.

"It will not be going head-to-head with the town market nor the specialist food shops which helped earn the town its accolade of Britain's favourite market town."

The group is waiting to see if the actual Aldi planning proposal, expected in mid-August, bears out the advantages it claims.

These include only one daily delivery, fewer than most similar sized stores, and unloading within the store, which should minimise noise disruption to neighbours, claims it will use local firms to help build the development and will locally source produce.

KLS has already made suggestions to Aldi for improved pedestrian and cycle access to the site, and for a design frontage to Newbridge Hill in keeping with the area.

Keep Louth Special will soon be announcing an exciting community-led alternative redevelopment of that site which would retain a modernised livestock market, and greatly expand the commercial power of this valuable plot, without damaging the existing town centre.

A CHARITY shop in Grimsby has issued an urgent appeal for donations.

Jo Swallow, manager of the British Heart Foundation Shop in Freeman Street, says stock has fallen to the lowest level she can remember.

And she is calling on residents in North East Lincolnshire to hand in any unwanted clothing, shoes, DVDs, CDs and books to ensure the shop can continue raising money for the charity.

She said the shop was receiving as many as 50 fewer bags a week in donated stock than a year ago, as more people choose to sell their unwanted items.

"We have got a little bit of stock in reserve but not a great deal to keep us going. Any type of donation would be gratefully received.

"One bag of stock is worth £20 to the British Heart Foundation and the work it does is very important as heart disease is one of the UK's biggest killers.

"Many of the defibrillators in ambulances are provided by the British Heart Foundation and it also provides three nurses at Grimsby Hospital.

"We also provide booklets to schools promoting healthy eating and physical activity."

Jo said the charity's other shops in Victoria Street, Grimsby and St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, were also desperate for stock.

By contrast, the Cash4Clothes store in nearby Hainton Avenue, has seen a big increase in the amount of stock being sold by local residents since it opened in January last year. The store, which is part of a national chain, pays 60p for every kilogram of unwanted clothes. Most of the stock is given to people in deprived countries overseas.

Franchisee Andrius Labanavicius concedes that the opening of the shop has affected donations to charity shops, but insists it is benefiting the local community.

He said: "There has been an increase in the amount of clothes people are bringing to the shop and one of the reasons is that people are skint.

"I would say that half of the people used to take their clothes to charity shops and the other half used to just bin their clothes.

"Most people were very happy that we opened a shop in the area. We do not want to put charity shops out of business.

"We just want to help the local community by giving them money for their clothes."

A CRITICALLY ill 84-year-old died after waiting three hours for an ambulance – prompting calls for a better service in Lincolnshire.

Rita May Benton died at Lincoln County Hospital after suffering a perforated colon, an infection and eventually a heart attack on February 21.

An inquest has heard how her family had to call 999 twice before an ambulance was eventually sent from Grimsby to her home in Coningsby.

Now, the coroner is writing to the Government and local heath bosses to demand a better ambulance service across the county.

The inquest into Mrs Benton's death was told how her husband first called 999 just before 6pm because she was crippled with stomach pain. The call was graded a low priority and transferred to NHS Direct.

The inquest heard the case was terminated at 6.53pm and no ambulance was sent, but the family were not told of this decision.

Mrs Benton's son-in-law, Martin Worley, made a second 999 call at 6.57pm as her condition worsened.

By then, no medics were available to meet the required 20-minute response time.

A telephone assessment by East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) at 7.53pm upgraded the response to immediate and the only available ambulance was finally sent from Grimsby at 8.08pm, arriving in Coningsby at 8.51pm, and leaving the house at 9.28pm.

Mrs Benton finally arrived at Lincoln County Hospital at 10.09pm where she, in the early hours, suffered a heart attack and could not be resuscitated.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as peritonitis following ischaemic colitis with perforation – an infection from a perforated colon.

GP Amos Ramon told the inquest, sitting in Lincoln: "Every minute was precious. This lady needed to be in hospital."

Lincolnshire's assistant deputy coroner Paul Smith recorded a narrative verdict.

He said: "I'm concerned that as far as humanly possible the events of that evening are never repeated.

"It is difficult to resist criticism that there were clearly unacceptable delays in getting this lady to hospital.

"It is not possible to say, on the balance of probabilities, whether she would have survived had she been admitted to hospital earlier.

"I accept resources are finite but the situation that evening in my judgment was not acceptable."

THE creation of a new pool hall inside a derelict pub will remove a blot on the landscape, as well as providing a much-needed facility for young people.

That was the view of North East Lincolnshire's planning committee as it unanimously approved the application by Steve Ward to transform the vacant Oak Tree Hotel in Norwich Avenue, Grimsby.

However, planning permission has been restricted to an 18-month trial period, at Mr Ward's agreement, because of concerns from residents about the potential for antisocial behaviour.

Mr Ward, who currently runs The Wholesaler, a general store, in one corner of the building, plans to open a ten-table members-only pool club for 12 to 18-year-olds.

The venue will be open from 10am to 10pm and will employ six people, with three members of staff on site at any one time.

Crisps, snacks and soft drinks will be sold on the premises – but not alcohol – and there will be three TVs with noise limiters on.

There are also plans to install CCTV and construct a cycle rack.

Planning officer Jonathan Cadd told the committee that there would be no external change to the building.

He said there had been quite a large number of objections from neighbours, but added that many arose out of the building's previous use as a pub.

"Residents are concerned that gangs of youths will congregate and increase noise and nuisance in the area. Run well, this site could be a bonus to the community. Run badly it could be a real issue for local residents and the police."

Councillor Peter Mills (Con, Wolds) said: "My first thought was that I was against this application. However, in view of the fact the applicant is prepared to go into an 18-month period where we can monitor the application I would be prepared to support it."

Councillor Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham) said: "It will bring back into use a building that has been vacant for some considerable time and has been a blot on the landscape, and will create jobs and provide a much-needed facility for young people.

Councillor Christina McGilligan- Fell (Lib Dem, Park) said: "In principle I think it's a very good idea. I think it is going to give the young people somewhere to go."

Councillor Cliff Barber (Lab, Freshney) said: "I think it's a very good idea. In this day and age for youths especially there's a big problem because there's nothing for them to do. I think it will be very good if everything goes to plan and it's monitored correctly."

"IT'S all about the working class lad who didn't have anything and had to work to get where he wanted to be."

The words of Grimsby Town legend John McDermott, ahead of the release of 'It's Not All Black and White' – an autobiography to chronicle his remarkable career.

The book, which comes out next month, takes readers from Macca's school days in Middlesbrough right through to becoming the Mariners' record appearance holder and beyond.

McDemott has described the book as honest and revealing, giving fans an insight into a side of the game that they do not always see.

"I've always thought about writing a book but I didn't want to do it just for the sake of it," he told the Telegraph.

"I wanted to write one at the right time and this feels like that time."

McDermott explained that he was encouraged to release an autobiography by former Town Youth-teamer Paul Goodhand – now playing for Louth Town.

And hours spent recalling his extensive career with co-author Simon Ashberry has led to a detailed account that McDemott hopes will attract plenty of interest from those who hailed him from the terraces at Blundell Park.

He said: "Paul (Goodhand), who used to be an ex-pro at Grimsby, now works at the Bradley Community Stadium.

"Because of my work with the Grimsby Institute's football side, we're down there every day to train and Paul and me always have a bit of a banter.

"One day, he turned around and said 'your memory is so clear, you should write a book!'

"I laughed it off at the time, but then, off his own back, he found a couple of ghostwriters who wanted to do it.

"Simon (Ashberry) popped up and I went to meet him. It just grew from there really.

"I'm like my Dad in that I'd probably forget where my keys were half an hour ago but I can remember things from years and years ago.

"That lends itself well to the book.

"I can remember the day that I started at Town, who picked me up and who met me at the club, so the book's full of detail."

He continued: "It goes right from my school days, when I first fell in love with the game, how I got to Town and then through every era that I spent at the club.

"There's stories in there about every manager that I ever played under and certain things that went on behind closed doors.

"I don't persecute anyone in it, but there are stories in there that no fan would ever see or hear about.

"For example, there are some stories in there about how different players reacted when we went on trips abroad together and what we got up to – it's all good fun.

"As well as my time at Town, it also deals with me getting into the management side of things and it's a totally different ball game.

"Your attitude to the game changes. When you're a player, you think you know everything but when you come on to the manager's side of things later on in your career, you think 'actually, he was probably right back then'.

"I've always had respect for every manager that I've ever played for. Obviously I've not seen eye to eye with certain people but it's business at the end of the day."

As well as 'local' readers, McDermott hopes that the book will attract wider interest, as it is, as he put it, the story of a "working class lad done good".

He added: "I'd like to think it's an interesting book – there's going to be a few eyebrows raised after it's released but it's mainly good fun.

"I've not put things into it just to make it funnier or more shocking – what I've put in is exactly what happened.

"I didn't want anything to go in that would make people think 'that's not John saying that'.

"There's an element of sarcasm in it because people who know me will read it and think 'yeah, that's him'.

"It's all about the lad who didn't have anything and had to work at something to get where he wants to be – I hope people will enjoy it.

"I've had people from Middlesbrough to Australia tell me that they're buying it.

"I've even got mates out on the rigs in the North Sea who are reading it.

"I want fans to read it, enjoy it and realise why everything in my career happened.

"Hopefully it will give the fans an insight into a side of the game that they don't usually get to see.

"I'm proud of the book. It's the book I wanted to write and I hope people enjoy it."

John McDermott's new book – 'It's Not All Black and White' – is due for release on Monday, August 26.

SUNSHINE and soaring temperatures greeted Princess Anne on her latest visit to North East Lincolnshire.

Yesterday the Princess Royal was given an hour-long tour of the Cherry Garth campsite in Humberston.

During her visit she met some of the 90 St John Ambulance cadets and 30 adult leaders who are holding their summer camp at the site.

She arrived shortly after 3pm after being driven from King George playing fields in Cleethorpes where she had arrived by helicopter.

The princess was greeted on her arrival at the campsite by several dignitaries. They included Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Tony Worth, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire Toby Dennis, Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Peggy Elliott, north east regional director for St John Ambulance Simon Dunn, chairman of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Scout District Christopher Jones, and the district commissioner of Grimsby and Cleethorpes Scout District Mike Waters.

She was then taken around the site by Dr Philip O'Donnell, the regional youth manager for St John Ambulance, who introduced her to the cadets.

The youngsters told the Princess about the variety of activities they have been taking part in during their week-long stay, and their experiences of putting their first aid skills to good use.

At the end of her tour the cadets gathered to pose for a photograph with their royal visitor, and one of them presented her with a special gift, a framed photograph of the cadets on camp.

The group then gave the Princess a send-off fit for a royal, chanting "hip-hip hooray" as she made her way towards her car.

The cadets and leaders have been staying on the campsite all week, taking part in various activities such as pioneering, archery and cooking.

They have descended on Humberston from across the north east of England. However, the local unit from North East Lincolnshire is not among the groups present.

Dr O'Donnell said it had been a nice surprise to find out the camp would be receiving a royal visitor.

He said: "The young people found out when they arrived on camp. There has definitely been a lot of excitement on the camp, as well as quite a lot of nerves."

Rebecca Cruxton, 17, the St John Ambulance's national cadet of the year, was among the first to meet the Princess Royal.

She said: "It was brilliant to meet Princess Anne. I have met her before so I didn't have too many nerves.

"She just asked me what I had been doing on camp – just general chit-chat. I thought it would be quite formal but she was very easy to speak to. She's just a nice lady.

"It's the first time I have been to this campsite and I have loved every minute of it. It's not every day you get to meet Princess Anne."

ON THE WEB: See more photographs and video from Princess Anne's visit at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

PAUL Hurst has challenged in-form Grimsby Town frontman Lenell John-Lewis to add more goals to his game.

The forward took time to find his feet last season after joining from Bury at the end of January.

And after netting his first Mariners goal at Woking, the unfortunate 24-year-old then limped off injured in the same match as his season came to an abrupt end.

John-Lewis has been in fine form during pre-season, however, bagging four goals – including a stunning overhead kick at Winterton and a brace at North Ferriby on Tuesday.

Hurst and co-manager Rob Scott have certainly been impressed by the Londoner's contribution and feel there is much more to come.

"Lenny needs to add goals to his game – that's been a big question mark against him," said Hurst.

"No one can question how strong he is or how he jumps for the ball given his size, though. He can hold the ball up and he is quite athletic as well.

"The one thing that's missing for him in his career so far is goals.

"People forget that he's still a relatively young man because of the presence that he has.

"He attacked the ball really well from the corner for his first goal on Tuesday, and with the second one, he put that away with so much confidence.

"He carried that on from training on Monday where he looked really sharp and scored a lot of goals in the small-sided game we had.

"That can only be good for him and the other forwards."

Hurst believes that John-Lewis and the rest of Town's five-pronged strike-force will have to be at their very best to earn places in the starting XI next season – starting with tonight's friendly at Gainsborough.

"That, more than any, is the area where we are extremely strong," he added.

"So there are going to be some difficult decisions ahead, which is what we want as managers.

"We're not always going to score five goals – like on Tuesday – but we haven't been too concerned yet because we feel we've got goals within the squad, from the strikers and midfielders.

"I don't care who scores if I'm honest, but for them it's great for confidence.

"When Liam (Hearn) scored at Ferriby it looked like his confidence levels rose and when he made it 2-2 in the second half I thought the whole team were lifted.

"There were also goals for Lenny, Ross (Hannah) looked sharp when he got on, and Dayle (Southwell) was good in those wider areas.

"So we're really pleased with them all heading into the season."

A CORONER has called for an end to eating competitions in pubs where people have consumed alcohol.

The recommendation came at the inquest into the death of Sharon Dixon, who choked on a boiled egg taking part in The Egg Olympics as part of an Easter celebration on April 1.

Humberside Police said the injured man is in a critical but stable condition in Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby.

Police have arrested a 33 year old man in connection with the incident. He is currently in custody at Grimsby Police Station.

Witnesses call Humberside Police on 101 quoting log 892 of August 1.

HIGH tides and washed-up weeds played havoc with the midweek match on Cleethorpes Promenade.

The conditions certainly put the fish off and, in fact, only half of the anglers weighed in.

Fresh water worm specialist Dave Lord used his light tackle techniques to good effect by catching two flounders on the same cast – both over 30cms giving him victory on the day.

Second was Hull-based angler Paul Solari, who had a nice bass of 37cm and a 19cm flounder.

Veteran Cleethorpes angler Jack Barlow manged to catch an eel and a small flounder to grab third place.

On Saturday morning, very early on, the Humber SAC held a match on the shallows of the Humber bank wall.

The match was held early on the Saturday, so it wouldn't clash with Neville Charlesworth's match on the Sunday.

The club's current champion, Adie Cooper, showed the way with 19 fish for 6.15lb, which included the biggest flounder of the day – a 35cm fish.

England international George Smith was second with 4lb 4oz.

The club's next match is on Sunday at Humberston Creek, fishing 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

All anglers are welcome to come and have a go. Meet at the car park at 1.15pm.

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated smoothounds were once again conspicuous by their absence in the latest Skegness Pier Angling Club match, held at Trunch Lane.

Although the club's anglers have caught some decent hounds in pleasure sessions, none showed up during the match, with ever-reliable flounders and some nice bass deciding the result.

Barton-on-Humber angler Brett Bartram only caught three fish, but one of those was a specimen 5lb bass, which won him the heaviest round fish prize.

He also caught a couple of fat flounders, which won him the Festival Trophy with a total weight of 6lb 14oz.

Just one fish behind in second place was Stafford's Dave Shorthouse, who beached a bass and seven flounders for 6lb 2oz.

There was a tie for third place, with Grimsby ace Karl Nangle and Skegness local Dave Bradley both weighing in 3lb 8oz.

However, it was Karl who picked up the prize under fish count-back, with his bass and three flounders beating Dave's two bass.

Club stalwart Mo Fendyke only caught one fish, but his 1lb 3oz flounder was just good enough to take the heaviest flatfish award ahead of a number of smaller samples.

The club's next match will be held on Sunday, from 3pm to 7pm, at Drake Road with members fishing for the RNLI and Carnival Trophies.

There is also an open section, which non-members are welcome to participate in.

For further information please contact club secretary Chas Tibble on 07984 967988 or email him at chastibble@hotmail.com.

MAKE do and mend your way through these tough times.

Wartime Britain is the inspiration for a series of workshops organised by Shoreline Housing to help people make their pounds stretch a little further.

Their Ministry Of Saving two-day workshop will show tenants how to be more thrifty with some super-scrimping ideas like sewing clothing, cooking leftovers and growing vegetables, as well as giving them advice and support on money-management tips. It comes in light of Government changes to benefits, such as the controversial bedroom tax, which has lead to many people claiming they now struggle to make ends meet.

Shoreline business improvement manager Leigh Collingwood said: "The government's welfare reform changes have had a massive impact on our tenants, and coupled with the current economic climate we know that many people are finding it financially difficult. We're already out and about meeting tenants face-to-face to provide them with the support and advice they need but we thought this was another way to help people make their money go further, as well as providing a free fun day for all ages. Tenants can enjoy learning new skills, pick up super-scrimping ideas and thrifty tips or take the opportunity to get money advice from us if they haven't already done so."

There's also fun for the young including a visit from Mr Shiney, face painting and children's car tracks.

The workshops will be held on Tuesday, August 6 from 11am to 3pm at Grimsby Minister, St James' Square and on Friday, August 9 from 11am to 3pm at Cleethorpes Memorial Hall.

DOORMEN risk losing more than their tough guy reputations in a special wax and shave night for charity at a Cleethorpes pub.

More than 20 macho men who work the doors in Grimsby And Cleethorpes are expected to be shaved or waxed – in various places – at the Swashbuckle's Shave And Rave night.

The evening is in aid of Macmillan Nurses as bar manager Katie Withers wanted to help a cancer charity after a colleague of 18 years was diagnosed.

She has now finished treatment and is awaiting the results.

She said: "It's a cause that matters to us but it's going to be a really fun night, too."

The night has had a huge response from the doormen, past and present, along with local barbers and beauticians who have volunteered to do the deeds on the night.

Jessica Mayall, beauty therapist at Millenium Health And Leisure, in Cromwell Road, thinks that the men won't be quite so tough once the wax strips come out.

"They act all tough but before long they'll be crying like babies and asking for a piece of wood to bite down on – I've seen it before," she said.

But Sharky, who has worked the doors in Cleethorpes for more than 15 years, seemed not so quietly confident, pledging to shave his head, his eyebrows and wax his chest.

"I don't think the lads are too worried – it can't hurt that much," he said.

Although he changed his tune when Jess tested a wax strip on his leg. You can see his reaction for yourself at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Three hairdressers from The Barber Shop, Chantry Lane, Grimsby, will be controlling the clippers on the night.

Natalie Chapman, stylist, said: "My mum had breast cancer and she's been given the all-clear now but I have wanted to do something to help a cancer charity ever since.

"It's going to be a mental night – half the doormen, hairdressers and beauticians in North East Lincolnshire are going to be there and we know how to have fun.

"Those doormen act all macho but by the end, they'll be weeping like children."

Colleague Kimberley Holmes said: "It's going to be great – I'm really excited."

Bar and restaurant staff in the area will also be getting involved.

There will be entertainment from singer Rachel B on the evening.

Local companies have already donated some great prizes for the raffle, including dinner for two, beauty and tattoo vouchers, personal training sessions – and free haircuts for a year.

Entry is free – but some very large men will be wandering around, asking for sponsorship!

A MOUNTAIN of waste is now being recycled instead of heading for landfill thanks to the expansion of a green-fingered scheme at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

A hospital site creates a great deal of waste, so with three hospitals to manage – in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole – the trust is keen to reduce its carbon footprint and cut the amount of rubbish that goes to landfill and incinerator.

A recycling scheme has been running at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital for some time and has now been expanded.

The trust's director of facilities, Nigel Myhill, who is responsible for reducing carbon emissions and improving the organisation's sustainability, said: "The trust is committed to ensuring it focuses on the impact it has on the local environment and has already developed schemes to reduce its carbon footprint, such as the launch of the park and ride scheme at Scunthorpe and cross-site shuttle buses for staff."

In 2012/2013, the trust recovered or recycled 158.271 tonnes of waste, which is 10 per cent of the total waste it produced.

Mr Myhill said: "We have extended our recycling schemes across all three of our hospitals to try to increase the amount of rubbish we send for recycling."

The trust's estates officer for sustainability, Sharon Benson, said it already recycled paper and cardboard but this had now been extended to include plastics, tins and cans. She added: "By increasing our number of recycling streams we can reduce the other waste streams which currently go to landfill or autoclave. Many people already recycle at home and by including them in our recycling schemes we can make a more positive impact on the environment."

Additional bins are being placed around the hospital for people to use.

AROUND 40 people enjoyed a Walk In The Park to promote disabled sport in North East Lincolnshire.

The annual event, organised by the North East Lincolnshire Disability Sports Forum, took place at People's Park in Grimsby.

Members of the forum defied their disabilities by completing one lap around the park, starting and ending near the bowling green.

Afterwards they enjoyed a barbecue put on by the Rotary Club of Cleethorpes.

Chairman of the forum Colin Woodford said: "This is the fourth time we have done this event. It is really just to promote the forum, raise funds and have a good time.

"We have got a busy calendar of about 20 to 25 events over the year in addition to our weekly activities.

"The message we want to promote is that sport is something that can be enjoyed by all."

Liam Davey, 14, of Cleethorpes, took up table tennis after joining the forum two years ago.

He said: "Colin has helped me get better at the sport and I got to the final of a tournament in Barnsley. I enjoy doing this event because it gets everyone together."

Keith Hallett, 23, of Grimsby, has been a member of the forum for eight years.

He said: "I play boccia a lot and I have been to competitions in Coventry and Hull.

"I like this event because you can exercise and have fun while you are doing it."

GRIMSBY bowls star Amy Gowshall is pleased to have recaptured her form at Royal Leamington Spa.

Along with her mum, Christine, she won the new National Family Pairs Championship on Thursday.

The 34-year-old Commonwealth Games pairs champion said: "I know I shouldn't say this, but it was great beating the men."

When the traditional mother and daughter pairs, which the Gowshalls, pictured above, won four times in 13 years between 1997 and 2009, was scrapped in favour of the gender-free Family Pairs, most experts felt that women would no longer get a look-in.

But Amy and Christine powered their way past a succession of all-male combinations – father-and-sons, brothers, and even the odd grandad – and were the only all-female duo to survive to the quarter final stage.

Beating Essex brother-and-sister Selena and Simeon Madgwick, 18-15, they reached the final with a 19-13 win over Bath brothers Gareth and Andy Colebrooke, and took the title with a 17-12 win over Swindon father-and-son Graham and Craig Hatherall.

"I have to say, it was a brilliant few days, and the guys were good sports," said Amy.

"They took it really well, and were a real pleasure to play against."

Yesterday, the sport's most famous mother-and-daughter combination, playing their seventh game in three days, struggled in the third round of the mainstream pairs event and lost 20-13 to Hollie Arundel and Sarvent, from Yorkshire's Selby Brayton club.

On Tuesday, in what is surely her favourite event, Amy embarks on a mission to win the All England Champion of Champions singles title for the eighth time.

THIS former Olympic Games Maker is gearing up to take part in the Great North Run in September.

Jason Neilson, 40, of Grimsby, will be running for When You Wish Upon A Star, alongside such athletes as Mo Farah, Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie.

Jason, a member of Cleethorpes Athletic Club, said: "I don't think I can compete with the likes of Mo Farah, but I hope I can beat the time I got last year and come in under two hours.

"I've run it in the past and it's quite hilly, so I'm preparing with the local Croxby Crawl and I hope to run that at least three times before the Great North Run.

"I'm hoping to raise a minimum of £250 for the charity. It's a charity that I've always supported in the past, it's a great cause and I really want to help them out.

When You Wish Upon A Star is a small charity which grants the wishes of children suffering from life-limiting illnesses and, since they started in 1990, has granted over 14,500 wishes for children and their families

Jason said: "I'm looking forward to the Great North Run, it was a great atmosphere last year and this year it should be even better.

"It's great to see the crowd cheering me on and it really pushes me on."

Jason is also a keen photographer and pictures of his time as a games maker are on display in Grimsby Library until August 31.

To sponsor him, go to www.justgiving.com/Jason-Neilson3

Donations can also be made by text texting KDJA96, followed by the amount (up to £10) to 70070.

A BAN on eating competitions in bars where people are drinking alcohol and taking part in food challenges might need to become law.

Paul Money, chairman of PubWatch, said it could need legislation to outlaw eating games in bars to prevent further deaths.

His warning came in the wake of an inquest into the death of Sharon Dixon, who choked on a hard-boiled egg.

She was taking part in The Egg Olympics at The Wellington Arms on April 1.

The coroner in the inquest, Paul Kelly, recommended an end to eating competitions in bars where drinking is also involved.

PubWatch represents bars in Cleethorpes and Grimsby and Mr Money said he would raise the matter at the next meeting of licensees later this month.

He said: "It is one of those things that is very tragic. But where do you draw the line? People enter these things at their own risk.

"I don't know what could be done to stop it. It might need legislation.

"We don't do anything like it, but there are a few who do.

"These eating competitions all stem from TV programmes. Since Man v Food came on the TV, people have jumped on the bandwagon.

"It needs looking at to make them safer."

Last month a man died in Australia in a pie-eating competition which was held during half-time at a televised football match in Townsville, Queensland.

An inquest will be held later into the death of the 64-year-old, who collapsed during the competition on July 19.

Owner of The Barge, on Riverhead, Grimsby, Derrick Howard, who hosted several Man v Food challenges, halted the eating competitions in February this year, three months before the tragedy at The Wellington Arms.

He regularly held competitions, including Surface Of The Sun Wings, A Metre-Long Sausage Challenge and A Chilli Dog Challenge.

He said: "We stopped them in February. Not that it was going to turn negative, we just stopped having them.

"When we had them we always had medical staff on standby. I was always conscious of that sort of event happening. It was a case of having a social conscience."

Co-owner of Smokey Joe's American Diner, in Eastgate, Louth, John Shields said: "I don't agree with competitions. We have only had 22 people complete our Man v Food challenge to eat four half-pound chilli burgers, and 2,500 have attempted it.

"It is not a competition. People pre-book. It is not a spur of the moment thing. We keep an eye on them the whole time."

A SOCIAL worker staged a fake armed robbery on his partner to conceal the theft of thousands of pounds from the till – and was caught out by photos saved on a mobile phone.

John Skate, a university graduate who has worked with vulnerable adults in the Grimsby area for some years, disguised himself in a specially-bought "robber's kit" of overalls and a balaclava, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Skate then arrived at the newsagents' store at an out of town Lincoln shopping centre moments after the manager Christopher Usher opened up for the morning.

Stuart Lody, prosecuting, said Skate – who had armed himself with a broom handle to give the impression he had a gun – was in a relationship with Usher and had agreed to take part in the robbery.

Skate went into the McColl's shop and the pair acted out the robbery.

Skate locked his partner inside a storeroom and made off with almost £8,000 takings as well as £150 worth of cigarettes.

The alarm was raised when an early morning customer arrived to find the shop closed.

Mr Lody, prosecuting, said: "Police officers found Usher cowering in a storeroom which had been secured from the outside preventing him from leaving.

"He appeared to be in great fear. It was taken extremely seriously by the police."

Usher told officers he had been attacked by a man with an East European accent and went on to make a 12-page witness statement, which included a detailed description of his attacker.

Officers set up a major incident investigation, seizing CCTV footage to try to identify the robber.

But during the inquiry, officers discovered a photograph saved on Usher's phone.

It contained an image of the balaclava and the overalls used in the raid.

The focus of the police investigation switched to Usher and Skate, who both confessed they had staged the robbery.

All but a few hundred pounds of the money was subsequently recovered from where it had been buried by Skate in a relative's garden.

Mr Lody said: "The two men were partners. Usher had taken out a joint mortgage with his mother on a property. That mortgage fell into arrears.

"That would seem to be the catalyst which caused him to hatch a plot to stage a fictitious robbery on the shop where he worked.

"The plan was that Skate would dress up as a robber. He would go to the store and a fake armed robbery would be carried out."

Sunil Khanna, for Skate, said: "He initially said no but he was pestered into getting involved. He was blinded by affection for his partner. He simply cannot understand how he got himself involved in this."

Mr Khanna said Skate had spent most of his adult life working in the licensed trade but in 2008 decided on a change of career.

He completed a degree as a mature student and qualified as a social worker.

Mr Khanna said: "He has worked for the council in Grimsby for the past few years.

"He has been working with vulnerable adults. His workload was getting greater and greater and he was involved with some very vulnerable adults. He became unwell and he was at a very low moment in his life when he agreed to this."

Joanna Staples, for Usher, said: "It was an act of desperation. He saw no other way out of his problems other than this severely misconceived notion."

Usher, 30, and Skate, 40, both of Lincoln, each admitted charges of theft and perverting the course of justice on May 7.

Usher was jailed for 34 months and Skate jailed for 26 months.

A FAMILY organised a wedding in just two days after deciding to bring it forward to grant a mother's dying wish – to see her son wed.

Pete Hansen and Janine Croft, of Humberston, had planned to get married on Friday, August 30 – until Peter's poorly mum, Maggie, took a turn for the worse.

Maggie is losing her battle with cancer and doctors say she does not have long left, so on Tuesday, the family took the bold decision to move the wedding forward to make sure that she would be there.

Cleethorpes Town Hall said they had a spare spot and on Thursday, Peter tied the knot with his blushing bride – and his mum was there to see it happen.

Pete, 53, said: "It means a hell of a lot to me that she could be here – but to her it means everything."

Bride Janine said: "It just made us realise that we needed to do it now. We didn't just want her there – we wanted her to be able to take it in and enjoy it.

"Maggie has been talking about the wedding for months and she said she had been holding on, just so she could be there.

"But we couldn't have done it without help from the family and all the people that offered their services at the last minute – it's really touched me.

"People I hadn't even met before were at my house doing my make-up and hair – at the drop of a hat."

Sister of the bride Linda Wilkinson, 51, of Carr Lane, said: "Janine always said that if there were just four people at the wedding – her, Peter, and both their mums – then she would have been happy.

"That's why it was so important to get this done, although we weren't sure if it would be possible at such short notice.

"We were surprised by the response we got from businesses who were falling over themselves to help when they heard the story.

"Vic Danby did the make-up, Denis's in Hainton Avenue did the flowers, Martin Steele is here today taking pictures, and I think they deserve some recognition."

The helpers did such a good job that Janine could barely believe it when she looked in the mirror.

She said: "I was surprised at how beautiful I look – if you saw me on the street on any other day, you wouldn't believe it's me."

And Pete agreed, adding: "I think she looks absolutely gorgeous."

The couple are delaying their honeymoon to spend more time with Maggie.

A JUDO club on the Nunsthorpe estate has closed its doors on a 34 year chapter of producing some of the world's best judo champions.

Coach Terry Alltoft became a coach 40 years ago and 34 years ago, Grimsby Judo Club was born in the Sutcliffe Avenue hut it has been training in ever since.

And in that hut, he has produced 40 national and international champions, including Sharon Rendle, who went on to win British, European, World and Olympic titles in the same year – 1990.

However, the club said goodbye to the sporting history made in the old hut on Thursday, with Terry throwing a student onto the mat for the last time.

The victim he chose was junior Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ryan Ellrich, 16, who is helping to renovate the new building. He said it was "a privilege".

The club is now looking forward to moving into its new home in St Martin's Church Hall – literally opposite – in September.

Mr Alltoft said: "There's a lot of memories in this place – I'm 65 this year so I've been coaching here for more than half my life.

"I remember Sharon Rendle asking if she could stay for six weeks when her mum passed away. She stayed for 16 years and won Olympic gold.

"Sharon came back a few years later with a French judo star, who could not believe that she had trained in this little hut.

"It does bring a tear to my eye to say goodbye to this place. But I think it needs knocking down before it falls down – and the new dojo should be ready soon."

Terry and members of the judo club are pulling together to renovate their new home, adding a dropped ceiling, changing rooms and giving the old bingo room in the church hall a general lick of paint.

The group have already been working on the new place for five weeks and hope it will be ready for training in early September. Grimsby Judo Club closes every summer, so members shouldn't lose out on training time – which is good news for junior British number one and two Lois Brown and Kirsty Guest.

Lois, 19, British number one in the under 78kg weight, said: "I come here from Beverley twice a week, because if you want to succeed you go to wherever is the best place to train that you can get to.

"I'll miss this place – it gets pretty hot inside but it's good when you're trying to make weight."

Kirsty, British number two in the over 78kg weight, from Scunthorpe, said: "I've been training here for 12 years and I'm very stuck in my ways so it is sad to see it close – but I'm sure I'll get used to the new place."

The old building is also owned by the church but, showing signs of wear and tear, will be demolished eventually.