THIS man's a life-saver – 100 times over!

Robert Petchell, 66, has now given 100 pints of blood – having made his first donation at the tender age of 19.

In recognition of his achievement, he has been presented with a cut glass decanter and a special donor card and now he is keen to use his story to encourage others to follow in his footsteps.

The NHS is reliant on the 2.1 million units of blood that are donated each year to carry out everything from routine operations to emergency surgery and blood transfusions.

This equates to just four per cent of the UK donating two to three times a year.

However, blood must be used within 35 days of donation, so more volunteers are always needed.

Robert, of Barton, said he had only missed one or two sessions since he started donating.

He said: "I started when I was 19. I used to go with my next door neighbour.

"I've been to all the sessions in Barton – I have probably only missed one or two.

"I don't have a rare or common blood type, it's just in between, but it is needed all the same.

"Donating is just my way of helping others. As long as it is going out my arm and not in, I haven't got a problem with it."

Robert said he would urge anyone to give it a try, adding it was far easier than many would think.

He said: "More people need to donate. You can't stockpile your own blood in a drum in case you need it, so we need to give it to others.

"More young people need to start, the older people will not be able to do it forever.

"You don't have to travel far, the facilities are everywhere.

"It's just a needle in your arm. It takes 20 minutes and you get free drink and a biscuit."

Find out more

For more information on giving blood, or to find your nearest donation centre, visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0300 1232323.

MEMBERS of Louth Town Council and Louth Town Partnership are continuing to celebrate Louth's achievement in being voted Britain's favourite market town in the BBC Countryfile Magazine awards.

Louth was given the top honour following a public vote.

This is definitely something worth shouting about and it's important that the town and every business benefits from the publicity gained by this award.

I plan to speak to businesses in the town centre as well as on the industrial estate so everyone knows about this fantastic honour.

The town council and partnership are considering having a sign at one of the main entrances into the town about the achievement.

And the honour has also been praised by Councillor Craig Leyland, portfolio holder for Economic Development and Planning at East Lindsey District Council.

He has told the public: "I am delighted that Louth has won the BBC Countryfile Magazine Award for Favourite Market Town. Making the top ten for public vote was a tremendous achievement in itself but to win is outstanding and a tribute to the efforts of all those who got behind the campaign.

"Louth remains a unique and charming town and hopefully this national success will bring a real focus on the area to further raise the profile of its offer for both visitors and people living nearby."

The award will also be showcased at the town's Victorian Family Fayre on October 21.

A GROUP of caring fundraisers are waving the "flag" of success for families of children with special educational needs.

Employees of Shoreline Housing Partnership raised more than £5,800 for local charity Family Links Around Grimsby – known as Flag for short.

Staff chose to support Flag for 2011/12 for the help it gives families of youngsters with special educational needs by providing respite care and activities.

They organised a range of events, including fish and chip quiz suppers, dress-down days, bake-a-cake sales and a Diamonds Are Forever ball.

Ann Maggs, of Shoreline, who was awarded an MBE this year in recognition of her charity work, said: "Flag provides a valuable service to the local community and the children who take part in the fantastic range of activities they offer.

"But it also provides a respite for the parents or guardians of these children.

"We are really proud that a relatively small number of employees are able to year on year raise funds for such worthwhile local charities that provide really important services to individuals across the area each and every day.

"We would like to thank all our employees, their family and friends, as well as our partnering agencies for their generous support."

As reported, Flag was under threat of closure due to a lack of funding in 2010.

But, after an appeal for help in the Grimsby Telegraph, the charity, which helps families who have children with special needs and disabilities, is going strong.

Chairman Malcolm Rudkin said: "I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone who has contributed towards this. It will make a very big difference to us."

Shoreline employees have also got involved in events for other charities, such as Sleep Easy 2012, which raised more than £3,000 for the Grimsby and Cleethorpes YMCA.

They have chosen Humberston Hydrotherapy Pool as their charity of the year 2012/13.

As reported, the pool offers therapy to pupils who attend Humberston Park Special School Academy and individuals within the community who have severe physical impairment or medical condition.

LOUTH'S new £6-million Wolds Care Centre will be open to take its first clients next month.

The new care home on the site of the former Lord Tennyson pub has created 75 new full-time and part-time jobs and at the end of this month, owners, Bluebrick Health Care, will host an open day for members of the public.

As reported, the three-storey care centre – which will be home to 64 residents – has four wings, each named after Louth area villages, Calcethorpe, Biscathorpe, Elkington and Wykeham, near Ludford.

All bedrooms are single, spacious, each with its own en suite wet room and wi-fi, TV/DVD player, nurse call, smoke detector and thermostatically controlled radiators.

Chief executive officer Les Chaplin said the demand for care for the elderly and families with a loved-one suffering from dementia is due to increase.

He also said he believed there was currently insufficient good dementia care in the Louth area.

As reported, health officials expect the number of people living with dementia to increase fivefold in the next ten years.

In North East Lincolnshire there are expected to be 3,000 people needing specialist care.

More than 10 per cent of the population of the Louth area is over the age of 75 and its population is due to increase from 17,000 to 25,000 over the next five years, with the number of those aged over 85 increasing substantially. Mr Chaplin said with the innovative design of the building, people's dignity, privacy, choice and the respect they deserve can be more easily delivered than in older, more dated environments.

He added: "The Wolds Care Centre can provide a home for life within its specialist nursing, residential and dementia care units. Respite and day care are also available.

"Blue Brick Healthcare recognise that the needs of people change and develop, and it's people that the Wolds puts at the heart of its care services, ensuring that the changing and developing needs of people that use its services are met, through a qualified, highly trained and experienced staff team, in an innovative environment designed around the requirements of the people who use our services."

Mr Chaplin said the new home, with its iconic building at the northern gateway to Louth, would also be "a welcome asset to the town" – estimating the building and associated jobs would pump around £900,000 into the local economy each year.

Wolds' four specialist units are designed around a community hub which includes a cafe, garden room, cinema, hair and beauty salon.

There is also an activities room and exercise room in which fitness instructors will lead exercise sessions.

The community hub will be able to accommodate luncheon clubs for local groups and charities and will also be available for local community use.

The care home's library will have the theme of space and be named after Louth's famous astronaut son, Dr Michael Foale.

Find out more

Keep reading your Grimsby Telegraph for details of the open day, which have yet to be announced.

A FORMER police chief has joined the race to become the elected crime commissioner and claims that policing can be improved – despite cuts to spending.

Dr Paul Davidson, a former Chief Superintendent of Humberside Police, has announced his candidacy for the £70,000-a-year post to directly replace the police authority and plans to improve the service by "putting people first".

The independent candidate will face competition from former deputy prime minister John Prescott and Godfrey Bloom, the UKIP MEP for this area, among others in the election on Thursday, November 15.

Dr Davidson, who had an academic career in chemical engineering before joining the police, has served with the force for 30 years, working on high-profile cases such as the murder of student Rachel Moran, from Hull.

He was also a divisional commander of Hull and East Riding too, before retiring a month ago.

His flagship policy is to "investigate every crime" as he did in East Riding, which led to PCSO crime detection rates being the top in the country, reducing the 20 to 30 per cent of uninvestigated crimes to zero.

He claims it can be done, despite the pressure of Government cuts to funding – because he has already done it.

"If you look at the number of crimes and the number of officers, it is possible to investigate every crime – we just have to work differently," he said.

"Some forces have had no drive to do this as there is no competition for service users – you can't ask another force to investigate a crime.

"We need to think cleverly, just as a private company would have to do if their budget was altered.

"Public confidence in the police is very important and talking about resource cuts just makes people believe that they are not going to get a good service.

"The public don't care about these cuts – they just want to know that their crimes are being solved and their streets are safe.

"People say it can't be done when you talk about investigating every single crime. There are always people who say it can't be done but it can, because I have done it."

Dr Davidson's other flagship policies are to come down hard on criminals and say no to privatisation of the police force. And although he worked on the north bank for 30 years, he claims people all over Humberside are his first priority.

He continued: "Having a background in policing allows me to understand issues fully and hit the ground running but it is people that are my priority – I will not be in bed with the police commanders. The police serve the public so their priorities should be the same.

"I want equality of resources in all areas of Humberside which includes rural areas as much as urban areas of deprivation."

He also encouraged people to vote in what he called "the biggest shake-up in policing since Robert Peel introduced the force in 1829".

"I can't highlight how important it is for people to vote as this will have an impact on how areas are policed right down to the street that you live in," he added.

GRIMSBY Food Kitchen provides a good meal for the drug and alcohol dependent and socially excluded people in Grimsby every week.

But more than that, organisers Cath and Ken Homewood offer support and love for the people that are often avoided by the rest of society, written off as the 'can't be' or 'won't be' helped.

Drug and alcohol dependency can be a difficult lifestyle for people to pull themselves out of – but it can be done.

Representatives from Christian rehabilitation centre Betel of Britain visited Open Door to speak to the people who visit the kitchen, people who they make it their life's work to help.

Betel has a live-in rehabilitation centre in Nottingham that has helped people from Grimsby before, one of whom has kicked his habit and now works with the church in South Africa.

It also has a new centre with 30 beds opening in Grantham, which will become the nearest centre to our area.

The outreach workers from Betel are not clinicians or doctors. They are ex-addicts who have turned a corner and have devoted their second chance at life to giving others the same opportunity.

Wayne Wood, 45, talked to people at Grimsby Food Kitchen about his experiences and encouraged people to give change a try.

"I spent 21 years on heroin, crack, cannabis, party drugs – I did everything," he said.

"One day I fell out of my car with a needle in my arm and I knew I had to change. I went into the back office of a church and a man gave me a flyer for Betel.

"They found me a bed in the Birmingham branch and the next day I went cold turkey.

"That all happened in 1998 and 14 years later I have a girlfriend, two children who live with me and a job with Betel.

"I work with 20 to 30 guys at any one time and have a direct impact on their lives. Not everyone succeeds as you have to really want to change. However, if I have helped just one person in 14 years, it is all worthwhile."

Scott Netherton, 31, of Grimsby, talked to Wayne and decided that it was all the encouragement he needed to change.

"I know I need to change and have been thinking about it for a while," he said.

"I have four kids and don't want to continue like this.

"It's good to talk to someone like Wayne who has been through everything that I'm going through and come out the other side. It shows that it can be done.

"I'm fed up of this lifestyle and I need to get out of Grimsby for a while so I can leave it alone."

Tanya Weild, who oversees the female section of the Nottingham centre, said: "I spent 28 years on heroin, crack and alcohol but five years ago I went to Betel because I needed to change my life.

"I had tried to change numerous times but what was different this time was that I had the love of Jesus on my side.

"The difference between us and people in clinics is that our advice doesn't come from textbooks. We have been there and got the T-shirt.

"We understand exactly what they are going through because we went through it too. The fact that we have changed our lives gives them hope."

When Wayne and Tanya visited, they returned to Nottingham with drug addict Lisa Robinson, 24, of Hainton Avenue, who was willing to make the dramatic changes needed to turn her life around.

Lisa said: "Recently I have realised that the life I am living is not the life a 24-year-old girl should lead. I know that it's not going to be easy but I'm going to give Betel a try.

"I used to go to church but in recent years since I have been on drugs, I cannot call myself a Christian. The other day I spoke to someone I used to go to church with and it opened my eyes to the fact that I needed to change.

"Talking to Tanya has really helped me take on the challenge. It's hard but knowing that Betel has worked for her is encouraging."

Ken and Cath go to Betel's Nottingham centre on a regular basis.

Cath said: "We go down every three months and have sent a number of people we have had at the food kitchen there.

"For some, it doesn't work but we have had some real success stories too.

"Betel isn't about medical treatment, it's about love, and they provide a family for the people who go there, which is why it works."

If you know someone who may benefit from speaking to Betel, help could be just a telephone call away.

The person who needs help will need to phone personally and pass a brief telephone interview that proves they want to change. If successful, a bed can be found as quickly as the next day.

The number for the Nottingham branch of Betel is 01159 790290. If there is no room in Nottingham, they could find space at another branch, which includes Manchester and Derby.

A DOUBLE amputee has been so inspired by the achievements of Britain's Paralympic athletes, he is taking on a challenge of his own.

Paul Barlow, 59, is planning to cross the 2,220m span of the Humber Bridge in his wheelchair unaided, to raise money for the residents of St Margaret's Care Home, in Grimsby.

Mr Barlow – who has lived at the home for seven years and did not wish to reveal how he came to lose he legs – said the idea had started at as joke.

He said: "We were looking at ways of raising money and I said, as a joke, how about crossing the Humber Bridge?"

However, the idea stuck and he has already raised £600, which will be used to fund activities and days out for the other residents.

Paul has been training for six months by propelling himself along Cambridge Road and chasing the other residents around the corridors when it rains.

He also says that he owes a lot to his key carer Beryl Johnson who has worked with him since his arrival at the care home.

He said: "I couldn't have done it without her."

The popular resident was named as the home's Dignity Champion in February.

The accolade is part of a Government scheme to promote a greater emphasis on the quality of care services in hospitals, care homes and home help services.

The campaign also aims to identify and recognise those who make a real difference and often go the extra mile for staff and those in care.

He said: "It means I look out for other people, it gives me the responsibility of making sure they are happy."

All the staff at the home are amazed by Paul's commitment to the crossing.

His trainer, Roger Snowden, said: "We have been taking him out on the streets to build up his stamina for the crossing.

"He's doing really well, his times are getting quicker."

Paul hopes to cross the bridge in one hour 15 minutes, however, Roger thinks he will do better.

"He has set himself a goal time but he will do better than that, I think he will be a lot quicker."

His nurse, Helen Simmons, says Paul is very modest about what he is doing.

She said: "He has been inspired by the Paralympics because of their bravery and courage.

"He says that being in training has made him understand their hard work.

"Throughout his training Paul hasn't grumbled once – well hardly grumbled, anyway!"

Activity co-ordinator Iris Reader added that his fundraiser really would make a difference for all at the home.

She said: "Without the hard work Paul puts in, we wouldn't be able to do what we do.

"He does so much for everyone."

Give your support

Paul will be driven to the Hull side of the Humber Bridge on Wednesday, September 5, and will wheel himself back across to the south bank at 9am.

A party will be held at St Margaret's Care Home to celebrate his achievements when he arrives back from his journey later in the day.

If you wish to make a donation to the fund, call the home on 01472 241 780.

"WIND turbines off-shore and in some industrial areas are fine but in open countryside they are unacceptable."

That is the view of Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, as he defended his role in a campaign to urge the Prime Minister to cut his support for the onshore wind industry.

His comments came after claims he and more than 100 other backbench Tory MPs made in a letter sent to David Cameron – which questioned the viability of the industry – were thrown into doubt by the results of a new report.

The MPs had argued that wind power cannot be relied upon at times that demand is the greatest, cannot be stored and does not cut enough carbon to make large investments worthwhile and suggested that money be spent on more reliable forms of energy.

However, the new report by the left-leaning thinktank IPPR, in association with the leading energy consultancy GL Garrad Hassan, concludes there is no technical reason why turbines should not be supported.

Reg Platt, an IPPR fellow, said government and local communities were right to scrutinise costs and planning issues, but that the report showed "unequivocally that wind power can significantly reduce carbon emissions, is reliable, poses no threat to energy security and is technically capable of providing a significant proportion of the UK's electricity with minimal impact on the existing operation of the grid".

Claims to the contrary are not supported by the evidence, said Platt, who pointed out that the study had been peer-reviewed by Nick Jenkins, the head of the Institute of Energy at Cardiff University. The economic model GL Garrad Hassan adopted showed that every megawatt-hour of electricity wind power produced led to carbon savings of a minimum of 350kg.

On that basis, it said, the increasing number of wind farms both on and offshore saved 5.5m tonnes in 2011, at a time when the UK is committed to meeting EU carbon reduction targets in a bid to counter climate change.

Although wind is a variable energy resource in that it cannot be guaranteed to blow at a constant rate, GL Garrad Hassan said it was predictable as a result of weather forecasting technology and the fact that turbines are located all around Britain, meaning that even when some areas are calm, others are likely to be windy.

However, Mr Vickers defended his stance, adding: "Though there is evidence that casts doubt on the economics of on-shore wind, what is certain is that on-shore turbines are seen by local communities as a blot on the landscape and the public's willingness to subsidise them through their bills has reached the limit.

"One key argument put forward in our letter to the PM was the public's dissatisfaction with, in particular, the planning process – something acknowledged by the IPPR report and without public support for the policy it has no future."

What is the true reason for building turbines? One reader's view – p15.

SPECULATION on Merseyside linked Grimsby Town with a deadline-day move for Southport winger Shaun Whalley yesterday.

The 25-year-old featured for the Sandgrounders in Town's opening game of the season and rumours suggested that the Mariners have made enquiries as to his availability.

However, no signings were made at Blundell Park on what was a quiet day as the nation-wide transfer window closed.

Meanwhile, Preston North End were revealed as one of the clubs to have shown an interest in experienced Mariners' front-man Anthony Elding.

However, boss Graham Westley, who Elding played under at Stevenage, said that he would not be pursuing a deal for the 30-year-old.

BURNT-out play equipment, dying plants and broken CCTV cameras are just some of the ways Liberal Democrats claim the current council is neglecting Grimsby.

Councillor Steve Beasant is among the party activists who believe North East Lincolnshire Council's Labour administration is allowing standards to slip.

Speaking as European MEP for Yorkshire and Humberside, Edward McMillan-Scott, visiting the town to talk to residents about their concerns, Councillor Beasant said: "Since Labour took control of the council, they have neglected large parts of the borough, especially Grant Thorold Library and park.

"The Library was meant to have this amazing living wall made up of plants, but the filtration system has been out-of-order for some time now and the plants are dying.

"There has also been an arson attack on the play tower and slide in the park and parents think it is a disgrace that it hasn't been repaired.

"Youngsters have had nothing to play on during the summer.

"The CCTV system in the park has been broken for 18 months now and levels of antisocial behaviour have risen because there is no way of knowing who is responsible.

"The hedges were also allowed to get overgrown which caused more antisocial behaviour as residents didn't have a clear view of the park."

During his visit to North East Lincolnshire, Mr McMillan-Scott was also taken to Sidney Sussex ward, in Cleethorpes, where party members explained problems with overgrown hedges, out-of-control weeds and rubbish.

He said: "The local Lib Dems and I have a common cause as the next European elections are on the same day in 2014 as the local elections.

"I wanted to visit both Grimsby and Cleethorpes to meet residents and speak to them about their concerns and how we might be able to help.

"I was taken to Grant Thorold Library, in Grimsby, which had a state-of-the-art 'living wall' made up of plants that has unfortunately been allowed to die.

"It should never have been allowed to get into that state.

"I also met residents in the Sidney Sussex ward of Cleethorpes."

Despite repeated attempts to contact the Labour party, no one was available for comment at the time of going to press.

A CANDIDATE aiming to represent the people of North East Lincolnshire as the new police and crime commissioner believes he offers a real alternative to the political figureheads also vying for the role.

IT project manager Neil Eyre is standing as an independent candidate for the £70,000-a-year post to directly replace the police authority.

As reported, so far there are six candidates competing for the role in the election on Thursday, November 15.

Official nominations start on October 8 and close on October 19 and every voter will have a first and second choice to mark on their ballot paper.

Mr Eyre is a former Royal Signals serviceman and has worked in Scunthorpe since 2005 as a project manager and telecommunications engineer.

He said the community would play an important role in how he wants to tackle crime.

Antisocial behaviour will be one of the hottest topics and Mr Eyre believes his community-led ideas on tackling it will prove popular.

"I don't like the term antisocial behaviour," he said.

"I think it is about reasonable and unreasonable behaviour.

"When someone's behaviour becomes unreasonable, it is then a case of whether it is criminal or not.

"I think if the community comes together and we give the power to the community, then we can tackle these issues.

"If someone is causing problems because they are drunk and the local shop has sold them the alcohol, then the community comes together and says to the shop they will not use it while they are serving this individual.

"Then they will have to decide whose custom they want the most – that of the community or this one individual.

"You then tell that individual they can only use this service once they start behaving in a reasonable manner."

Mr Eyre said making things difficult for people would make them conform to what is expected of them.

Allowing the community to tackle such issues, he said, would allow police to deal with more serious crime.

He said: "The community is the group best placed to deal with these issues, to free up the police to go after criminals that are doing serious criminal things, such as crimes against people and crimes against property.

"One thing I am wanting to do is increase the transparency of the police.

"I would want all meetings to be held in the public domain so even if members of the public can't contribute, they are able to see what is being discussed."

Mr Eyre also has a novel idea on the voting system.

He said: "I believe on the ballot papers, after the list of candidates' names, there should be a 'none of the above' option.

"If the 'none of the above' option wins, it means people are happy with the current system and everything should remain the same.

"I hope people see that I offer them something different and an alternative solution to voting for one of the political figureheads."

Find out more

For more details, visit www.policeelections.com or www.humberside-pa.org.uk

NEWSPAPERS are said to dig up dirt every day but it isn't often that they get dug up themselves – literally.

More than 10 printing plates from the old Grimsby Telegraph presses were discovered underground in mum-of-two Emma Stark's garden in Cleethorpes.

The metal sheets perfectly preserve a snapshot of news from three days in July 1984, including the sports headlines from the time – The Robinson deal is hit on the head – among others.

They were found by Darren Farrar of Handyman and Gardening Services as he removed the flowerbeds from the garden of the Claymore Close home.

Emma, 25, cleaned up five of the plates using a toothbrush with her two young children, Harvey, four and Alfie, two.

She said: "We thought it was quite strange but really interesting.

"It isn't something you would think you would find in your back garden.

"A lot of people might have just thrown them in the bin or taken them to the scrap metal yard to be weighed but we knew they were special.

"It is nice to think a piece of the town's history was in our back garden."

It is thought the plates are lithographic plates, which were made from tin – the cheapest option for reproducing print on a grand scale and so frequently used in the production of newspapers and magazines.

Back-to-front, they would run through the printing press on drums, inked so that when paper ran over them, pages were produced.

After talking to neighbours, Emma discovered that her house used to be owned by an Arthur Wiltshire, who worked in the old printing press at the Grimsby Telegraph both prior to and during the 1980s.

Mr Wiltshire has since died but it is possible he sneaked the plates home – something that wasn't strictly allowed but happened frequently among printers and reporters – especially when a big news story broke.

He then used the flat, metal sheets as flowerbed dividers where they have remained ever since.

The other headlines from the plates were: "Meggies crash to leader", "Selectors do their sums" and "Bill Muscles."

Emma continued: "Because we know they are not used in Grimsby anymore we thought they could be worth something and mean something to someone. We can't wait to find out what other stories are on them.

"The stories form part of the town's history and now they are part of our house.

"After we have cleaned them up we will put them on the top shelf of the kitchen so they can't get ruined. They are still in very good condition and we don't want anything to happen to them."

The find was also a surprise to Darren, who before now has only found a Roman coin which sold for £12.

He said: "It was one of the strangest things I have found in the garden but it was great to see. They are part of our history and were very interesting."

Funny finds

If you have found anything unusual in your garden call our news team on 01472 372236.

HOLLIE Arnold insists she is primed and ready to come of age at London 2012 tonight – by delivering a Paralympic medal.

The youngster from Holton-le-Clay was just a wide-eyed 14-year-old girl on her Games debut in front of 90,000 Chinese fans at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Fast forward four years and Arnold insists she's a completely different athlete as she prepares for her moment of truth – this evening's F46 javelin final at the Olympic Stadium.

The former Cleethorpes Athletic Club member has since relocated to South Wales to be nearer her coach.

Now 18, she is ranked second in the world having thrown a javelin personal best of 35.88m to win the Welsh Championships in June.

And the youngster admits she can't wait to show the world how far she has come since Beijing.

"This summer is the beginning of my dream really," she said.

"Beijing should have been but it was perhaps running before I could walk – this time I'm arriving knowing I can win medals if I throw well.

"My main aim is to get a medal, but I think everyone's is.

"I just want to come away from the Games knowing I have done everything I could have done, and that I'm happy with everything I did.

"I was only 14 when I went to Beijing, so I was a bit too young to appreciate what was really going on. This time around has been completely different.

"It's a reality now, it's all starting to hit home and I'm very, very excited. I've done all this hard training and I just want to make people proud."

Arnold stands to make 80,000 occupants of the Olympic Stadium – including Louth's Cordeaux School – very proud this evening.

She added: "I don't think the big crowd is going to be too much of an issue. That was one of the main things I learnt in Beijing – that was a crowd of 90,000 people," she added.

"It was a scary memory, because they weren't cheering for me, they were cheering for the Chinese athletes.

"In London, it's going to be the opposite, which makes you a mixture of scared and happy at the same time, because it's a lot of pressure but it's great that so many people want you to do well.

"My old school in Louth, Cordeaux, got in touch with me recently too. About 80-120 people from the school have got tickets, and they're going to come down to watch me so that's really amazing.

"I have no idea who exactly it is, teachers or former pupils, but I don't really care because it's such a nice gesture."

Lloyds TSB, proud supporter of ParalympicsGB and proud partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Get closer to the Games at lloydstsb.com/london2012

SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has pulled out of plans to build a store in Cleethorpes.

As reported, the budget superstore has repeatedly "expressed interest" in the resort – with the Meridian Point Development site being its preferred location.

But today the Grimsby Telegraph can reveal the chain has "no plans" for an Aldi store development.

As reported, the development site, in Kings Road, is now earmarked for a Premier Inn Hotel and a planning application is due to be submitted in the coming weeks.

Aldi abandoned its plans to build at Meridian Point last year, but always stressed it was "still committed" to opening a store in the resort.

A spokesman for the chain told the Telegraph: "We have no plans for an Aldi store development in the short-term. However, we may consider this location at some point in the future."

Maltgrade Developers, which owns the Meridian Point site, which also has a La Vive Health Club, KFC, a McDonald's and two retail outlets, has had planning permission for different development opportunities for some time, including a hotel, retail or leisure space, a pub, restaurants, fast food outlet and bingo hall.

The news will disappoint some residents who, at the Premier Inn public unveiling of plans last week, expressed a wish that they would rather see a supermarket on the site than a hotel.

But it has proven good news for members of the Cleethorpes Traders Association, who say there is no need for another supermarket in Cleethorpes – which already has a Sainsbury's and a Co-operative.

Chairman of the group and owner of jewellery shop In The Pink Karen Webb-Meek said: "If they were still trying to go to Meridian Point I don't think many of us would be too bothered because we are all based in St Peter's Avenue and Sea View Street.

"But if they were trying to nestle in on St Peter's Avenue many would ask whether we really need another supermarket. I can't understand why it would be needed.

"Everyone seems to get by with what we have and I never hear anyone saying 'we need another supermarket' which is probably why they are no longer interested in coming to Cleethorpes."

She is also against plans to demolish the old Wilkin and Chapman solicitors building in St Peter's Avenue to make way for an Iceland shop.

As reported, the frozen food store has appealed against North East Lincolnshire Council's rejection of the £1.5 million development because it felt it would not be in keeping with the area.

The building is a former Victorian villa, which residents describe as a building of "historical significance" – although it isn't a listed building.

She added: "I don't think many people are in support of it. We have already got a Herron Foods, why do we need another frozen food store? We are really well served by local traders and it isn't fair for these big names to come to the resort and take all that away."

HEARTLESS thieves have ransacked a charity shop's office the day before the chairman is due to retire.

The Grimsby & District Healthcare Charity shop in Freeman Street, Grimsby, was broken into between 5pm on Thursday evening and 7am yesterday morning.

A total of £802.45 was taken from the office after the thieves broke in through the backdoor.

As reported, the Grimsby & District Healthcare Charity is currently running the Grimsby Telegraph-backed Big Red Heart Appeal, which is raising money for life-saving equipment for a new cardiology unit at the Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital.

Chairman Ron Kitching said: "I had a quadruple heart bypass 21 years ago.

"When I came in and saw what had happened I felt pains in my arms and chest and I thought I was going to have an angina attack.

"It couldn't have happened on a worse day.

"It is the last day of the financial year for us and the day before I retire.

"I am both upset and angry about what has happened.

"All charities are struggling to make money and this will be a big hit for us.

"The people that did it knew what they were doing, because they came through the backdoor and straight into the office. They didn't go in the shop.

"They took the whole door and frame out and stole the entire safe.

"In total, a whole week's shop takings and collection box money was taken.

"It is cruel and heartless and all they have done is deprive North East Lincolnshire of life-saving equipment.

"We are going to have to buy a new safe now, which will cost a lot, and we really need the public to get behind us in our time of need."

Shop manager Kris Read said: "I came in at about 8.50am to open up.

"I unlocked the office and pushed the door but a chair was behind it, which is unusual. I gave it a shove and it opened and I saw everything was all over the floor and all the drawers had been emptied.

"We had our money in the safe which was bolted to a shelf but they took the whole thing.

"My heart was racing at the time but I called Ron and the police.

"The people that steal from charities are scum."

A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Police are currently investigating a commercial burglary which took place at the Grimsby and District Charity shop in Freeman Street, Grimsby."

Charity founder to relax and take a back seat, see page two.

Can you help?

Anyone with information is asked to call Humberside Police on 101, quoting crime reference 1927423.

By Lee Jones ...

CONFIDENCE and belief are two of the buzz-words we've heard repeatedly coming out of Blundell Park over recent weeks.

The bosses and their players have taken every opportunity to tell us those ingredients are all that have been missing for Grimsby Town this season.

Having seen the Mariners throw away points against Stockport and then fail to break down Nuneaton, it's fair to say the suggestion has been met with a large dollop of scepticism.

Town supporters I've spoken to have scoffed at the idea it could be the sole problem for a side that couldn't win – or even create a half-decent scoring opportunity.

But Messrs Scott and Hurst – and their squad – would have been within their rights to feel slightly smug on Monday evening.

For, the Mariners' 4-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Mansfield could not have illustrated their point better.

After a cagey opening half hour, a moment of inspiration from the gifted Frankie Artus opened the scoring, lifted the crowd, and may well have kick-started Town's entire season.

Suddenly there was a spring in the step of the players and each one – to a man – appeared to find an extra yard of pace.

That came in particularly handy for Aswad Thomas. The full-back seemed to have jets in his heels as he flew past Mansfield's Jake Speight – no slouch himself – and earn the penalty that brought goal number two.

Greg Pearson, who had failed to impress in his earlier Town outings, slotted the spot-kick home and immediately grew three inches taller.

The striker's display after the break, capped by a clever headed second, was as good as you could wish to see at this level.

While, the afternoon's other scorer, Joe Colbeck, was similarly transformed.

Suddenly, the winger was flying past his full-back at every opportunity and linking up superbly with the front men.

Crucially, there was also some end product from the former Hereford man, as his crashing finish for the hosts' third showed.

It was manna from heaven for the BP crowd who, after the home frustrations of the previous week, were enjoying every minute.

Even a late consolation from the Stags' portly substitute Matthew Rhead couldn't spoil the home fans' fun.

True, the visitors were poor throughout and lacked any invention.

But for the first time this season Town's solid defence was complemented by some genuinely exciting attacking play.

There was movement up front and enough of the ball coming through midfield to ensure it was worthwhile.

Colbeck used his pace to charge at his marker down one flank, while Artus cut inside or used Thomas' overlapping skills on the other, to pose plenty of problems.

The cliché 'one swallow doesn't make a summer' was trotted out after the final whistle.

That's very true and there are still plenty of areas of improvement needed if the Mariners are to mount a promotion challenge.

Can Town do it on a consistent basis? Can they win away from home? Will Andy Cook's first goal give him a similar confidence-boost? Is there enough invention in the Mariners' midfield?

There are certainly lots of questions to be answered, and we'll discover more at Hereford this afternoon.

But, for now, it's a start – and a very good one too.