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CHILDREN with multiple disabilities or illnesses are being given home-from- home care inside a newly-adapted centre.

The Starlight Complex Health Unit is now open inside Cromwell House, Cromwell Road, Grimsby.

It is designed to allow more children with complex health issues to enter the centre, where they can have fun and socialise with others their age.

In addition, while highly-trained staff are looking after the children for a day or night, parents have the chance to recuperate.

However, before a child can be referred there, they have to have had an assessment of need carried out by a health service to identify their care package.

For Claire Earley, of Immingham, Cromwell House has been her lifeline for the past five years.

She takes her son Jack Markham, 13, once a week to the centre and can see just how much he enjoys it.

Jack has severe global development delay, epilepsy, is non-verbal, wheelchair-bound and tube fed among other things.

Claire, 40, said: "Jack was born this way and now needs constant care.

"The centre looks after him one day and night each week and also for a period when the rest of the family and I go away on holiday.

"While Jack is away, I am able to recharge my batteries and build my own strength back up for when he is back.

"He loves being at Cromwell House, playing, socialising and generally having great fun with others."

Claire has three other children but says Jack's needs require her constant attention and everyday tasks can prove to be very demanding.

She said: "Knowing that while Jack is away he is still receiving the best care possible is vital to me.

"I need to be able to relax and have time with the rest of the children.

"I am pleased the new Starlight Complex Health Unit can now cater for more children like Jack as it is such an important facility to have."

Care for children with complex health issues has been running at Cromwell House for a while now – this new unit just allows more children to benefit.

A telemedicine machine has also been introduced to the new unit – a device similar to a webcam.

If staff need assistance or advice from the hospital regarding a certain child, the telemedicine machine can link direct to their consultant who will be able to see and hear their patient through a screen.

Jo Whitlock, service manager of Cromwell House, said: "We have been working in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council to enable us to reach out to more children with complex health needs.

"I am delighted that Councillor Mike Burton, Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, and his wife, Mayoress Audrey Burton, were able to officially open the Starlight Complex Health Unit. To add to our celebrations, Cromwell House has also received an outstanding report from Ofsted for the third year running."

TWO mums organised a charity fundraiser in aid of When You Wish Upon A Star.

Good friends Amanda Elwis, 34, and Jenny Herring, 33, decided to support the charity because of all the work it does for youngsters with life- limiting illnesses.

As well as running an annual trip to see Father Christmas in Lapland, the charity makes countless children's wishes come true every year.

Amanda and Jenny hope Friday night's black-tie dinner at the Beachcomber in Humberston, which was attended by 120 people, will raise about £1,500.

Mum-of-six Amanda, of Laceby, said: "We have got 11 children between us and we are really grateful that they are all healthy. What When You Wish Upon A Star does for terminally ill children is just wonderful."

Mum-of-five Jenny, of Keelby, said: "We have known about the charity for a long time.

The Grimsby Telegraph has run a lot of stories about it and it is such a fantastic cause."

The pair spent the past three months organising the event, which featured entertainment from magician Arron Jones, singer Richard Thomas and comedian Scott Bennett.

About 70 prizes were donated for a raffle.

Amanda said: "We are completely overwhelmed by the support, not just from friends and family but local businesses as well.

"We have put a lot of hard work into this. There has been blood, sweat and tears, and some very supportive husbands as well!"

Look out for more pictures of the event in your Telegraph

A CAMPAIGN to reduce the increasing number of cyclists killed or injured on North East Lincolnshire's roads has been launched.

Humberside Police are urging bikers to Cycle Bright this winter and are arming them with free high-visibility jackets and putting up warning signs to motorists in accident blackspots.

Between January and August this year there were four serious accidents and 51 slight accidents compared to 198 slight injuries and 41 serious crashes between January 2009 and December 2011, the majority of which were at junctions.

PC Barry Gardner said: "There has been a large increase in the number of accidents both nationally and locally.

"We want cyclists to wear the right gear.

"Wear a helmet and bright clothing and use bike lights.

"We also want motorists to look out for cyclists, give them a bit of space.

"We want them to treat them as they would want someone to treat their son or daughter on the road.

"The devastating effect of a collision can last a lifetime, not just for the cyclist but their families.

"I have been there at accidents in Grimsby and had to knock on the door of the cyclist's family. It ruins lives."

Balfour Beatty will put warning signs up around North East Lincolnshire while cyclists can pick up Cycle Bright high-visibility vests from the Victoria Street police station in Grimsby while stocks last.

Road safety education officer for Balfour Beatty, Doug Wright, added: "It is important, particularly at this time of year, for cyclists to be seen on the road. Everyone knows the best way of staying safe is by complying with the rules. During hours of darkness cyclists should have working lights and we are advising they wear hi-vis clothing.

"Without them they are putting themselves in a lot of danger."

A BUILDER has been jailed after a long-running scam in which he cheated taxpayers out of more than £117,600 by not paying income tax or National Insurance for 27 years.

He did not bother to declare his income and kept quiet about the money he had coming in from his businesses, a court heard.

Harry Rowbottom, 58, of Meadow Drive, Barton-upon-Humber, admitted cheating the public revenue between 1983 and 2010.

Gordon Stables, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Rowbottom was caught as part of a campaign by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs targeting self-assessment by plumbers.

Rowbottom had worked as a builder, plumber and gas installer for 27 years, but bank accounts revealed he apparently had no regular sources of income, he did not declare any income and had not paid income tax and National Insurance.

The total he should have paid in those years was £64,674 – or £117,602 with interest.

He was arrested on November 3 last year and admitted not keeping proper records for a property he had owned since 2001 and of which he was the landlord.

He also owned plots of land and admitted working for cash that was not paid in to a bank.

Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said Rowbottom had enough assets to pay the money he owed and would do so as soon as he could.

"He let matters ride," said Mr Hackfath. "He fully expected it to come to light. It went on for 27 years.

"He was relieved to be caught and to be no longer listening for a knock on the door from Revenue and Customs.

"Ultimately, there will be no loss to the public purse.

"He knows he has to pay that money back and will take all steps to do that as soon as possible."

Judge Robert Moore told Rowbottom: "For 27 years, you paid no tax and National Insurance.

"Finally, in 2011, when the Revenue came knocking, you made full admissions and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

"You know the matter is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"Fortunately, the Revenue will get back the capital and interest."

Judge Moore jailed Rowbottom for 14 months and ordered him to pay back £117,602 within six months – or face a consecutive sentence of two years and three months.

Rowbottom was also ordered to pay £1,500 costs.

A TOTAL of 9,000 new homes need to be built in North East Lincolnshire, according to planners.

They launched a series of consultation roadshows to give residents of the borough the chance to have their say on where the houses and future businesses can be built.

The blueprint is known as The Local Plan which will determine the best places for new developments.

It will be the template from which planning councillors can decide the places where homes can and cannot be built.

As well as inviting residents to the roadshows in Cleethorpes, Immingham and Grimsby, a questionnaire can be filled in online from North East Lincolnshire Council's website.

Residents can also send their responses by e-mail and have their say about how to protect the environment and stimulate growth and jobs by encouraging firms to invest in specific areas of the borough.

The survey also wants to know people's views on traffic and public transport.

New Waltham resident Naeem Butt said: "To make an informed decision you need informed facts. There is a population increase and we need to know how many there will be and what is the current housing shortage.

"I live in New Waltham, near the proposed Humberston developments, where there are up to 1,000 new homes proposed. That is a lot of development so we need to ask whether we want Humberston and New Waltham and the infrastructure that is going to be required for all of those homes. It is not going to be the same as it was. I am here to find out more, but I don't like the fact it is being held in the foyer of the civic offices."

Myles Drummond, of Humberston, said: "Balfour Beatty has been very good at telling us the things that are proposed. Whether it comes about is another matter.

"We are in DN36 and there are 400 homes planned on land up against us.

"I want to know the impact on traffic, sewage, schools and roads. You just have to look at the impact Tesco has had at Hewitt's Circus. It is chaos.

"This plan for 400 homes needs thinking about."

Member of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and district Civic Society, Martyn Turner, said: "The council has to come up with a new Local Plan in line with the recent Bill from Parliament.

"When you look at the map, these areas of development are protruding into greenbelt land. It is important to retain open spaces as well as take account of ageing housing stock.

"We have something unique in this part of Lincolnshire."

Have your say

Log on to www.nelincs.objective .co.uk/portal or e-mail newlocalplan@nelincs.gov.uk

THE impact of the First World War has been remembered.

Fundraisers from Afghan Heroes welcomed dozens of people to an afternoon of entertainment at Waltham Royal British Legion.

It featured a screening of a Grimsby Chums movie, as well as display of wartime memorabilia.

First World War monologues, Lincolnshire dialect and wartime songs were performed by Ivor Edgar, of Barton.

He said: "I've been performing for more than 20 years and there's still a great appetite for it.

"It does tend to be a more mature audience I appeal to, so it's always good to see younger people in the audience, too.

"I perform a variety of characters, but this time I decided to be Old Sam from Stanley Holloway's famous monologues."

Airfield historian Graham Chaters gave a talk on North East Lincolnshire's lost airfields.

He said: "During the First World War, there were more than 40 landing grounds and airfields in Lincolnshire, but very few of those remain today.

"Through my talks, I explain how crucial aviation has been to the county's history."

Memorabilia collector Mike Credland took along a collection of First World War uniforms, including British, French, American and German for the afternoon.

He said: "I have more than 20 uniforms at home and I've been collecting them for a good few years now.

"I've been interested in wartime memorabilia from a young age and I enjoy sharing items from my collection with others at events like this."

Afghan Heroes fundraiser Karen Hughes said: "With the launch of the Poppy Appeal upon us, it seemed like a good time of year for us to organise a fundraising event with a difference.

"We decided to split the proceeds between the Poppy Appeal and Afghan Heroes.

"Events like this are an important way of keeping the human side of major conflicts in people's minds."

Michelle Lowden, of Waltham, is the event co-ordinator for Afghan Heroes.

She said: "We formed the local Afghan Heroes support group two years ago.

"In the past 12 months alone we have raised more than £24,000 for the charity.

"It's important for people to continue to remember the impact conflicts such as the two world wars had on the country, as well as supporting our heroes in Afghanistan."

To find out more about the work of the charity, visit www.afghanheroes.org.uk

A FILM tribute to the Grimsby Chums – a group of local residents many of whom gave their lives fighting in the First World War – will be shown at Grimsby Central Library during November.

The film contains unique footage of the Chums at their training camp in Brocklesby – prompted by the discovery of an old reel of film in a shed at Binbrook.

It had originally been shown at the Tivoli cinema, in Grimsby, soon after July 1, 1916, but was taken off soon afterwards as by this time, most of the people on the film had been killed during the first few days of the Somme battles.

With help from Grimsby Telegraph columnist Peter Chapman, who gave permission to use material from his book Grimsby's Own: The Story of The Chums, together with the dedication of members of the Royal Lincolnshire and Royal Anglian Regimental Association, the film provides a moving and enduring tribute to the local men.

The film becomes even more poignant as we approach the centenary of the beginning of the First World War.

Screenings will take place on Tuesday, November 6, at 2.30pm and Wednesday, November 14, at 6pm.

They are free but are expected to be well-attended, so it is advisable to book a seat in advance by telephoning Grimsby Reference Library on 01472 323603 or by e-mailing jennie.mooney@nelincs.gov.uk

THE family of Guardsman James Johnson have thanked the scores of well wishers who have sent messages to support their son.

As reported, James, 29, of Humberston, was nearly crushed to death when a wall collapsed on him in Afghanistan.

He is recovering in a specialist spinal unit in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.

Friends visited him with copies of the Grimsby Telegraph front page story on his determined battle to walk again.

His mother Carole told how her son was "chuffed and amused" with the story and photographs in the paper.

She said he has been able to sit up and visit the hospital's shop to buy treats and drinks for himself.

The improvement in his condition came despite doctors warning him he only had a 40 per cent chance of being able to walk again due to the serious spinal injuries he sustained in the ordeal at a sangar in Helmand province in August.

As reported, one of his comrades raised the alarm and fellow guardsmen pulled all the rubble off James.

Carole said: "He is doing fine. He has been sitting up in a chair for an hour each day.

"He has been able to have a look around and see the view from the hospital, so he knows where he is.

"He has also been able to visit the shop run by the WRVS in the hospital and buy some nice things for himself."

She said the article in the Grimsby Telegraph had prompted well wishers to send cards of support to the family and to James in hospital.

Carole said: "We are very grateful for all the support we have received."

She added: "Everyday he gets the chance to get up and about for an hour. It is only an hour. It is the best he can do.

" It is going to be a long slow process."

But James, a former Humberston Comprehensive School pupil, said he was determined to be able to walk again and get back to Blundell Park to cheer on Grimsby Town FC.

His parents Carole and Edward have been by his side for most of the time since he was flown back home from Camp Bastion.

He was serving on his first tour in Afghanistan, which began in March.

He was due to return to the UK in September for training for his corporal exams.

Afghan Heroes fundraiser – page 8.

X FACTOR starlet Ella Henderson looked stunning on the red carpet at the Pride of Britain Awards.

The 16-year-old, from Tetney, who is one of the favourites in this year's competition, attended the star-studded gala which saw some of the country's bravest citizens recognised.

More than 100 guests including Prime Minister David Cameron, David Beckham, the Prince of Wales, Olympic heroes, and the X Factor finalists packed Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane for the Daily Mirror's annual event.

Last week, Ella made her first red carpet appearance at the Royal World Premiere of the latest Bond film, Skyfall.

RUNNERS pounded the pavements of Cleethorpes to raise funds to help young people make a difference to their local community.

Staff from Grimsby's O2 shop organised two runs – one 5km and one 10km – in aid of the company's chosen charity, Think Big, which gives youngsters grants to improve their area.

It was free to take part and all participants received a goodie bag, with Nike vouchers and a perfume set also up for grabs for the winners.

Organiser Carl Dennis, who is the manager at the store, said: "I think it's important for local businesses to get involved in organising events for the community.

"We wanted it to be free to encourage as many people as possible to take part and we chose Cleethorpes as there is a scenic view for the runners.

"About half the staff from the store took part, as well as members of the public, so we're hoping to make as much money as possible for charity."

One of the runners hoping to clock up a good time in the 10km was Ryan Phillips, 28, from Grimsby, who works as a driver.

He underwent surgery to remove a slipped disk in his back about seven months ago and has recently returned to running. Ryan, who was cheered on by his wife, Jemma, and children Harley, 5, and Gracie, 3, said: "I spent ten years in the Army so running is ingrained in me.

"I've only recently started running in events again because it's taken a while to recover from the operation.

"I ran the Birmingham half-marathon two weeks ago and that went well, so I'm hoping to do the 10km in about 45 minutes.

"There aren't many running events in Grimsby and Cleethorpes so it's good to have something to take part in."

His wife Jemma, 27, said: "We enjoy coming along to watch Ryan run. It's good for the runners to have supporters to encourage them."

THE memories of two popular men who died prematurely will live on – thanks to the generosity of friends and a lasting legacy created in their names.

Paul Roe and Andy Tofton were both aged in their 40s when they died, and riders rallied in remembrance to raise more than £15,000 in their honour.

Their families were overwhelmed when 120 people turned out for a sponsored bike ride – and have vowed that it will now become an annual event.

The money has been split between Humberston Park Hydrotherapy Pool charity and St Andrew's Hospice, both worthy charities close to Paul and Andy's hearts.

The two men, who were members of the Waltham Tea Gardens, both died tragically young earlier this year.

Paul, the managing director of Grimsby's John Roe Toyota dealership, died in May aged 48 after a short illness.

He resolved to support the charity after paying a visit to the facility with his wife – a wish his family are fulfilling through the Paul Roe Memorial Fund, which was established after his death.

Andy, 46, died in June following a two-year battle with lung cancer. He received care from the staff at St Andrew's Hospice and before he died, asked his wife Allison to raise money for the charity.

Shocked at losing two popular members within such a short space of time, regulars at the Waltham Tea Gardens came up with the idea of holding a charity bike ride in memory of the two men.

Despite being organised at relatively short notice, the bikeathon attracted 120 riders, and it will now become an annual event.

Paul's wife, Lorinda, said: "The bike ride was a nice way to remember Paul and Andy and to raise money for two worthy charities.

"It costs about £30,000 a year to keep the pool running and they don't get any help from the Government. It is completely reliant on fundraising.

"The support from the Waltham Tea Gardens and from the community has been absolutely fantastic. I can't thank them enough."

Andy's wife Allison said: "We thought about 20 people would take part in the bike ride so it was amazing when so many people came forward.

"The club was in such shock that it had lost two people at such a young age.

"Andy spent 12 days in the hospice and I am just in awe of the staff there. They are just so caring and supportive in every single way."

Danny Burton, David Hendry and Ian Rispin organised the ride.

Danny said: "The amount of money raised is fantastic. It is a great tribute to the two guys and to everybody associated with the Waltham Tea Gardens.

"Paul and Andy were both popular guys. This was very much a community place and were both very well respected guys within the community."

Brian Marsh, who received the cheque on behalf of the Humberston Hydrotherapy Pool charity, said: "It is a fantastic feat to have raised so much money from a one-day event. It just shows how generous the people in this area are.

"Paul visited the pool and was so touched by it that he did various fundraising events for us and his family has been absolutely splendid in carrying out his wishes after his death."

Lynne Lemon, who picked up the cheque on behalf of St Andrew's Hospice, said: "When I came tonight I thought I would be picking up a cheque for about £1,000, so when I walked into the room and saw the amount I was absolutely bowled over.

"We have to buy 15 new syringe drivers, which cost £1,000 each, so in effect this has paid for half of those."

ATTENDING a mobile breast screening unit will soon be a thing of the past for women across the borough.

On Monday, November 12, a £120,000 new state-of-the-art static screening machine will begin scanning ladies inside Cromwell Road Primary Care Centre, Grimsby.

This new unit is the culmination of five years' planning and will provide the most up-to-date digital mammography.

Breast cancer survivor Beryl Watson, of Scartho, believes it is vital to have a permanent location where women can be screened.

The 76-year-old, said: "I think this is excellent and will make women feel a lot calmer about attending their appointment.

"The room is light, spacious and it feels very private which is important to many women.

"I feel very lucky to be here today after my diagnosis in 1997. However, I do put my survival down to the quick response and treatment I received."

The service will provide women with an immediate digital mammography. If there are any technical problems which result in a second screening needed, it can be done before the patient leaves their appointment. Results of the screenings should be expected within the following two weeks.

Fiona Smith, lead clinical trainer for mammography at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull, said: "I am part of a team that will come to Grimsby and screen women within this new unit. We used to have a mobile device sent to Grimsby's Diana Princess of Wales Hospital but this will now be stopped.

"For women without breast cancer, this static machine will now be their first port of call to detect any abnormalities within the breasts.

"We are very successful in noticing even the subtle changes within the breast but women have to be aware that not all changes mean cancer. Providing ladies with a fixed location to come to is all about giving them easy access and reaching out to those unsure."

The standard age for women to receive breast screening is between 50 and 70 years old.

Now across the country, a six-year trial is being carried out so that women between the ages of 47 and 73 can have the opportunity of a screening.

Rose Lebrun, nurse consultant in public health and screening co-ordinator for North East Lincolnshire, said: "Breast screening is an important method of detecting abnormalities at an early stage.

"The NHS Breast Screening Programme aims to detect and treat breast cancer early but vigilance against the onset of disease is one of the first lines of defence in tackling breast cancer."

Lisa Gallop is working with the health trainer service, and said: "There are lots of women frightened about this.

"What I try to do is ease their minds, get them to understand that they might not even show signs of having cancer, but if they do then early detection is key for survival."

ASWAD Thomas describes himself as 'the best left-back playing outside the Football League' – and it's becoming hard to disagree.

Following his summer arrival, the Grimsby Town full-back has been a key part of the meanest defence in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

And his marauding runs forward have also caught the eye of England C boss Paul Fairclough, who handed Thomas his first cap against Belgium Under-23s.

As a result, his tongue-in-cheek description of himself on Twitter is looking more apt by the game.

"I put the tag of 'best left-back outside the Football League' on my Twitter page when I was at Braintree – it was just a bit of banter at the time," said Thomas who returned to Town's squad for Saturday's defeat to Macclesfield, following an ankle injury.

"It's not arrogance. You've got to believe in yourself and I go out every game with that in my mind, believing that I am the best left-back outside the Football League.

"It's about having confidence in yourself and I try to put in the performance to live up to that tag, which can only be good for me and Grimsby Town.

"We've got the best defensive record in the league and, as a defender, I take a lot of pride that I've played my part in that."

After being released by his boyhood club Charlton, the 23-year-old has had to battle to get back into full-time football, through spells at Braintree Town and Woking.

He added: "I started off at Charlton – things didn't go for me there and it was disappointing.

"But I've learnt a lot along the way and I've worked hard to get back into full-time football.

"Now it's up to me to grab the opportunity that I've been given, with both hands."

"I'm enjoying being full-time again. It is a different lifestyle to what I was used to at Braintree and Woking, where I was only training in the evening and eating at silly o'clock at night.

"At those clubs, training wasn't very long because the sessions had to be in the evening, so with respect to them, we were limited as to what we could do.

"With Grimsby, I'm back in that pro environment, training every day, eating at reasonable times, getting good rest and preparing for games in the right way."

Thomas, pictured, is also quick to pay tribute to Town joint managers Rob Scott and Paul Hurst for his impressive form this campaign.

"I'm doing things properly and you really get looked after – they are second to none here," he said.

"The gaffers have brought me in and told me what they expect of me. And, from working with me on the training ground every day, they are really helping me in terms of positions and how I can best benefit the team.

"Because they both played in defence, I think it is definitely helping me."

PLANS to freeze council tax in North East Lincolnshire for a fourth successive year have been welcomed by the area's two MPs.

As reported in yesterday's Grimsby Telegraph, the council will receive a special grant from central government to partially cover the cost of abandoning its planned three per cent increase in 2013-14.

Austin Mitchell and Martin Vickers say the announcement is good news for hard-pressed householders feeling the pinch in these times of austerity.

But the revelation that NELC may have to find a further £7-million in savings – on top of the £43-million planned up to 2014-15 – due to ongoing public sector cuts, has provoked strongly differing views from our elected representatives in Westminster.

While Conservative Mr Vickers said the cuts would force the council to focus on delivering key frontline services, Labour's Mr Mitchell said they put the authority in an "impossible position".

Cleethorpes MP Mr Vickers said: "Clearly this is a very challenging target for the council and it is going to have to concentrate on delivering the frontline services and ensure that every penny counts.

"What people want from their local authorities is to have their streets cleaned, their bins emptied, good street lighting. Too much of what local authorities have done in recent years has drifted away from those basic frontline services. I do not dismiss the challenge that the council is facing, but they are now having to focus on the priorities, which is good."

Mr Vickers added that he was encouraged by the reassurances given by council chief executive Tony Hunter that the authority's planned and phased approach had enabled it to plan long-term and avoid being forced into knee-jerk decisions.

But Great Grimsby MP Mr Mitchell said: "The council is being put in an impossible position by central government cuts. Councils are facing a 26 per cent cut in their grant from central government by 2015, which is bigger than the cuts being imposed on any central government department.

"The local authority in North East Lincolnshire, which has handled its finances well in my view, is going to be forced to make cuts on a scale which will have fundamental and potentially disastrous effects on local life."

Mr Mitchell also echoed the concerns of council bosses when he said government policy was making forward planning for local authorities almost impossible.

Council leader Chris Shaw said a proposal to allow local authorities to keep 50 per cent of local business rates above a certain threshold instead of pooling them into a central government fund would carry a significant financial risk.

He added that changes to the New Homes Bonus Scheme – under which money will be given to local authorities on account of how many new houses are built – would add to the uncertainty.

Although finance chiefs are predicting a £7-million shortfall in funding by 2015-16, they say this deficit could fluctuate between £1-million and £18-million.

Mr Mitchell said the business rates proposal was "unfair" because it favoured prosperous areas in the south where more development was taking place.

However, Mr Vickers said it would encourage councils to be "more assertive" in encouraging new businesses to their area.

MP in sexism storm – Page 6

FISHERIES Minister Richard Benyon has praised the 750-strong team behind Grimsby's soaring response to the challenge to get British people eating more seafood, declaring the town a "real centre of excellence".

Taking in the massively expanded Seachill facilities, where the hugely successful Saucy Fish Co brand is based, the Conservative MP told how it was businesses with the consumer insight and ability to innovate that could spell out the health benefits of a fish diet far better than politicians.

Mr Benyon said: "I am hugely impressed. It is really important for me to see the processing side first hand, which employs thousands of people, most of them here in Grimsby, which is a real centre of excellence.

"It is good to come to a business likes this, employing a lot of local people, where it is also trying to do something really important to the Government, which is getting more people to eat more fish, while making a business successful and investing."

Hearing how Saucy is on the way to becoming a £40 million brand and has enjoyed £1 million weekly lift of sales through its recent advertising campaign, while introducing thousands of shoppers to the chilled fish category, Mr Benyon said: "When ministers in suits stand in front of the television and tell consumers what to do, it is usually fantastically unsuccessful. When businesses that really understand their consumers work with retailers and create products that the public really want, and engage younger, busier people with delicious products, it is easy to prove how that can achieve so much more.

"My job, and that of Government, is to make it easier for businesses like this to expand; to make sure the whole supply chain is supported and make sure that Grimsby and Britain is a place where it is good to start up, run and base companies likes this."

Saucy was conceived to aid those who were not comfortable cooking fish, with foil bake bag options, while aiding convenience of those that are, by including an appropriate accompaniment with natural fillets.

Touring the huge site on Laforey Road to back national organisation Seafish's Fish Is The Dish campaign, Mr Benyon said: "This just-in- time supply chain is a piece of logistical genius. It only works because it is highly skilled and well resourced. In Grimsby, not only is there a good workforce, there is the infrastructure support and a vital organisation like Seafish."

MURDERER Gary Lawson escaped from prison and was found four weeks later at his home in Grimsby by police.

Gary Lawson, 30, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Grimsby pensioner Alfred Wilkins, left North Sea Camp open prison, near Boston, on August 10 with another inmate, a court has heard.

He was on the run for four weeks before police tracked him down at his home address in Grimsby on September 7.

He claimed he missed his family and had not seen them for 10 years.

As widely reported, Lawson, aged 20 at the time and formerly of Ludlow Avenue, Grimsby, poured turps through the letterbox of the pensioner's Arundel Walk flat on Grimsby's Yarborough estate in February 2001, as his co-accused kept look-out.

They wrongly suspected Mr Wilkins was a paedophile.

Prosecutor James Byatt told Hull Crown Court: "The police traced him to his home address. When he saw them he ran away out of the rear door and climbed over a fence.

"He went into another property where he was detained by neighbours until the police arrived. He told the police 'I did walk out because I wanted to see my family and friends'."

Lawson pleaded guilty to escape and has been sentenced to four months concurrent to his life sentence.

He had been due to have a parole hearing to discuss his release in January but this has now been withdrawn and he has been upgraded to a more secure prison.

His barrister, Colin Harvey, said: "He was just spending his time at home with his family who he had not seen for 10 years.

"He has already, to a degree, suffered punishment because he had a parole hearing and he has quite sensibly withdrawn it and that will effectively delay any hearing in the future. He will be in a secure prison inevitably for some time to come."

Judge Mark Bury said: "You could have received a much longer sentence, but the reality is, here is a serving prisoner serving a life sentence and the real punishment will come because you will not be able to secure any form of early release in the immediate future.

"You are likely to be remanded in prison for a longer period than you would have been if you had not escaped. You have brought this upon yourself and it is a far greater punishment than I can ever impose for this crime.

"Let there be no doubt escapes from prison are regarded as a serious matter by the courts."

Lawson set fire to his victim's home in February 2001.

Mr Wilkins had been terrorised and subjected to a hate campaign after he was cleared in November 2000 of indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl.

Lawson was said by the prosecution to have poured turps through the pensioner's letterbox, sealing Mr Wilkins' fate.

Mr Wilkins, pictured above, and his dog Lucky both died from smoke inhalation.

Several people living on the Yarborough estate at the time of the fire say Lawson spoke to them both before and after the fatal blaze claiming he was going to do it. He was also found guilty along with his former girlfriend, Chantelle Day, then 17, of Haven Gardens, of conspiring to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Wilkins a week before his death.

A friend described how he had visited the rear of the Arundel Walk flat with the pair and had seen Lawson take out the glass in a window and climb inside, before the friend then left to go home.

Mr Wilkins made a police statement days before his death where he described how he had discovered two people in his flat, one of whom punched him while the other hit him with a stick.

When detectives searched Day's bedroom they discovered what the prosecution claimed was a "blueprint" of how she wanted to kill Mr Wilkins.

This included tying him up and setting fire to him and his flat.

A week after being attacked in his flat, Mr Wilkins was found dead in his smoke-filled flat by a neighbour.

Scientific tests confirmed turps had been poured through the letterbox of the ground-floor flat and set alight.

As smoke filled the property, Mr Wilkins had been unable to escape as all of his windows were boarded up and he was very intoxicated.

He was discovered lying in his kitchen, while his dog was in the hallway.

Lawson and Ian Lawless, of Conway Avenue, were both found guilty of murdering the pensioner.

Lawless was freed in 2009 after his conviction was quashed, branded "unreliable" by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

He walked out of London's Court of Appeal and in an in-depth interview with the Telegraph, he said: "I thought there were two ways to handle this – either to curl up and take it, or fight back. I chose to fight back."