CLEETHORPES golfer Holly Clyburn is living the dream on the Ladies European Tour – and is eager to build on her initial success.

The 22-year-old finished third at the Scottish Open last weekend, shooting three impressive rounds to end the competition on two over par.

It was Clyburn's second-best return on her debut Euro season – following her sensational win at the Deloitte Ladies Open, in Amsterdam, back in May.

After an opening round of 74 in East Lothian, the former Tollbar Academy student put herself back into contention with scores of 73 and 71.

But it wasn't to be for Clyburn, who finished ten shots behind eventual winner Catriona Matthew at the Archerfield Links course.

She won't have long to rest either – Clyburn and her fellow professionals have already landed in Sweden ahead of the Helsingborg Open, which gets underway at Vasatorp Golf Club tomorrow.

Clyburn said: "It was great to finish so high – especially with my parents coming up to watch on the final day, it was a dream.

"My aim on Sunday was to finish as low as possible – the conditions were tough, but I felt comfortable in them.

"It was hard to top the win in Amsterdam, but this is my second best finish.

"My game is in good shape at the minute, and if I can get my putter warm there is no reason why I can't build on my ranking."

Clyburn, who is now eighth in the Order of Merit following her place in Scotland, will use the event in Sweden as match-practice for the Evian Masters (Sept 12-15) – the second Major of the season.

She added: "If someone had offered me what I have done at the beginning of the year, I would have laughed at them and snatched up the offer.

"It really is a dream come true for me to be playing at this level, but I have to keep taking it one step at a time and enjoy being on the course."

A FAMILY of ten have been left homeless after a fire gutted their flat.

They had a lucky escape when the blaze broke out at the property in Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, which has destroyed most of their possessions.

Nikola Antusova had to run from the building clutching her two children – two-year-old Jasmin and six-month-old Felip – after spotting smoke billowing from one of the youngster's bedrooms.

She opened the door to see flames and acrid smoke filling the room.

Her partner, Felip Kosik, said: "It is devastating; we have lost everything.

"We do not know what caused the fire but it has left us with nothing.

"We have had to move in with friends until we can find somewhere to live. We just don't know where to turn."

The couple lived at the house with Felip's father, businessman Radek Mirga, his wife and their four children.

Now, they are struggling to explain to Jasmin what has happened and why they are homeless. The little girl keeps asking to go home.

As reported in yesterday's Grimsby Telegraph, the fire broke out in the flat, above Lincs Radio, at about 5.47pm on Monday.

The fire was caused by an undetermined source but is thought to have been accidental.

Fire crews used breathing apparatus to safely enter the building, and the flames were extinguished by 6.15pm.

Mr Mirga said: "My son Felip called me and said the house was on fire. I was only on Freeman Street, shopping with my wife, so I quickly ran back.

"When I got there I saw fire engines and an ambulance. I was really worried because I didn't know what had happened.

"I do not know what we can save from the house; I think everything is gone or smoke damaged.

"My son, Roman, could no go back to school because his uniform was lost in the fire.

"The school has very kindly said he can still go until he gets sorted.

"My older son has not been able to go back to school at all because his uniform was also destroyed.

"We are having to rebuild everything – we need to buy clothes, shoes ... everything."

Mr Mirga has just opened a shop, the Samuel Food Store, on Cleethorpe Road, and the ordeal has temporarily stopped him from focussing on his new venture.

"I do not know what to do now," he said. "It has completely devastated us.

"But we are very fortunate. Nikola was very lucky to get outside with the children – we don't want to think what might have happened if she hadn't.

"A friend has put us up in his flat and we are being given some temporary accommodation until we can get back on our feet.

"We want to thank everyone who has helped us, and our friend for taking us in when we had nowhere to live.

"It is very hard to find somewhere for a big family like ours."

A POLICE campaign to catch criminals involved in illegal hare coursing in Lincolnshire aims to break last year's record successes.

Operation Galileo in 2012 saw nearly 300 people caught by the dedicated team set up to tackle the problem.

Now, as crops are harvested in the fields, reports are coming in of cruel gangs congregating with dogs.

In the summer, autumn and winter of 2012 a total of 186 men were prosecuted in the county – mainly under the Gaming or Hunting Acts.

Another 100 were given warnings because they were caught before any coursing could take place.

Operation Galileo leader Inspector Andy Ham said: "Evidence shows that people who participate in it are mainly involved in other forms of criminal activity and they usually come from outside Lincolnshire.

"Having a dedicated team enables us to not only respond quickly to reports and calls from the public, but it also improves the way in which we gather intelligence and analyse patterns. It consequently helps us deploy our policing resources to maximum effect.

"No one knows the countryside better than the communities themselves. The public are best placed to notice unfamiliar people and vehicles, so contact the police to report suspicious activities straight away."

A NEW broom has swept through the corridors and classrooms of a Cleethorpes school as it reopens as an academy.

More than 400 pupils yesterday began a new school year at Reynolds Academy, which is now part of Tollbar Family of Academies.

Over the summer break, the buildings – part of which date back 100 years – have been refurbished, and a new reception area constructed.

Now there are 14 classrooms, with two classes to each year group, a new library and literacy and numeracy classrooms. New computers have been provided as well as extra playground equipment.

Also among the changes is an on-site cook who will provide freshly-cooked meals every day.

The school's medical room has been updated and a new staff room created, and pupils have new uniforms provided by the academy.

The nursery for three and four-year-olds has been revamped, and decorating is still continuing.

As a member of the Multi-Academy Trust, Reynolds Academy will be supported by Tollbar Academy and Sixth Form College and Cleethorpes Academy, providing all-through education for pupils from three to 19.

Nine new teachers and staff members join existing staff.

Primary development officer Christine Lacey said: "This is the start of a whole new era for Reynolds pupils.

"We are all looking forward to working together to provide the best possible educational opportunities for these children."

Mrs Lacey will be assisted by former Tollbar Sixth Form College director Andy Clark. He is now a vice-principal of Tollbar Family of Academies, and is looking forward to the new challenge.

The chief executive of the organisation, David Hampson, who has overseen the entire refurbishment of Reynolds, said: "I am very excited to be involved in the whole education of a child. It is my intention to make Reynolds an outstanding primary academy and give its pupils an excellent education in a stimulating and safe environment that is well resourced."

Look out for photographs of new starters from schools in our area in Saturday's Grimsby Telegraph.

GRIMSBY town centre is gearing up for a new facility – The Cycle Hub.

Located at the former postal room at Grimsby Train Station, it is the first of its kind in the area, offering a secure location to leave bicycles from as little as £1 a day.

The centre also includes a shower facility, toilets and cycle maintenance staff on hand.

Janine Walker is the managing director of Cycle Lincs, who has worked in co-operation with North East Lincolnshire Council and Balfour Beatty to create the hub.

She said: "We are going to open for the first time on September 16.

"The centre offers commuters, shoppers and workers a secure place for their bikes, as well as somewhere they can shower and change.

"Many more people would consider cycling to work but there is the problem of arriving there hot and sweaty.

"The shower facilities allows them to freshen up before going into work.

"We have space for 20 bicycles inside and 14 outside. There is 24-hour CCTV so you can be sure your bike will be secure.

"The centre will be staffed between 8am to 6pm, so there will always be someone on hand to help out if you get stuck using the storage devices or if you are need of a puncture repair.

"The centre will also have route maps and information guides for the local area – and we will even have bikes that people can rent."

Anthony Snell, senior transport officer for Balfour Beatty, said the hub is an opportunity the town has not had before.

He added: "This is something we have never had the ability to create in the town before.

"Many of the buildings around here are very old and cannot be modified to accommodate cycle facilities and showers.

"Having the centre actually connected to the train station and with that being right in the central area of the town is great. Many people have said they would cycle to work, but do not want to leave their bike outside for fear of it being stolen or tampered with.

"The centre is going to be a hub for people to come to find out everything they need to know about cycling in the area.

"Before, if someone wanted to find a cycle route in the region, they would have to search for the information.

"Now, this hub will stock leaflets and information inside and its website will also highlight all the local cycling information.

"We hope it will be really successful and that people will be encouraged to cycle in the area."

For more information prior to the hub's official opening, call 07842 679117 or visit www.heartofgrimsby.co.uk– ad see your Grimsby Telegraph for coverage.

A BLIND man has criticised North East Lincolnshire Council after path works in Grimsby left him feeling "scared and disorientated".

Adam Gray, 26, who is registered as blind, claims work to widen the paths outside the Foresight disability centre, on the corner of Newmarket Street, has made it dangerous for people with disabilities to cross Freeman Street.

Mr Gray said the ongoing noise from machinery has made it difficult to cross the road and believes more should have been done to warn Foresight users of what was happening.

The Cleethorpes resident said: "When I first knew of the roadworks, I was furious; all the paths seem to be blocked and there were huge diggers around.

"It was scary and disorientating. My vision is greatly impaired so I rely on my hearing, and I could hear cars coming from both directions.

"I believe it has put the 'dis' in disabling."

The work being carried out is part of the council's long-term plan to restore Freeman Street to its former glory and includes pathways being widened and given a facelift.

The contract to carry out public realm improvements between Nelson Street and Hainton Square was awarded to Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd, as reported.

Mr Gray, who spends three days a week at the Foresight centre, said the work has left him feeling angry and unsafe.

He added: "I am normally fine crossing the road because I use the pelican crossing near the old cinema, but I can't do that at the moment.

"They know we are here but when I was trying to cross not one worker tried to help me.

"I think the council should be more considerate and should have made some adaptations.

"They could have at least visited Foresight and let us have some path to walk on."

Jason Longhurst, head of development at the council, said: "The contractor received a complaint from Mr Gray and the site was inspected immediately.

"Barriers had been moved only slightly to allow for the movement of materials but have since been positioned well clear of the doorway.

"Footpath works in that area are due to be completed by today, and the crossing is due to be reopened by the weekend."

A MANUFACTURING firm which makes seals for the oil and gas industry has secured its own royal seal of approval.

It was the second time Shand Engineering of Stallingborough received The Queen's Award for Enterprise and International Trade, when The Duke of Kent presented the prestigious glass trophy yesterday.

He said was it was a reward for the "hard work and enterprise" by Shand.

The firm makes seal couplings for the oil and gas industry throughout the world, exporting to the United States, Brazil, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Norway.

Shand designs and manufactures couplings to connect rubber reinforced hose and flexible pipe which is used predominantly for the transportation of oil and gas both offshore and on land.

Plans for a new factory in Brazil, due to open next year, impressed the Duke, who toured the factory.

The firm first won the Royal award in 2009 for its success in international trade, as reported.

Based on Kiln Lane, the manufacturer has doubled its work force to 70 over the past 10 years.

In the same period sales have grown from £2 million a year to over £17 million.

In January 2012, Shand opened its first overseas factory in Houston, Texas, to supply US customers with products manufactured from raw materials and semi-finished components supplied from Stallingborough.

Shand is the largest supplier of couplings for reinforced thermoplastic pipe in the world and count local company Dunlop Oil and Marine, of Grimsby as their most important long-standing customer.

Today, the company exports more than 70 per cent of its products.

Managing director Brian Purchon said: "This growth in export sales led to the company's first Queen's Award in 2009.

"At the time I thought I would never be lucky enough to work for a company that could win the award.

"Winning one such award was very special. To win the award twice and only four years apart makes me immensely proud and grateful to all our employees and local key suppliers who rely on to achieve what we do."

The Duke of Kent, cousin to the Queen, was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth.

They were met by the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis, and the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Peggy Elliott, and her consort Steve Elliott.

The Duke of Kent was introduced to Jim Jackson, the firm's longest serving employee, of 42 years. He received a tour of the factory prior to the award presentation.

The Duke said: "The Queen's Award is one of the highest marks of success that a business can achieve. It has come about due to the hard work of the company."

MP Martin Vickers, who was also present, added: "It is a tribute to the management and all the workforce that they have achieved two Queen's Awards in four years."

It's a situation one can only imagine – but became terrifyingly true for one local man. Sadie Russell reports on Lou Fear's ordeal at the hands of terrorists.

AN ENGINEER has spoken for the first time of his terrifying ordeal after al-Qaeda-linked terrorists stormed a gas plant in Algeria where he was working in January this year.

Lou Fear, from Tathwell, is among more than 100 foreign workers who survived the raid on the Tigantourine gas facility near In Amenas.

Thirty-nine foreign hostages, an Algerian security guard and 29 militants were killed in the crisis. Almost 800 workers were freed.

BP team leader Mr Fear has now described how he and his colleagues hid from terrorists in an office and used a filing cabinet as a barricade while gun-toting men took hostages outside.

They eventually walked through a gap in the perimeter fence and endured a gruelling 17-hour desert trek to reach safety. Several other groups also escaped through the fence.

Mr Fear told BBC Two's This World: Terror In The Desert programme how his decision to leave two wounded workers behind still haunts him.

The militants first attacked buses carrying workers on the morning of January 16, followed by staff living quarters and the gas-producing heart of the plant.

The documentary heard from one worker in the main plant, who described hearing gunfire from 20 to 30 metres away before four terrorists armed with AK47s and their faces covered burst in through the front door.

Mr Fear – who is married to Lori and has two children, Anna-Victoria and Richard, who are in their 20s – was just a few yards away.

He said: "We opened the door and saw around the corner that there were some guys laid on the floor face down with their hands tied behind their backs.

"You could see the cords sticking up in the air, with a guy above them with an AK47.

"So we ran back. The four of us went into the office, pushed a filing cabinet behind the door and then got this big box of weights which was really heavy.

"We didn't put it against the door. We picked it up and put it right on the top of this filing cabinet.

"Then I got on the floor and hid behind and then someone tried the door handle.

"They were saying in Arabic 'Come out, come out, we're friends', but we didn't. We never believed that there would be a terrorist attack – it's incomprehensible – but it was real."

As the raid on the base intensified, the workers began sending text messages to each other and their loved ones back home.

Mr Fear discovered by text that two friends in a nearby building had been seized.

He sent a text to his wife, who said: "I got a text from him saying there had been a terrorist attack, and he was hiding and that he was safe."

Mr Fear said: "I got told off for not saying the words 'I love you'. I just blanked all that.

"She wanted me to send stuff to the kids. I said no. I actually cried when that bit happened.

"I said no, I can deal with you but I cannot do the other bit."

Mrs Fear continued: "My world just froze. Everything stopped. I couldn't think. I didn't know what to do, whether I should tell the children or not.

"I didn't know what circumstances he was texting me in – if he was close by to the terrorists, if they could hear the beep of the text messages come.

"I daren't reply to it because maybe I would give away his hiding place. I didn't want anything bad to happen to him."

Six hours into the ordeal, it appeared quiet outside the room.

Mr Fear decided that "there was a fair chance there was no-one was around" and ventured out to use the bathroom and collect some water and biscuits.

He then texted his wife to say "I've popped out to get some water."

She said this message made her even more concerned for his safety.

Mrs Fear said: "My husband is not the smallest, quietest, most subtle man, he cannot even whisper effectively. If he cannot do that, how is he going to stay hidden?"

On the morning of the second day, hostages were bundled into a convoy of jeeps rigged with explosives, which came under fire from Algerian army helicopter gunships.

Mr Fear saw the attack and he and his colleagues went to look for survivors.

They carried two injured men back to an office building but saw two terrorists and ran back to their hiding place. Mr Fear decided there wasn't time to take the men with them.

"I made the decision," he said. "A voice told me 'Brother, leave them, or they will give you away',"

From inside the office, Mr Fear heard the terrorists ordering the injured men to lead them to the "ex-pats".

Mr Fear said: "I heard some noise and scuffling.

"I assumed they took them outside. There were some gunshots."

Mr Fear and his group made their bid for freedom at 2am on January 18 by walking through a gap in the perimeter fence.

"The guys just held the razor wire and it just snapped open," he said.

They were rescued after a 17-hour trek through the desert.

Mrs Fear said: "All of a sudden the telephone rang. This voice said: 'It's me, I'm all right. I'll be home in a few days'. It was a new telephone. I tried to put it on loudspeaker for the children to hear but I cut him off, but I knew he was alive."

As the Algerian army staged its final assault on January 19, the extremists chained several remaining hostages to pipes with explosives strapped to their bodies and a section of the plant was blown up.

Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian, was behind the attack on the gas plant.

He is nicknamed "the Marlboro Man" because he funds terrorism through tobacco smuggling.

The militants claimed they were retaliating for France's intervention against Islamic militants in Mali.

ALLOWING a private company to take control of Humberston Fitties would be "wrong" and "destroy its character", according to residents.

North East Lincolnshire Council is currently looking at various options for the future of the site, and has offered Bourne Leisure Ltd – the owners of Thorpe Park – first refusal on the leasehold.

But residents of the Fitties, dozens of whom turned up at the council's Regeneration, Environment and Housing Scrutiny Panel to air their views, say a private investor would not be best placed to protect it for the future.

Speaking on behalf of chalet residents, Paul Harwood, chairman of Fitties' Owners Residents' Association Bungalow (Forab), said: "Bourne Leisure is a very professional and well-respected organisation which could certainly capitalise on an influx of visitors to the Fitties, but they exist solely to satisfy the interest of their own customers.

"The Fitties, on the other hand, is, and always has been, a community asset which exists primarily for the enjoyment of the general public and has never in its 200-year history been considered as a commercial venue.

"While we applaud Thorpe Park for its commitment to customer care, it is the wrong organisation in which to entrust the future of one of North East Lincolnshire's major community assets and would merely open the doors to the Fitties becoming a commercial venture."

A select committee formed to look at the future of the site made 10 recommendations to Cabinet back in January.

These included considering its future "management or disposal", clamping down on design of chalets and carrying out a new flood-risk assessment.

All of the recommendations will be discussed by Cabinet on October 14, when a decision will be made.

The scrutiny panel has urged Cabinet to consider offering the sale or lease of the site to a wider range of companies and community groups, rather than focusing solely on Bourne Leisure.

This includes looking at a takeover by residents, who believe they should be allowed to manage the site.

Paul added: "The Fitties has never been about money, it is about providing an experience, a memory of Grimsby that visitors never forget.

"Confining it to the hands of commercial enterprise is not the way forward.

"It is totally in line with the Communities Act that the Fitties should become self-regulating.

"Such a proposal would continue to maintain the character of the area, including the accessibility of the public because it would be in the residents' own interests to do so.

"Fitties residents should be asked to undertake a feasibility study with regards to forming a management company to take on the site on terms similar to those which have been proposed for Bourne Leisure."

VILLAGERS against a proposed recycling plant in South Killingholme drummed up the support of passing motorists during a second protest.

Residents with placards stood outside Poplar Farm, in Ulceby Road – a former pig farm where ClarkeSon Recycling wants to create a "recycling centre of excellence" and bring 35 jobs to the area.

As reported, protestors are opposed to the plan because they claim it is too close to their homes, that it would smell and attract rodents.

Managing director Steve Clarke aimed to reassure residents at a recent public consultation event.

But one resident at the protest said: "It shouldn't be built within the village because it is far too close to our homes."

Another added: "We have the oil refineries one side so we don't need this recycling plant another.

"I am born and bred in this village and it is home so I don't want to see this coming our way."

Mr Clarke was unavailable for comment but has previously told the Telegraph that the firm controls the smell problem as it does at its other site in Riby.

He said: "I am more than happy for any residents to look at my plant in Riby to see how it works.

"I will be the closest resident to the plant as I will be living in the farmhouse there – so if it smelt that bad, I would not live there.

"Compost will be in glass houses and the vapour which smells will be collected for nitrogen.

"We don't have a problem with pests or rodents in our current site.

"I will create 35 jobs in the town because I want to keep everything local. Local tradesmen will construct the plant and I will be supplying to local businesses, too.

"Since I began my business in 2006, I have had 150 complaints – only seven of them were agreed by the Environmental Agency and were resolved."

ABOUT 200 people have signed a petition in support of Cleethorpes Lifeboat crew who fear they will have to pay to park when on call for emergencies.

Lifeboat bosses say the council has previously allowed its 28 crew members to park in public bays next to the station at Brighton Slipway for free, as long as they displayed their RNLI crew stickers.

However, the Grimsby Telegraph understands this was an informal arrangement and the council says it cannot justify allowing so many vehicles to park for nothing.

However, council bosses insist they will never seek to charge on-call RNLI crew, and are currently exploring options to resolve the situation to everyone's satisfaction.

Jack Barlow, operations manager for Cleethorpes Lifeboat, told the Grimsby Telegraph that the lifeboat station has only three dedicated parking spaces for the 28 crew – as well as three other spaces reserved for the tractor, trailer and boat – but added there was generally no more than seven or eight crew at the station at any one time. He said he was hopeful the situation would be resolved soon.

However, Cleethorpes resident and former Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Burgess believes the council should leave things as they are, and has started a petition asking for the current arrangement to continue.

Mr Burgess, of Cambridge Street, said: "I live round the corner and I know most of the lifeboat lads and it came to my attention that they had been told to submit their registration numbers to get a parking permit.

"This is common sense gone wrong. Historically the crew showed their RNLI sticker and that has always sufficed, so what's the problem now?

"Of all the amenities and resources in North East Lincolnshire, the RNLI has got to be the best value for money, because all it costs is a few council parking spaces.

"The guys already give up their time. Why should they have to go through this bureaucratic process? The council should trust the guys running the lifeboats to distribute the stickers and get on with it."

Mr Barlow said the previous arrangement had worked well until a couple of weeks ago when a traffic warden told crew that they could only park in their designated bays.

He said council deputy leader Mick Burnett had told him all crew would be issued with electronic permits, only to be told by a parking officer that the 28 requested was too many.

Mr Barlow said: "It is absolutely ridiculous. It is just annoying that we are being threatened in this way. We have never had anyone tell us we shouldn't be parking here. We are an emergency service."