TELEVISIONS and stereo equipment have been seized in a raid on a Grimsby flat after the noisy occupants left neighbours feeling like they were living near to a "boom box".

Enforcement officers from North East Lincolnshire Council, Shoreline and two Humberside Police officers swooped on the flat in Comber Place shortly after 8am yesterday.

The occupants had been handed a warning and a notice which was breached on two occasions after months of making a racket late at night and early in the morning.

Three televisions and a sound system was removed from the flat yesterday, which will be held as evidence.

The council said the noise levels were "completely unacceptable and made life miserable" for neighbours.

The latest complaint of noise levels came just an hour before the enforcement team came knocking.

John Waite, from Community Safety, who led the raid, said the operation had been a smooth one.

"This action has come as a result of repeated complaints from a number of residents in the area, one of which had said it was like living near a boom box," he said.

"After repeated warnings and visits, complaints were still being received by the police and local authority, meaning we had to act.

"It was a well-planned operation which saw property seized in partnership with the police and Shoreline.

"We have already had comments from neighbours saying they can sleep at night again and feel safer now this has happened."

Councillor Ray Oxby, portfolio holder for environment and housing, said: "The council will not tolerate this type of antisocial behaviour.

"Noise levels were completely unacceptable and made life miserable for other people living in the area.

"Community Pride officers will always take steps to educate and inform before enforcement is carried out, but when warnings are ignored the council has no alternative but to take legal action.

"In this case there were a number of breaches after repeated warnings, so officers obtained a warrant from Grimsby Magistrates' Court to enter the premises and remove all noise-making equipment."

The council urges residents to attempt to talk to noisy neighbours before calling Community Pride on 01472 325823 as the next resort.

Any information you give will be treated confidentially.

EATING a burger and chips, reading a map and applying mascara ... are these Grimsby's most distracted motorists?

These road safety offenders have all been spotted in North East Lincolnshire doing things they shouldn't behind the wheel – and although they may seem harmless, the message today is: "Minor lapses in concentration can lead to tragic consequences".

These "spots" were made by Telegraph readers after we appealed for you to share your experiences on the region's roads.

Video footage, available to view online now at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, shows a driver in central Grimsby flouting a red light.

An anonymous motorcyclist using a headcam has filmed footage showing the car stationary at the junction of Victoria Street North and Frederick Ward Way, in Grimsby, before it turns right – defying a red light.

Although it appears that the driver mistook the green lights showing for other lanes as a signal to go, the video serves as a warning to all that mistakes can be dangerous – not just to ourselves, but other road users.

The motorcyclist also sent in footage showing a driver at the wheel in St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, holding an object in his right hand.

Other readers have reported:

A man on his mobile driving through the town centre, driving erratically due to being distracted.

A man eating a takeaway meal on his knee – chips, drink and a burger – while driving on the A180.

A woman putting on full make-up in a traffic jam, including applying mascara. As a consequence, her car kept rolling back and the driver behind had to beep twice to alert her to put her brake or handbrake on.

A man reading a map, covering the whole steering wheel.

Several cyclists without lights, including three in Cleethorpe Road in one go.

A cyclist from Grimsby, who did not wish to be named, came forward with her own alarming experience in Weelsby Road, Grimsby.

She said: "Fire engines came out from Peaks Lane as I was riding along Weelsby Road, approaching Peaks Parkway.

"Traffic was already at a stop at the Hainton pub junction to let the engines out, so cars had seen me too.

"But then a car driver squashed me into the gutter. I had no idea how he did not scrape his car on my wheel or knock me onto the pavement.

"I had my front and back lights on, and was wearing a helmet, fluorescent gloves and a waistcoat … what more can I have done, riding in a cycle lane?"

The Grimsby Telegraph is highlighting hazards on our roads as part of National Road Safety Week, which ends tomorrow.

Sergeant Stuart Farquharson, of Humberside Police's roads policing unit, said: "The video clip of the car in Victoria Street North has all the hallmarks of the driver seeing the green light and thinking that it refers to him, when it doesn't.

"They would, if stopped by police, be liable for a fixed penalty ticket of £100 and have three penalty points on their licence.

"It is important people concentrate. Minor lapses in concentration can lead to tragic consequences.

"With mobile phone offences, for example, a lot of people think that if they are driving with the phone on loudspeaker without holding the phone to their ear, they are fine.

"But even if it is in your hand there is an offence committed, even if it is being used as a satellite navigation system or for getting data, it is still classed as an offence."

You can still send in your spots to newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

THE future of controversial average speed cameras in North East Lincolnshire has been thrown into doubt with the public outcry over those on Peaks Parkway prompting a review.

The announcement comes as eight cameras were installed on the Laceby Bypass this week – and taken down again within hours – after officials realised they had been put up by mistake.

Motorists contacted the Grimsby Telegraph to say the cameras had been put up along the bypass, concerned that there had been no public notifications.

But yesterday morning, engineers took down the equipment following a "communications error" between North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) and the contractor.

Today, the authority confirmed a review is being carried out into the effectiveness of the system in relation to road safety statistics, following the public's reaction to their use on Peaks Parkway. It comes as the average speed cameras caught a high-profile offender – Humberside's Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Grove.

An NELC statement said: "Plans to install speed cameras on the Laceby bypass have been put on hold while NELC reviews issues raised by local motorists and residents.

"The installation of the digital cameras on both Peaks Parkway and Laceby Bypass are part of a road safety programme contained within the Local Transport Plan.

"The Peaks Parkway cameras were the first phase of installation, to be followed by the Laceby installation.

"However, as a result of the recent public concern with regards the Peaks Parkway camera operation, the council has instigated a review of the effectiveness of the new camera system in terms of road safety statistics.

"As such, the council had taken the decision to delay installation at Laceby.

"Unfortunately, due to a communications error with the contractor, installation had commenced as originally scheduled; those cameras have now been removed until a decision is reached pending the review."

Since the system on the Parkway came into force, scores of motorists have been fined for exceeding the 30mph speed limit.

Jason Longhurst, head of development, added: "The use of cameras is part of our overarching road safety approach, however, given the public concern raised with respect to the Peaks Parkway camera operation, we have delayed the installation of the Laceby Road cameras until we have fully assessed the safety effectiveness of the system on Peaks Parkway."

Meanwhile, Mr Grove told how he is "disappointed" that his driving was "not to the required standard".

Mr Grove said: "I attended a Question Time event in Grimsby on October 4 and left at about 9.30pm.

"I subsequently received a letter informing me my speed had been recorded at 36mph on Peaks Parkway. I this week received a further letter with a conditional offer notice to attend a speed awareness course with a fee of £95, which I have accepted.

"I am disappointed my driving was not to the required standard on this occasion."

The review will look into the effect average speed cameras have on road safety, which prompted the installation of fixed speed cameras on the Laceby bypass in 2009.

Figures reveal that in the four years prior to this, there were 66 accidents resulting in injury; in the four years since, there have been only two.

GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst says he's happy to work with the squad he's got – provided they come through today's clash with Barnet unscathed.

With the loan window set to slam shut on Thursday, many clubs will be looking to bolster their ranks with last-minute reinforcements ahead of the busy Christmas period.

However, with a fully-fit and in-form squad, Hurst doesn't expect to be doing any transfer business before the deadline – insisting he doesn't foresee any incomings – or outgoings – at Blundell Park.

But he hinted that could depend on whether or not his players pick up any injuries in this afternoon's Conference clash with Barnet (3pm).

He told the Telegraph: "I'd really like to get through today and not have any injury concerns.

"If that's the case and things are going well then I'm happy to work with what I've got and I don't see any need to change anything currently.

"Obviously if we pick up a few injuries in a certain position then perhaps I may have to look at that, but in general, I don't envisage any business, in or out."

Hurst has named an unchanged starting 11 for Town's last three games and he acknowledges that those players on the sidelines may be getting itchy feet.

But he pointed the turnaround in fortunes of top-scorer Ross Hannah as a 'prime example' of how quickly situations can change – and why he wants a full squad at his disposal.

He continued: "I'm happy with the squad at the minute and one or two of them will be unhappy that they're not in the team, but they're all capable of coming in and their attitude has been spot on.

"I spoke to an agent of one of the players and there's no doubt I could get them out on loan if I wanted to but I want all of the players here.

"It may unexpectedly become someone's time to come in and impress and I want them all here to be able to do that if needs be.

"Ross Hannah is possibly a prime example of that.

"At the start of the season, we were looking at a different system and we wasn't too sure where Ross fitted into that.

"But things have changed around and, at the minute, he's in the team and doing very, very well.

"He knows that Liam Hearn, Andy Cook and Dayle Southwell are sat on his shoulders ready to come in.

"That's the sort of competition I want running right throughout the squad."

DON'T miss your chance to make a big difference to a local organisation.

Foresight, located in New Market Street, Grimsby, has been nominated for a share of the People's Millions as part of the Big Lottery Fund, to help create a new community garden at a living complex in Stallingborough.

As reported Foresight, a local charity that provides education and support to people with disabilities as well as their families and carers, purchased Anne Askew House, in South Marsh Road. They redeveloped it into 26 self-contained apartments for vulnerable adults after it closed as a communal living campus for the elderly two years ago.

Foresight chief officer Paul Silvester is appealing for the community to get behind the organisation so it can secure the £25,000 needed to transform the derelict wasteland. He said: "The development is a superb complex, however, included in the deal for the building came a vast area of green space that has become overgrown and under-utilised.

"To transform this area would take a lot of money, it needs to be landscaped and cultivated.

"Winning the grant would enable us to create an area that would benefit the whole community.

"But we need people to pick up the phone and vote today.

"The more calls we get, the more chance we have of winning the money."

Each day this week one organisation will compete against another in a phone vote to win a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, and, today, Foresight is up against a Yorkshire-based charity.

Throughout the day on ITV both groups will feature in videos appealing for your vote.

"We are the only organisation from this area that is in the running and we are competing against a coal mining charity in Yorkshire. If we don't get the votes, we don't get the money," said Paul.

"The garden project will be a great asset to the whole community – not only those who use our services or live in the complex, but schools and other groups, too.

"The garden will have a vegetable plot and landscaping, making it a great place to enjoy the practical side of gardening or just enjoy the garden.

"It will be a great learning zone that will be available for schools in the local area to use as well."

The number, which was released at 9am today, can be called up to 10 times from the same number meaning that just 10 people voting could equal 100 votes for Foresight.

"We need at least 60,000 votes to be in with a chance of winning, so please pick up the phone," added Paul.

To vote you must the call the charity's number (which will be posted here later this morning) or go to www.peoplesmillions.org.uk

Calls cost 10p from a landline, but may vary from mobiles.

WALTHAM'S Kevin Clifton and celebrity dance partner Susanna Reid have cha cha'd their way into next week's Strictly Come Dancing.

The couple faced a tough night receiving a modest score of 31 points after being the first on the dance floor on Saturday's show.

The low score gave the couple cause for concern until similarly harsh scores were given by the judges to the other couples, leaving them in fifth place overall.

Head judge Len Goodman told the couple that the judges would not be letting minor mistakes slip by as they have in previous shows.

Awarding them an eight, he said: "There was some good leg action but it was not sharp and crisp enough. It was an acceptable performance but not the best."

Awarding another eight was Bruno Tonioli, who said the couple had a good start but it was not as good as it could have been – a feeling echoed by fellow judge Darcey Bussell, who said: "It was just not yours tonight."

Also picking up on the movement of the pair, Craig Revel Horwood, who awarded them a seven, called Susanna's performance "a little bit too mumsy".

Susanna, a mother of two, responded saying: "I don't think there is anything wrong with being mumsy!"

The audience did not agree with the comments of the judges, with many taking to Twitter and branding the judges too strict, while praising Kevin and Susanna's performance.

But it was rugby star Ben Cohen who became the eighth celebrity to be voted off – losing out to actor Mark Benton, who survived his third dance-off.

Afterwards, Kevin's dad Keith Clifton told the Grimsby Telegraph: "It was a very tough night for everyone on the show.

"The judges seem to have forgotten to take their happy pills.

"They were a lot stricter on the performances throughout the show, but as Kevin and Susanna were the first to the floor, seeing the score of 31 certainly gave them and us worry.

"Once we saw all the couples were getting similar, tough, lower scores, the fear eased back.

"The score left them in the middle of the table, which can be a dangerous place to be, but luckily they were kept safe with the public vote, something that I think is going to start playing a major role as the show progresses.

"We are now down to the best couples, the ones who all along have been tipped as favourites. Now one mistake could see any one of them in the dance-off.

"We just want to thank everyone for their continued support and we cannot wait until next week's show!"

ABANDONED lizard "Lucky" was on his last legs after being dumped in Cleethorpes.

The six-year-old female bosc monitor has been named Lucky by the owner of Pets and Vivarium Fish World, John Booth, who has taken care of the creature since it was handed in on Thursday.

A man said he found it while walking near Cleethorpes Boating Lake.

Owners of the nearby Jungle World Zoo said the 2ft reptile was not one of theirs.

It was taken to Mr Booth's pet shop in Heneage Road, Grimsby, where it has been fed mice to build up its strength.

The shop owner said he was frantic with worry the morning after he took the reptile in because feeding an animal after it has not eaten for so long can kill it.

Mr Booth said: "I woke up on Friday with my heart pounding, not knowing if it would be alive when I went to the case."

He added: "Without any sun it cannot move or digest anything. It needs sunlight.

"We have got the case set up so there is plenty of heat. It had a horrific abscess on its mouth but we have treated that.

"We hope in a few days it will be back to moving around like grease lightning.

"It could eventually grow to five feet, so we want to make sure it goes to a good home with someone who knows what they are doing or has other lizards.

"Wherever she has come from, she is in the right place now."

He said Lucky will need lots of vitamins, chicks, mice and bananas to bring it back to health and fill out its sagging skin.

Mr Booth said most monitors will literally snap the hand off anyone who does not handle it right.

He said: "In Africa, where they come from, they will run into a village and snatch a chicken or a dog."

The animal lover said he had tempted Lucky to open its mouth using a credit card, but that was soon wrecked because of its sharp teeth that lock on to anything in its mouth.

He has looked after animals for more than 30 years and has often been called in to businesses that have found exotic creatures in packaging.

He rescued a tarantula from a flower box from a Freeman Street florist and found a snake in a banana box in Freeman Street Market.

He has also been called to Immingham docks where snakes have been found in cargos of wood.

Several years ago, he was called to a house in Laceby where a gopher snake had burrowed its way into an owner's lawn. Another snake was found in a wood nearby.

The expert said: "Someone had just dumped a load of snakes next to the road. Without the warmth of sunlight they will lie dormant."

He urged anyone wishing to provide a home for Lucky to contact him on 01472 346519.

A GRANDFATHER has been jailed after police discovered thousands of vile images of child pornography at his former home in Cleethorpes.

Norman Grainger, 67, now of Sheldon Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing indecent images of children and was jailed for 14 months at Grimsby Crown Court on November 19.

The court heard Grainger held 6,345 images and videos on disks and hard drives, which included 53 at the most extreme level five on the rating system used to categorise the severity of images of child sex abuse, and many of which showed the torture of young children.

Police raided Grainger's former Humber Street home in July 2012 after tracing his IP address and arrested him, but during the interview he maintained a 'no comment' response and later fled to Sheffield.

Upon his arrest in South Yorkshire, he told officers he "hadn't exactly been hiding" from them.

The court heard Grainger had stumbled upon the content when browsing online and became "interested and then obsessed" with what he found, spending five years using the images for sexual gratification.

Among the content found by police were images of young girls being gagged and abused, and the torture of a five-year-old.

Defending, Nigel Lumley said Grainger, who served time in prison in the 1970s, had suffered a total breakdown in his relationship with his family as a result of the offences and was "full of shame".

"He did not know throughout his life that he had any propensity towards this sort of thing," he said.

"He does not seek to downplay his involvement at all, he has now in his later life fallen down to this level and is now without his family and friends."

Judge David Tremberg said this was a "very bad example" of such a case and said Grainger had built up a "veritable library of thousands and thousands of images".

"The emotional and physical cost to the victims is incalculable and all you cared about was your own perverted sexual gratification," the judge told him.

"People who behave like that give tacit encouragement for those who post these images to commit further abuse.

"You share responsibility for the suffering of those children and it is imperative that courts deal severely with such behaviour. By moving to Sheffield you sought to evade justice after you became interested then obsessed with these vile images of children."

An unmoved Grainger looked on as Judge Tremberg handed down a 14-month prison sentence, to be cut by half on licence.

Grainger must also register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is prohibited from using any device capable of accessing the internet unless he makes his internet history, which he will not be allowed to delete, available to police on request.

A MOTHER of three illegally claimed over £5,000 of carer's allowance for her disabled son while she was working because "she had bills to pay", a court heard.

Gemma Hess, 34, of Haile Road in Humberston, received £233.80 every four weeks between October 2010 and September 2012 as the main carer for her son, despite working for her partner at a Fabrications company in Grimsby.

Grimsby Crown Court heard that Hess failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of her employment because "she was unsure of the allowance".

Prosecuting, Joanne Jenkins said: "She did not declare her earnings because the company was in severe financial trouble and was going into liquidation in September 2012."

Ms Jenkins submitted that Hess had committed what was "essentially multiple fraud" because "she had bills to pay".

The court heard Hess, who has two severely disabled sons, had already begun paying back the £5,409.65 that she had been overpaid as a carer's allowance.

"Ms Hess was required to notify the Department of Work and Pensions if she started work," said Ms Jenkins.

Defending, Michael Culshaw said Hess was a "fragile individual" who had no previous convictions and that her priority "is simply her children".

"The claim was not fraudulent from the outset," he said.

Mr Culshaw said a punishment of a community order would prevent Hess from properly caring for her children.

Judge David Tremberg handed down a six-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered Hess to pay £535 costs.

He told her: "The public purse is stretched beyond its limit and decent people who pay their taxes are rightly appalled by those prepared to perpetrate a fraud of the state and a fraud upon them.

"It is totally unacceptable for people to try to help themselves to monies from the public purse in order to assist themselves.

"This is not a victimless crime, offences like this are not difficult to commit but are difficult to detect and prosecute."

GRIMSBY Town's game-plan worked to a tee against Barnet on Saturday, but Paul Hurst won't take all the credit.

In the run-up to the clash, the Town boss warned that patience would be key against a team with a possession-conscious approach – a characteristic largely attributable to their iconic player/coach Edgar Davids.

And so, throughout the week, the Town boss and his squad worked diligently on a game-plan to limit their visitors' effectiveness – and all their hard work paid off on another heartening afternoon at Blundell Park.

Goals from Ross Hannah and another from second-half sub Liam Hearn were enough to seal Town's fourth consecutive victory – despite Dave Stephens' spectacular late strike making for a nervy finish.

And after the final whistle, Hurst was understandably delighted with his side's performance and paid a glowing tribute to the players.

"We knew they were going to knock the ball around and keep it well and so it proved," he said, "And so we talked about staying patient and we did that well throughout the game."

"We had a game-plan that we worked on in training and the lads carried it out well, meaning Barnet didn't really cut us open during the game.

"We stuck to our task and took our chances when they came our way and I was delighted to get the victory. As well as a good result, it was also a good performance and I couldn't be more pleased with them.

He added: "At the minute, the decisions I'm making seem to be working, but they're only working because of the players.

"I threw on Liam and Andy Cook on Saturday and they combine to score the second. So at the minute, I'm looking like an okay manager I guess! But that's all down to the players – I'm really pleased with them."

Another decision that Hurst would have felt vindicated in was to tinker with his previously unchanged side by bringing in Paddy McLaughlin and Alex Rodman for Joe Colbeck and Scott Neilson, who both dropped to the bench.

Davids, who can count Barcelona, Ajax and Juventus among his former clubs, decided to make the long trip up north, naming himself in the centre of the midfield alongside Curtis Weston.

And the Dutch master was at the heart of everything that was good about the Bees in the opening 20 minutes as the North London outfit, as expected, knocked the ball around with patience, tempo and no small amount of skill.

But for all their possession, the visitors rarely troubled James McKeown in the opening exchanges with only Luisma Villa bringing a routine save out of the Town stopper through a long range free-kick.

Town in fact had the ball in the net as early as 15 minutes in when Hannah rifled home following Lenell John-Lewis' clever dummy – but only after the whistle had gone for offside.

McKeown was then called into action to field Elliot Johnson's fine left-footed effort before easily claiming Andy Yiadom's tame free-kick after Shaun Pearson had been booked for a pull-back on George Sykes.

Jack Saville followed his Town counterpart into referee Peter Banks' notebook for a deliberate handball and when the resulting free-kick wasn't properly cleared, Hannah squandered the Mariners' best opportunity of the half when, unmarked, he dragged wide from just seven yards.

Just over a minute later, Town had strong appeals for a penalty turned down when John-Lewis went to ground as he looked to round former Arsenal stopper Graham Stack, however Banks was unmoved and the two sides went in goalless at the break.

The Mariners roared into the second half, clearly intent on building on their hard work in the first and just 12 minutes after the restart, many inside Blundell Park thought they had broken the deadlock.

A deep cross from John-Lewis, looped over Hannah's head before falling to McLaughlin, who after taking a touch, drilled a half-volley goalwards from yards out.

It looked as though the Northern Irishman had scored, but he had in fact only found the side-netting – much to the disappointment of those inside the Pontoon, who slumped back into their seats, thinking Town's big chance had gone.

But they needn't have worried.

On 67 minutes, Craig Disley won an excellent header in the middle, with the ball falling to John-Lewis, who shielded the ball well before slipping in Hannah.

The former Bradford City man kept his cool and stroked the ball past Stack before racing away to celebrate in front of a healthy crowd in the Main Stand.

Undeterred, the visitors look to hit back and a good chance went begging as Kieron Cadogan headed wide after a fine cross from substitute Jon Nurse.

Hurst then made a double switch with Hearn and Cook coming on for John-Lewis and the visibly exhausted Hannah before Sam Hatton curled an excellent free-kick into Stack's side-netting from fully 25-yards.

Hearn may not yet have reached the heights of previous seasons, but the frontman then proved his eye for goal is still as sharp when he doubled Town's lead with nine minutes to go.

Excellent work from Cook saw him skip into the box before unselfishly squaring to his strike-partner who brought the ball onto his right foot before drilling past Stack.

With that, Town looked as though they'd sealed a comfortable win – but the Bees proved to have a sting in the tail.

A late cross was half-cleared to the edge of the box and Stephens – up from centre half – took a touch before firing a scorching volley that flew past McKeown and drew applause from most inside Blundell Park.

That strike, and an initially nasty-looking knock to Hearn, served to set-up a nervy finish for the home faithful, but Town stood firm to hold off a late push from the visitors and claim another victory that keeps them handily-placed in the Conference title race.

THE SEARCH was continuing today for the "idiot" who threw a brick at the Barnet team coach as it left Blundell Park following Grimsby Town's 2-1 win on Saturday.

The brick smashed a window of the bus and was condemned by the player manager of the away team, European Champions League winner Edgar Davids, as reported on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Grimsby Town FC's stadium manager Nick Dale said the attack had "put lives at risk".

He said an enquiry would be held to find the person responsible.

It came only two weeks after violence marred the FA Cup clash against Scunthorpe.

Twelve people were arrested on Saturday, November 9, and 21 more in the lead up to and during the replay at Glanford Park last Tuesday.

The damage to the coach on Saturday was revealed by Davids on Twitter after the game, where he posted the picture, right.

Although the manager declined to talk to the press after their defeat, he posed for photographs with fans and signed autographs.

But shortly after leaving the Harrington Street exit, a brick was thrown at the team coach.

Davids posted a photo of the shattered window.

He said: "After a disappointing result and signing autographs for a while we got our window smashed as a thank you."

After fans tweeted Davids, saying "Please don't think all of us GTFC fans are like that", he replied: "Certainly not, always the same small group. Hope we can give you (the real fans) a warm welcome and exit."

The 40-year-old, who was a cup winner with Italian side Juventus and also played for Barcelona and Ajax, graced Blundell Park for the full 90 minutes and added injury time.

Mr Dale was quick to condemn the attack. He said: "It put lives at risk."

He said Grimsby Town FC will help Humberside Police with any investigation, although police have confirmed that no reports had been received of any incidents after the game.

The stadium manager said: "We will be looking into what happened, where it happened and when. We will be contacting Humberside Police.

"The club has no jurisdiction outside of the ground. It will be a matter for Humberside Police to investigate. We will be talking to them."

He added: "It is very disappointing given that Edgar Davids stayed behind after the game to meet fans and sign autographs and then someone has thrown a brick at the coach. It is not a fan, it is some idiot. Whoever it is, is an idiot because it is putting lives at risk."

And readers, posting on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, also condemned the incident.

Alstep said: "Football is not to blame, just a few idiots who claim to be supporters.."

SuperTzar said: "More bad publicity for the football club and the town itself.

"We seem to be drifting back to the bad old 80s, as there appears to be more stories on violence and hooliganism than ever before.

"These stories aren't going to help the club grow its fanbase unfortunately, as parents with young children will think twice about taking the kids to BP."

And vxgas added: "I hope the person who threw the brick is caught."

Grimsby Telegraph soccer writer Matt Dannatt, who was at the game, said: "Davids made it clear he was not going to talk to the press. As we were walking out of the stadium, fans were asking if he was going to talk to anyone but all we could say was he wasn't talking to us and so we left.

"Next we heard someone had thrown a brick at the coach – it's such a shame that it could overshadow what was a great game and another good win for the Mariners.

"It is obvious that whoever it was, is not a true Town fan and is no way representative of the majority, who are decent, proper football fans. Unfortunately though, it does put the club in a bad light.

He added: "It is a shame these incidents keep popping up at a time when the club is doing so well on the pitch."

AFTER a high-octane week for Grimsby Town, boss Paul Hurst believes the opportunity to rest will do his squad the power of good.

The Mariners overcame Edgar Davids' Barnet 2-1 on Saturday – just four days after putting Scunthorpe United out of the FA Cup.

Following that rollercoaster period, Hurst is pleased not to have a midweek game on the horizon.

The boss was delighted with his side's well-deserved victory over the Bees. Goals from Ross Hannah and second-half sub Liam Hearn were enough for the Mariners – despite Dave Stephens' spectacular late strike.

The performance has earned the players a deserved day off today – and meant they began their free week on a high, ahead of Saturday's FA Trophy tie against Coalville.

And Hurst is pleased his squad has the opportunity for some R&R.

"For once, I am quite happy that there isn't a midweek game," he told the Telegraph.

"If there was, the lads would turn up and do a job – of course they would, but this week gives us the opportunity to recover, albeit while preparing for Coalville.

"But it does give us that little bit of downtime to recover, both physically and mentally after the busy period we've come through.

"We've had a tough run in terms of the effort that we've had to put into games recently and I'd be the first to hold my hands up and admit that was a concern going into the Barnet game, but they were excellent.

"And so they're having today off because they've earned that. They need to rest up now because it's been a really big effort from them and I couldn't be happier with them."

Saturday's victory was Town's fourth on the trot in the Conference, as they retained fourth place in the table with their closest rivals also recording wins.

Hurst added: "Ever since the Salisbury defeat, we've been superb and credit to them. We've had a lot of wins, in the cup and the league, and confidence is growing all the time, which is great to see."

A GRIMSBY couple have taken the plunge to start their own fashion store.

Alex Scales and her husband Garry were facing an uncertain future for employment.

Alex, who works for the council was concerned for her job due to cuts, and Garry, who worked as a scaffolder, says the work available was getting less and less.

The couple have opened their first shop in East St Mary's Gate, Grimsby, called With Love From Italy, following the success of their market stall.

The idea to create a new business came from Alex's friends at work, who often enquired where she bought her clothes.

Alex said: "I have always looked for unique and boutique-style clothing.

"I would often be asked 'where did you buy that? It looks really nice.'

"When Garry and I were facing the prospect of unemployment we decided we needed to act fast to secure our future.

"I asked my work colleagues if I was to bring some clothes in would they be interested in buying them, and they all responded yes.

"So we bought a few pieces and they all sold.We thought this could be a good little business."

Garry says they started out with very little.

"We borrowed £700 to buy a bulk order of clothing from a wholesaler and we set up a stall on Top Town Market.

"The stock soon sold and we were able to buy more with the profits we had made and offer a bigger and better range of clothing.

"The business just snowballed from there and now here we are just a few months down the road and we have been able to open up our very own shop."

"We took the plunge and the risk and it has really paid off.

"And now we are looking to the future to develop the shop and the market stall.

"Just a few months ago we would never have imagined we would be here today."

Alex hopes to bring the boutique-style fashion wear to the average shopper.

She said: "We sell high-quality Italian designer clothing at a reasonable price.

"We stock boutique fashion and accessories, but we do not want to alienate the average shopper.

"You can walk into some boutique shops and feel lost but here we hope people will feel comfortable to browse at their pleasure.

"We still have our stall on the market selling clothes and now with our new shop we can sell accessories and so much more as well."

Find the shop on Facebook by searching for With Love From Italy.

ACTRESS Patricia Hodge is guest of honour at the official launch of Estuary TV in Grimsby tonight.

As reported, it is the first of 19 local TV stations being launched across the UK, broadcasting on Freeview channel 8.

Local TV was the brainchild of former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was keen to introduce a US-style local TV network. Most towns and cities in the USA have their own news and entertainment stations.

Licences have also been awarded to Belfast, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Oxford, Brighton and Hove, Leeds, Preston, Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield, Cardiff, Manchester, Southampton, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Glasgow and Norwich, with a further 23 processing.

The idea was that the licence fee would help with initial set-up costs, but that advertising packages would maintain the stations.

Executive producer Lia Nici said: "Often we don't realise how innovative we are in Grimsby and actually we're ahead of the game.

"We are the first local Freeview channel to launch and that is a huge accolade for the creative industries in our region.

"The key to the work we do is training. People come from all over the globe to train here because they can't get this type of training anywhere else and we will be working with more than 200 students every year in the production of our programmes."

Programmes begin at 5pm today, broadcasting from three TV studios at the Grimsby Institute.