MERRY Christmas!

Since December arrived, there has been an explosion of sparkling lights, pretty baubles and festive firs in North East Lincolnshire.

Residents are truly getting into the spirit of Christmas by decorating their halls with boughs of holly... and a whole lot more!

And we want to see what everyone is up to.

Grimsby Telegraph photographers have already been taking snaps of delightful decorations as they've been out and about, showing just how excited everyone seems to be about the festive season this year.

But we want to see more.

If you've spotted a brilliant display on a house, take a picture and send it to us.

Better still, perhaps you've trimmed up your home already and you're proud of your efforts.

Then share what you've done with us.

Not only will you be featured in the newspaper and online at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/christmas, you could be in with a chance of winning a £50 supermarket voucher to put towards your turkey and trimmings.

The best house will be picked by our picture editor, Jon Corken, so don't delay in getting involved.

You have until Friday, December 20 to send in your photos.

Don't forget to include a name and contact number.

Send your entries to newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk with Christmas Lights Competition in the subject line, or drop them into our reception, at Telegraph House, 80 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby.

A PROLIFIC thief has been given a final chance to prove he can stay out of trouble by magistrates.

Peter Romaniw, 32, of the Salvation Army Hostel in Eleanor Street, Grimsby, had his sentence deferred by six months by the bench at Grimsby Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to three charges of theft.

The magistrates warned however that there would be "no excuses" should Romaniw step out of line in the forthcoming months.

The court heard Romaniw stole £60 worth of CDs from the Sainsbury's Local store in Welholme Road on November 26.

He also asked for the theft of £15 worth of meat from the same store on November 3 and the theft of £8 worth of washing liquid from The Co-operative Food in Convamore Road on November 25 to be taken into consideration.

Romaniw was caught on CCTV taking six CDs from Sainsbury's and, following his arrest, told police he fully admitted what he had done.

However, none of the items stolen by Romaniw were recovered by police.

Defending, Lauren Fisher said her client was at a low ebb after coming out of prison with no money or accommodation to his name.

"Mr Romaniw admitted the offences in full and admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity," she said.

"These are low-level and unsophisticated offences, he put the items underneath his jumper or in bags.

"He received 16 weeks in prison in August for breaching a suspended sentence and for a further offence of theft, and the sentence saw him released in October.

"He was released and given no assistance, money or anywhere to live, and he was unable to get Jobseekers' Allowance because he had no fixed abode and no mobile phone.

"He was sofa surfing but eventually his friends lost interest in him because he had no money to offer them for food or board.

"He was himself sleeping on the streets for three weeks before finding his current accommodation and can now claim Jobseekers' Allowance and will be eligible for housing benefit."

Mr Fisher said Romaniw had drug issues which were being addressed through a drug intervention programme and had been stealing items purely to try to pay for his food and board.

"There is no reason for him to commit further offences," she said.

Magistrates deferred Romaniw's sentence for six months and will note his progress in his drug treatment.

"We are going to give you a chance to comply with the drug intervention programme," they told him.

"But there will be no excuses, we are going to defer the sentence to see how you go so this is your chance and you have got to prove yourself."

A GRIMSBY man has been jailed for a vicious and drunken attack on his then partner while on bail.

Gary Willerton, 36, of Hainton Avenue, tore into Cherylina Butler at their former home at the YMCA on June 5 this year, putting his hands around her throat and repeatedly punching her.

Grimsby Magistrates' Court heard that the attack, after the couple had been out drinking, left Ms Butler with cuts, bruises and damaged teeth.

Prosecuting, Nick Wyman said: "They had been out drinking and there was an argument when they got back to their shared accommodation.

"After the attack, he went to bed in an intoxicated state and she reported him to the police."

Mr Wyman said the victim was left "agitated and upset" and, following his arrest, Willerton maintained a "no comment" response but claimed he had no recollection of the incident.

The court heard that the couple's daughter was not present at the time of the attack and that the pair's relationship had now ended.

Willerton initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on November 7, five days before his trial.

Mitigating, Jade Taylor insisted Willerton's late plea was not a case where the defendant waited until his trial date to change his plea.

She told the court the defendant had problems with alcohol which he was working to address, and said he had fully accepted what he had done.

"Clearly this was a volatile relationship and the level of intoxication had caused him to have little recollection," she said.

"This offence goes back to June 5 and there has been some progress since then.

"The relationship has now ended and there have not been any further incidents since June. It seems that there has, in fact, been significant progress."

District Judge Daniel Curtis said Willerton's past record was an "unhelpful" one. It was not revealed what Willerton was on bail for.

"You inflicted this attack against the victim which was a very unpleasant act," he told the defendant.

"The fact that you were on bail at the time and your very late plea – which seems to me a consequence of you changing your mind at the last minute – gives you very little credit."

Willerton was unmoved as Judge Curtis sentenced him to 12 weeks in prison.

HUNDREDS of seals including young pups have been spread "far and wide" after a tidal surge tore through their reserve on the Lincolnshire coast.

Thursday night's tidal surge decimated the Donna Nook seal site – destroying an information building, flattening fences and separating scores of baby seals from their mothers.

Few seals were left on the beach on Friday, with many having sought shelter further inland towards the dunes or having swam out to the North Sea.

Though no seals have been found dead as a result of the surge, it is feared many young pups have been left to fend for themselves.

Wardens cut holes in the fence to let the seals escape inland during the surge, and some were later found in the car park.

The influx of sea water left one of the wardens' information huts completely destroyed.

The owners of the nearby Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary were yesterday on the site looking to take in injured seals or pups that had been separated from their mothers and were too young to survive alone.

Donna Nook wardens have asked the public to stay away for the weekend at least while the recovery operation takes place.

Rob Lidstone-Scott, outer Humber coastal warden at Donna Nook, said: "The site has suffered some damage without a doubt.

"I have been up and down the coast and the seals have been spread far and wide, but a lot have survived with their mothers.

"Thankfully, at the minute, we have no fatalities.

"Some of the pups were ready to go out to sea anyway and the vast majority of the breeding is over for the year now.

"At 5pm on Thursday, the water was already up to the fence, we put precautions in place but there's not much you can do to stop the power of the sea.

"We cut holes in the fence to allow them inland and some are now even in a cattle grazing area nearby.

"Fortunately, on Friday morning the tide was not as bad as we feared, but we have lost the information hut and much of the fence which is now in pieces.

"We are therefore asking people to stay away from the site for the weekend at least.

"We will need time for the sea to calm down, and we will need longer to make the site safe."

One of the seal pups which was forced out to sea was found on Cleethorpes beach on Friday morning, near to the Kingsway Hotel.

Passing police officers discovered it and quickly nicknamed it Sammy.

Council staff arrived on the scene but it was decided to leave the seal to return to the sea of its own accord, which it later did.

IT'S Quarter Final time!

Waltham's Kevin Clifton and his Strictly partner, BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid, have made it to the last three weeks.

After a nerve-racking wait second from bottom of the leader board last week, the pair sailed through to this week on the public vote, and will be attempting to gain their points back from the judges with an Argentine Tango to Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.

And Kevin has been busy in the limelight again this week, appearing with Susanna on BBC2 spin-off It Takes Two last night, and on Chris Evans' Radio 2 breakfast show yesterday with the likes of the Pet Shop Boys, Dido, John Bishop, and fellow dancer Brendan Cole.

There are just six couples left in the competition now, following actor Mark Benton's departure last week.

He lost the dance-off to Hollyoaks' Ashley Taylor Dawson, having survived three previously.

As ever, we will be tweeting, facebooking, and updating our website www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk live during the shows tonight and tomorrow – why not log on and share your views with us – @grimsbytel and find us on Facebook.

It kicks off tonight on BBC1 at 7.10pm, and the results show tomorrow at 7.20pm.

In the meantime, here is Kevin's dad Keith's take on the week:

Have you ever nearly done something really spectacular and kicked yourself when you didn't, for whatever reason, whether it was something unplanned or something someone else did or whether it was your own silly fault?

Or was it the infamous 'Murphy's law' kicking? Have you ever practised doing something so much that you can do it blindfolded and on one leg, left handed and reciting Hamlet at the same time ... and then when the moment of performance comes your legs suddenly belong to someone else?

Quickstep choreography can be like that. Get it right and the dance is frantic and fun, get it wrong and it collapses like a pack of monkeys fighting over a peanut. Ok, it wasn't that bad. I'm exaggerating hugely, everyone still loved it, but one little mistake made Kevin and Susanna's quickstep a tad untidy and at this stage in the competition, with all dancers bringing their 'A' Game, it was enough to slide down the leader board.

It was one of those numbers that had four 10s written all over it; the music, the sofa climbing, but it didn't go quite to plan. The great thing about this partnership, though, is that they are not holding back, on choreography, on entertainment, or on effort.

Never mind, thanks to you, they are still there, in the quarter final. Everything is still possible and the dance and the format changes again. The Argentine Tango and the Swingathon beckons and Susanna and Kevin are putting the hours in to get it right.

Different dances have different requirements in terms of technique, style and performance. The Argentine is unique and although it has complicated foot patterns it has a passion and intensity that will suit Susanna, similar to the Paso Doble. The arms are held lower so there will be no problems with shoulder lines. I think this dance has the potential to be really good.

And now to the return of the Swingathon. This is where all couples dance a jive/swing at the same time, similar to a normal dance competition. However, the couples are not marked, just asked to leave the floor one by one when their performance starts to waver. Susanna and Kevin are both highly competitive. Susanna is a competent marathon runner and I would put our house on Kevin to be last man standing, so the Swingathon could prove to be very interesting.

Each dance is different. Ballroom and Latin American are different. It's like painting. You have Dutch Classical against Cubism, but they both use the same paint and brushes. Each remaining couple has their own strengths and weaknesses in each of those different styles. Any deficiencies now will be highlighted and the public vote will kick in massively.

There are two more weeks to get them into the final.

PLEASE PLEASE continue voting. As Walt Disney once said: "If you can dream it, you can do it".

A COUPLE had a narrow escape after a huge tree crashed through the roof of their home in Healing – while both were out at work.

Glenn Thow, 49, and his partner Kerry Smith were both out of the house when gale force winds saw the tree fall onto their house in Ivy Farm Court, at around midday on Thursday.

Glenn had extra reason to breathe a sigh of relief, as he normally works from home. The couple's two dogs, Bailey and Buddy, were also lucky to escape without injury, as they were both in the conservatory which had its roof pierced by the tree.

The wooden giant went straight through the top of the house and into the attic, with a branch also crushing part of the conservatory roof and garage roof.

Specialist tree firm DC Arborist, of Louth, was on the scene yesterday carrying out the delicate job of lifting the tree without damaging the rest of the house.

"It's obviously awful to see but in a way we are relieved, because it could have been so much worse," said Glenn, who runs Grimsby IT firm LCS Group.

"I normally work from home but I happened to be in the office on the day, it could also have happened when we were both in bed as the tree came right down above the bedroom.

"And the dogs were in the conservatory and could also have been injured. Both were really shaken.

"I had some suspicions the tree might fall one day as it did really sway in the wind, so we always had that bit of worry. We actually had a tree come down on the house five years ago in high winds too, but that only caused minor damage.

"The tree that came down on Thursday was under a preservation order and we had to get permission from the council to get rid of it – but I suppose there is no choice now!"

Daniel Cobley, of DC Arborist, said it would be a careful process for his specialist team to remove the tree.

"Just to get it off the house will take two days at least as you have to work slowly to try to minimise the damage," he said.

"We will be gently whittling down the tree so we are able to drag it off the roof, but it will be a slow job because there is nothing to anchor yourself to.

"The base of the tree is partially rotten and it was towards the end of its life, but the wind has obviously finished it off."

THERE could be more frustration for Grimsby Town's Paul Bignot today, with Sam Hatton likely to return at right-back.

Bignot, left, was recalled to the Mariners line-up for the FA Trophy double-header with Coalville, after more than two months out of the side.

And, despite his solid performances in both full-back positions, the 27-year-old may have to settle for a place on the bench against Northampton this afternoon.

Manager Paul Hurst hinted that Hatton will get the nod ahead of the former Blackpool man for the FA Cup Second Round meeting with the Cobblers.

"Paul did okay against Coalville – he worked hard and tried to get up and down the pitch which is something we'd spoken about previously," said Hurst.

"He's found himself out of the team, and Sam has been doing well. But I got to see Paul at left-back for half an hour which was part of the reason for bringing him in – it's nice to know he can cover both sides.

"He was aggressive in his tackling and I know that he's ready when I want to call on him.

"Paul had been injured for a while and it took him a bit of time to get back up to speed. I think he would admit himself that there was better to come from him.

"Since then he has been fit for every training session and he will be in a better place physically and ready to do a good job for us.

"He'll certainly be in the squad today. The team was playing very well, though, so do I change much around? For me, not really.

"I've got 18 professionals and I can involve 18 players today so if you do the maths there it's not too much of a tough decision, except if I use one of the young lads.

"I'm happy with the squad and what they've shown over the last couple of months, so I'd like to involve as many of them as I can and as often as I can."

GRIMSBY Telegraph readers in their droves sent in photographs of wind and flood damage.

Nick Ellis, of Grimsby Mooring Services, sent in photographs of the tide at the Royal Dock on Thursday.

He said: "People have been saying it was all hype but what they don't realise is that if Associated British Ports (ABP) had not implemented their emergency procedures by running the dock down to accommodate the excess water, this combined with their excellent flood defences, the whole of the West Marsh would have been under water.

"Well done, ABP."

The Telegraph thanks all those who submitted information.

A RECOVERY operation began in earnest throughout North East Lincolnshire yesterday, as residents came to terms with Thursday's wild weather.

Grimsby and Cleethorpes had a relatively lucky escape compared to the rest of the East Coast when gale force winds, combined with a high tide, caused damage and flooding.

Yesterday morning, the emergency services and other authorities were prepared for more incidents at high tide, but it passed without major incident, despite a small breach near Wonderland car park.

Environment Agency teams were out in the borough checking for leaks and damage along the flood defences and embankments.

As of 10.30am, there had been no further evacuations, evacuees returned home, and respite centres were stood down.

Work continued throughout the day at various locations and at 2.30pm, North East Lincolnshire Council's incident room was stood down, with the authority reporting that tide levels were subsiding and that the weather was steady.

"We are dealing with matters such as the beach area clean-up and individual localised issues as required," said a spokesperson.

"All roads are operating as normal except for the those close to the Central Promenade and North Promenade in Cleethorpes."

Councillor Chris Shaw, the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, speaking yesterday, said: "I'd like to personally thank everyone who helped out during this emergency.

"We had countless offers of help, from the community, from organisations and from the emergency services.

"Our various teams worked with colleagues from a range of agencies through the night, and continue to work today to monitor the flood levels and make sure the vulnerable and those at risk are safe.

"It was a terrific job by everyone in North East Lincolnshire and showed the community and can-do spirit the area's renowned for.

"Our thoughts are with those currently experiencing any level of flooding throughout not only northern Lincolnshire and the Humber, but also the rest of the country."

CHRIS Hackett is Northampton Town's dangerman at Blundell Park this afternoon – according to Mariners boss Paul Hurst.

The winger returns from a one-match suspension for today's FA Cup Second Round tie, boosting the Cobblers who are without cup-tied forward Izale McLeod.

Striker Roy O'Donovan also returns to the fray after completing his recovery from a double hernia operation.

Midfielder Stuart Dallas has not been given permission to play by Brentford, while Aidy Boothroyd is also unable to call upon his three long-term injured players – Kelvin Langmead (knee), Lewis Hornby (back) and Alex Nicholls (broken leg).

Hurst has certainly done his homework on the League Two strugglers since the draw was made, and highlights former Millwall man Hackett as the one to watch.

"Northampton have got a few injuries, but Hackett is back and most managers who look at Northampton would suggest that he's their best player.

"Whether he plays out wide, as he has done for much of his career, or whether he plays inside, we will see – and also what system they play.

"They can't play McLeod, who is cup tied, so there is a decision for them up front.

"They could opt to go with two big men in Clive Platt and Jacob Blyth, or just select one of those and play the way they did at Chesterfield when they looked extremely solid and started to threaten the longer the game went on."

Former Mariners Joe Widdowson and Ricky Ravenhill will return to Blundell Park as part of an experienced Cobblers line-up, who appear to be recovering from a poor start to their league campaign.

Hurst commented: "They've got a very good keeper in Matt Duke and decent pedigree at the back – the two centre-backs, with Kevin Amankwaah and Widdowson who Grimsby fans will know. That backline have been doing a very good job for the team recently.

"Ricky Ravenhill is another one who has been brought in on loan and is vastly experienced.

"So they're not going to be intimidated in the slightest by coming to Blundell Park this afternoon."

He continued: "I strongly believe they will be nowhere near the relegation zone come the end of the season.

"Aidy changed a few things around and was looking at perhaps the style of play, and that takes time.

"He's now brought a few loan players in, the sides getting a little bit more settled, and results are picking up. We could have played them at a much better time, let's put it that way.

"They will be confident, coming here, that they can continue being solid defensively and get the result to get them through."

STEVE Croudson could make a remarkable return to Grimsby Town's squad for this afternoon's FA Cup Second Round encounter (3pm).

The Mariners' goalkeeping coach represented his hometown club as a youngster before injury forced him to hang up his gloves as a 26-year-old.

'Crouds' was called out of retirement during the 2010/11 campaign, making eight appearances to help Town through a goalkeeping injury crisis.

Now, with reserve stopper Jonathan Hedge on loan at Matlock and the Mariners able to name seven substitutes for Northampton Town's visit, the 33-year-old is on the verge of a match-day squad for the first time in almost two years.

His main competition, however, is one of his own proteges – 17-year-old Youth-team keeper Callum Bastock.

"I've got two options if I use a keeper on the bench today – one is Callum and one is Steve Croudson," said boss Paul Hurst

"Steve's not in a position where he could play week-in, week-out, but it's whether I feel that experience would get the edge over a Youth team player who's hoping to become a professional.

"Callum does already train with us and works hard, but I think Steve showed in the Chairman's Challenge this week that he's still got a bit to offer.

"Realistically, it would normally be Jonathan Hedge, but I felt it was worth sending him out on loan to get some games."

Young striker Dayle Southwell looks likely to join Croudson or Bastock on the bench – despite his hat-trick heroics in the FA Trophy this week.

"Some of the lads did okay over the two games against Coalville – the obvious one being Dayle," added Hurst. "He didn't do himself any harm but I do have to think of why I rested certain people and the level of performances we were achieving beforehand.

"If some of the lads who come back into the team don't perform, I've seen who I can call on if needs be.

"We're a small, tight knit group and everyone will get opportunities at some point, as just happened in the Trophy."

THE full extent of the damage to Immingham Docks has been revealed.

And Associated British Port's deputy port manager, Simon Brett, revealed that a decision by the dock master to lower the water level at Grimsby Docks by opening the lock gates prevented the surge spreading in towards the town centre.

Gale force winds, a tidal surge and high tide all combined to bring huge waves to the East Coast on Thursday evening.

Immingham Docks remained closed and at a standstill yesterday after water left businesses without electricity and phones.

Bosses at ABP held a crisis meeting yesterday and confirmed work to bring services back to normal were ongoing.

Debris from the sea was strewn around the port while huge pools of water also remained.

Many staff were left to work from home or from neighbouring offices after the port closure.

Mr Brett, speaking from the Immingham Docks, said: "In Grimsby the impact of the tidal surge was extremely localised and the actions of the dock master and staff to lower the water level in the dock prevented that town suffering a more significant flooding episode."

He continued: "Immingham Docks has suffered substantial flooding around the dock entrance and a number of sheds and buildings have been affected," said Mr Brett.

"The port has lost most of its electricity supply and works are underway to restore that over the next 48 hours.

It was hoped that shipping services would restart by 6pm last night and cargo terminal services reinstated on a case by case basis as power was restored.

It is hoped that a normal service, if somewhat limited, would be available from Monday.

Around Immingham Docks, work is underway to assess the damage to the port infrastructure and equipment, as well as cargoes being stored. Grimsby Docks was open as normal yesterday, with little other than debris remaining.

A WOMAN was rescued by a heroic passer-by after she plunged six feet onto the beach at Cleethorpes – prompting warnings that the public must stay away from storm-damaged areas.

The woman fell off the edge of the promenade at about 9.15am yesterday.

She was looking out to sea when she mistakenly thought the railings were there to lean on – but they had been washed away during Thursday's storm.

Andrew Curry, 40, was taking photographs near the Ferris wheel on the beach when he saw her fall.

He threw his camera equipment on the ground and pulled her away from large incoming waves.

"I was at beach level and looking down my lens when I saw an object falling in the sea," he said.

"After a few seconds, I realised a woman had walked towards the railings which had been washed away.

"There was a sun glare so she didn't realise the railings had gone and fell head first onto the sand.

"She was lucky – she was about five or six seconds away from falling into some big waves coming in."

The drenched woman was rescued from the beach by Andrew, who sat with her on a nearby bench.

An ambulance arrived within 15 minutes, and the woman passed out while being treated.

Andrew, of Blundell Avenue, Cleethorpes, said: "I thought she had died when she passed out.

"It was quite upsetting. She looked just the same age as my mum.

"There were some incredibly big waves. She could have been knocked off her feet in the water.

"It's still not sunk in yet really; it was frightening. I checked in to see her at the hospital to make sure she's all right. She was being checked over, as I understand it."

Andrew's friend, Dave Hardy, 40, who was also taking pictures nearby, took photographs of the incident.

He said: "I was just passing by taking photos of the pier and the waves, when I saw a dazed woman on the sand as the water was just pulling back.

"She fell head first onto the sand, which was about a 6ft drop, as the wave receded.

"Andrew ran over and picked her up. I rang the ambulance and they were there within 15 minutes along with some people from the council.

"She was absolutely soaked through. Her husband soon turned up, but she passed out on the bench after being treated by medical staff.

"The shock must have just hit her. She came around and then the ambulance took her off to hospital."

A spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council said that residents are urged to stay away from the area. Red tape had been put around the area where the railings used to be.

He said: "We have sent out a warning for people not to go down coastal paths or to the promenade.

"We began our clean-up operation after the high tide, which would have been at about 8.15am yesterday.

"Since then we've been carrying out repairs."

TREES were left strewn across the area after Thursday's high winds, with many causing damage to properties.

A 75ft tree landed on a building off West Street, in Cleethorpes, crushing a wall, while its roots lifted a shed from the ground.

Specialist firm Clee Tree Services was drafted in to dismantle the tree.

Business owner Ben Winson said: "There is a lot of damage that has been caused. We had to put off all of our other jobs to come straight down here on Friday.

"It has completely crushed a wall, knocked tiles off the roof of the building and lifted a shed from the ground.

"It will take a full day to dismantle the tree carefully to make sure there is no more damage."

A wall was flattened by the wind at the nearby Amber Guest House, in College Street, Cleethorpes.

Owner Gillian Borgfenech returned home to find the wind had blown down the wall at the front of the guest house.

"I didn't think the wall would fall in the wind, but I am relieved that nobody was hurt," she said.

"I am amazed at the amount of offers of help to repair things we have had from neighbours and friends."

A NUMBER of people who were marooned after fleeing their homes on the Humberston Fitties during Thursday night's tidal surge sought shelter at Freeman Street Resource Centre in Grimsby.

The centre was a hub of activity with health and social care staff on hand to support the 15 people who were transferred after the high tide.

Rapid Response, GP out of hours and intermediate care at home, under the Care Plus Group, had a plan in place to support the vulnerable.

Each person was given support before returning home or going on to stay with friends and family - while one woman went to a care home for respite.

Jane Miller, chief operating officer of the Care Plus Group, said: "People were upset at having to move from their homes at short notice and it meant a lot of people had a scary reminder of the 2007 floods.

"But the events demonstrated how much of an asset Freeman Street Resource Centre is to our community."

Neil Cartwright, head of service, said: "Because of our clinical teams we were able to offer health support on a rotational basis. Thankfully they were not needed in that respect but it was very much on the edge for a period of time."

Meanwhile, transport bosses remained cautious throughout yesterday.

East Midlands Trains suspended services between Lincoln and Grimsby and Barnetby and Grimsby until midday.

And Freshney Place took precautionary measures yesterday morning, delaying opening until 9.30am, after closing early the night before, with shoppers missing out on late-night trading.

Late night shopping will resume as normal on Thursday, December 12, until 8pm with free parking from 5pm.

Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort general manager John Angus said: "Five trees on the hotel's golf course were damaged.

"As the health and safety of our guests is paramount, we have closed the golf course and a full inspection and clean-up has now taken place. Nobody was hurt and the course will reopen once the bad weather has cleared."

FURTHER afield, North Lincolnshire was badly affected by flooding.

Humberside Fire And Rescue Service saved five sheep from Far Ings Road, Barton, at 5.30am. They used boats to rescue the animals. Four sheep died.

It was announced that the A1077 between Scunthorpe and Barton, near to Winteringham, would remain closed for the foreseeable future after police said it had "given way".

Following flooding in South Ferriby, North Lincolnshire Homes contacted all tenants living in areas affected by flooding to offer support.

A statement from the housing association said: "Our repairs and maintenance staff are currently out in the community assessing damage, carrying out emergency repairs where necessary and planning for the longer term.

"Overnight (Thursday), we distributed 3,000 sandbags to the local authority and emergency services. Eight people were cared for at our sheltered scheme at Scunthorpe, and some have now transferred to a local care home."

Elderly residents in South Ferriby were said to have been carried by police officers and firefighters from their homes, after the village was hit badly by flooding.

Residents were evacuated on Thursday after the tidal surge, which left a large chicken farm on the outskirts of the village almost entirely submerged.

The Reeds Country Hotel, in Barton, confirmed it was closed yesterday due to flooding.

South of Grimsby, extensive damage was caused in places such as Boston.

The leader of East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Doreen Stephenson, said: "Our thoughts are with those residents who had to leave their homes or suffered damage to their belongings and businesses in the floods.

"Our teams have been supporting the emergency services through the night and have now begun the process of cleaning up in those areas affected to support residents and businesses in returning to some kind of normality.

"We would also urge anyone who is aware of any vulnerable neighbours who are in need of assistance to get in contact with us on 01507 601111 as soon as possible."