"WITH so many St George flags I hope people don't think I have joined Ukip."

That was the plea from landlord of The Valiant pub on The Willows estate, Councillor Cliff Barber as England prepared to kick off their World Cup campaign.

Just days after being elected the Deputy Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, the Labour councillor for Freshney decked his pub in England flags to celebrate the tournament in Brazil.

He has organised a karaoke from 7pm tonight ahead of the 11pm kick-off against Italy.

More than 50 flags adorn the pub and the St George's flag flutters on the pub's flagpole outside.

Cliff said: "The Government has given pubs an extension to their licences so pubs can stay open to 1am, as they did for Millennium night.

"You can't beat the atmosphere of a pub to watch a game. I would encourage customers to come along and maybe wear England shirts and have a bit of fun."

He said the DJ will play a selection of football songs for the karaoke event.

Cliff has been to support England on two occasions at the old Wembley stadium.

He said: "I thought it was important to make the extra effort to make people want to come to the pub. I hope it is not too soon before I have to take them all down again.

"I hope other landlords will make some effort at other establishments.

"I hope no one thinks I have switched to Ukip."

He thanked his niece, Sophie Barber, a team of scaffolders who visited the pub at the weekend, Mick Smith, Don Plater, Simon Gude and his wife Sally for helping with the decorations."

Customer Paul Mumby said: "He has done a good job. He has tried to make an effort to get it looking attractive for his ward. He has gone the extra mile. There is quite a following here."

Regular Dawn Holdsworth, 56, said: "He has done a real good job. He likes his football. It is good because we do not pretend we are going to win anymore, but it will be good to get into the spirit of it. People will join in when it starts up on Saturday."

Elsewhere, football fans who find themselves getting hungry for more than just goals during England's eagerly-awaited World Cup matches could find the answer at another popular Grimsby pub.

Staff at The Trawl, in Yarborough Road, are laying on burgers and chips for soccer fanatics during England's World Cup games.

Trawl manager Karen Dobbs said the food would be served free of charge to customers during half-time in the matches.

"It will be for everyone who's watching the football," she said.

"We are showing all the World Cup matches – everything."

Assistant manager Eddie Rafton said: "I have worked in pubs for eight years and it is the first time I have ever seen one giving away some free food like this.

"I have never been to a pub before that has done that. It's a bit of a goodwill gesture.

"We will be showing most of the World Cup and we will definitely be showing the England games."

THE GLAMOROUS Millie Mae Margetts begins her quest to become Miss England 2014 today.

The finals get underway in Torquay, and the winner will be announced at 10pm on Monday.

More than 60 girls from around the country will be competing in a number of different rounds for the coveted crown.

On Saturday, the contestants are required to take part in a fitness camp challenge, before attending the Mr World final during the event.

Then on Monday night the 60 hopefuls will be battling it out for the title at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay.

The evening will start with the new eco round, where contestants are required to wear their homemade recycled gowns. There will also be a talent and evening gown round.

Millie, 17, is a little apprehensive about getting started but says she is looking forward to the event.

"The finals are here now so I'm feeling pretty nervous," she said.

"I've done all the prepping for the event and I'm as ready as I can be.

"I'm dreading the fitness round, but we'll see how it goes. I'm not sure how I will do, I'm just going for the experience and we'll just have to see what happens."

"All the other girls are older than me, I must be the baby of the group. I've never been in anything like this before either."

As reported, Millie took the Miss Grimsby crown last month at a glittering awards ceremony at the Grimsby Auditorium, beating off competition from 12 other girls.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Grimsby and studies at Franklin College, appeared on popular 1990s children's TV show Bernard's Watch as an extra.

Since she took the regional crown she has attended various events to represent her home town.

She took part in a designer fashion show last weekend at the Oasis Health Club on Orwell Street, to help raise funds for the official Miss World charity, Beauty With A Purpose.

It is a charity that raises money and participates in humanitarian projects across the world.

The event included a fashion show with the rest of the Miss Grimsby contestants, a children's pool party, a raffle and a benefits stall.

Millie said: "It's great to be able to host this event for people less fortunate than us.

"This is something I will be doing more and more of now, and it's a great way for me to represent the town.

"I would like to say a big thank you to all the lovely Miss Grimsby contestants for their continued help and support.

"I would also like to thank my mum, the Oasis Gym for providing the venue for this event, and all the businesses which have provided us with our clothing, vouchers, raffle prizes and kind donations."

The event was organised by Miss Grimsby organiser Sian Gissing.

She said: "Julia Morley, the owner of Miss World, set up the charity 20 years ago as a way for the girls taking part in the competition to give back to the local community.

"So it gives Millie a great chance to interact with the public, but not only that she's also joined by her fellow Miss Grimsby contestants.

"That's something I promised when I started the competition. All the girls will be able to improve their self-confidence and it's their way to open the door into the industry.

"I'll be going down with Millie and her family to the finals on Saturday as per my role as regional heat manager.

"I've mentored her from start to finish and I think she will do exceptionally well.

"She will do Grimsby proud and it's great to have such a positive story like this."

Millie's whole journey began when she was spotted by Sian, a former Miss England contestant herself, in the Hewitt's Circus Tesco store in Cleethorpes.

And to celebrate their unusual partnership, Tesco donated 15 bags for life which have been used to make Millie's outfit for the eco-round.

Millie said: "Tesco was my starting point and they have kindly provided the material for the outfit.

"Without Tesco I would not have been involved, so it was really nice of them to donate the bags.

"Winning Miss Grimsby has been unreal, but my biggest task is now to come in the Miss England finals."

Darren Woodhouse, customer service manager at the Hewitt's Circus Tesco store, was approached by Millie and her mother Lisa.

"When they came to us we were only too happy to help", he said. "We are all about community initiatives and doing all we can to help local projects. So that is why we are fully backing Millie, especially seeing as she was first spotted in this very store.

"It's not something that happens all that often, so we're glad that our bags have been used for such a good cause and we wish Millie all the very best for the weekend."

A DOCTOR based in Lincolnshire has been made an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Dr Yvonne Owen is a general practitioner at The Wolds practice on West Road, in Tetford, near Horncastle.

She is also clinical director of Lincolnshire Intergrated Voluntary Emergency Service (Lives) and has now been made a Member of the British Empire.

Medics and first responders from Lives are all dedicated volunteers who give up their time in order to attend emergencies within the county.

Isolated parts of Lincolnshire, with the more limited road networks, can sometimes cause ambulances further delays when responding to 999 calls.

Lives attempt to reach any emergency in under ten minutes of the call.

Also within the Yorkshire and Humber region, Jim Dick received an OBE for services to youth development and business in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Mr Dick is chairman of CatZero, a charity which runs a project for young people across the Humber region, including in North East Lincolnshire.

Programmes are designed to build confidence and create attitudinal or behavioural change to help young people progress into education, training and, ultimately, employment.

A GRIMSBY firm is turning up the heat on the radiator industry after donating two of its hand-finished models for an ITV television programme.

Woworads, based off Ladysmith Road, has crafted two of its finest radiators for use in the next series of Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover.

The show sees the former pop star and his army of craftsmen and women remodel the homes of nominated families in just an hour.

Woworads managing director Mike Smith pledged a red Victorian radiator for one episode, and a Downton Abbey style Rococo 660 antique model for the season finale, which will have a theme based on the hit BBC drama.

"We're just delighted to be able to help. It's a good thing for us to have national publicity as we are a small company," he said.

"They got in touch with us a couple of weeks ago for the show in November, which has already been filmed, and asked us whether we'd be able to help."

Staff at Woworads are no strangers to supplying the great and the good, having served celebrities and shipped their unique wares to cities across the globe.

In a major recent project, the firm fitted out the giant English-Speaking Union based at Dartmouth House in London with 24 new cast iron radiators with a unique bronze aged effect.

The firm also counts its customers in New York, Boston and Philadelphia in America, as well as Finland and in the Georgian Palace in Tblisi, and the Coleman's Mustard family home in Norwich.

"We send more radiators to America than we do within Grimsby," said Mike.

Mike, a former metal polisher, stumbled across the radiator trade before setting up Woworads around three years ago.

Although full details of the new series have not yet been released, he understands the red Victorian radiator will be installed in a child's room at a house in Lancashire.

Most of their radiators are built, tested and sprayed, but other second-hand models are painstakingly restored to their former glories, with impressive results.

Mike said: "Although we will not be appearing in the show I'm told we'll get a good plug and name check.

"It's just good for us to get our name out there.

"We're having a quiet and more manageable period now but things always tend to pick up towards September when people start to put their heating back on."

Last month, we reported that another Grimsby firm, Carpet Express, had also been involved in the show.

The episode featuring Woworads is due to be aired on November 19.

A DUTY manager at Tesco cast suspicion on a colleague when he used his position to pocket more than £2,000 through fraudulent refunds – "throwing away" his career in the process, a court heard.

Simon Johnson, 23, of Park Street, in Cleethorpes, plundered £2,279 from the Tesco Extra store at Hewitt's Circus between January 21 and February 21 this year.

He was caught out when bosses became suspicious and viewed CCTV footage which showed him processing refunds before taking cash from a till and putting it in his pocket.

Johnson pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position totalling £1,475, and asked for five others to be taken into consideration, adding a further £804.

Grimsby Magistrates' Court heard he had become consumed by gambling following the death of his grandmother in March last year.

A statement from Tesco service manager Sharon Holt, which was read in court, said refunds required a four-digit PIN as well as a password unique to the employee, and had to be signed off by a line manager.

The court heard many of Johnson's refunds were processed at night, when there was a reduced number of staff.

Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, said the irregular transactions were first noticed shortly before Christmas, when Ms Holt was approached by an employee querying a refund that had no customer details or line manager authorisation.

It appeared to have been processed in the name of Tracy Walker, who was not a line manager.

"The issue was left with Mr Johnson and he said he would look into it," she said.

"No more was said until later after Christmas when he was approached by a member of staff with a number of refunds with no line manager signatures."

Miss Dolby said the defendant was in a "position of trust" and that, at that point, there was no indication of wrongdoing on his part.

On January 21, a large cash refund for £199 was put through for two electric toothbrushes, again without the correct authorisation.

A month later a £399 refund for a laptop was processed.

CCTV was reviewed and Johnson could be seen on both occasions taking money from the till and putting it in his pocket.

Tesco's fraud department was alerted and, following an investigation, Johnson admitted the frauds.

Jade Taylor, mitigating, said Johnson had struggled to deal with the death of his grandmother, his closest family member.

He had cared for her in the six weeks before she died and later took up gambling, the court heard.

"When gambling it seemed he could forget about his problems," she said.

She said Johnson had "thrown suspicion" on to his colleague through his actions, using her login details on a number of occasions.

"He could not bring himself to tell his family members what had happened," she added.

"They only found out about it when it was reported in the local paper."

The court heard Johnson had not gambled since February and had excluded himself from betting shops and online gambling sites.

Presiding magistrate Carl Thomas told him: "It's a sad day for you today. You had a good job and career but through your own stupidity you threw that away.

"These offences were planned and you used another staff member's ID. This was a serious breach of trust."

Johnson was given a 12-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £500 in compensation.

A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who was told she had terminal lung cancer can now look forward to a new future after she was given the remarkable all-clear by doctors – but only after she moved back here.

Lillian Page, of Beechwood Avenue, Immingham, was living in Surrey when she was diagnosed in January 2013 – an experience she described as her "worst nightmare".

She was referred to a hospice but decided to move back to her home town where doctors at Grimsby's hospital said her life could, in fact, be saved.

The cancerous lung was removed and she underwent chemotherapy, and can now look forward to seeing her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren grow up – just months after believing she had very little time left with them.

Lillian, 67, a former assistant stewardess at Immingham Golf Club, has thanked doctors as well as a Macmillan pilot recovery scheme for cancer patients, the Survivorship Support Team, for giving her a future with her husband Peter.

"I can't praise them highly enough because they have given me back my life," she said.

"To be told I had terminal cancer was my worst nightmare. I asked if I would make it to Christmas and they could not give me an answer."

The couple moved to Surrey three-and-a-

half years ago only to be hit with the devastating cancer news. On returning to North East Lincolnshire, doctors began exploratory tests almost immediately.

She underwent an operation to remove her lung at Hull's Castle Hill Hospital in September and, after undergoing chemotherapy, is now in the clear.

She said: "I was in a very dark place, but the worst part was telling the family it was terminal. They all took it very badly.

"I remember the news just washed over me at the time. Hearing those words is just awful.

"Now I am well again and I can do the simple things I was unable to do before. Even going over to the fridge would make me light headed and I really felt like an invalid.

"I really thought I would be poorly for what was left of my life."

Lillian was referred to the Survivorship Support Team and began attending weekly group meetings with those in similar situations.

She said: "I was sceptical at first but it has been absolutely fantastic for me. My confidence has come back now.

"I thought I would never get to this stage, but the turnaround is amazing."

Peter said he had "no doubt" that going to the meetings helped Lillian complete her extraordinary recovery.

He said: "We just had a horrendous year and I dread to think what would have happened had we not moved back up here.

"Now she is back to her normal self and her breathing is getting better every day. It's just an amazing feeling for us."

The Macmillan survivorship scheme is open to anyone in North East Lincolnshire who has finished their initial cancer treatment, or who is in long-term palliative care.

It includes weekly group meetings for six weeks, and a monthly one-to-one assessment with a nurse. Yoga classes are also available and a support group is held on the second Thursday of each month.

To find out more call the team on 01472 279662.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think there is a postcode lottery when it comes to NHS treatment? Please post your comments on this article

GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst has sympathy for Hereford United's fans and players after the Bulls were kicked out of the Conference.

As reported, the club were expelled from the league on Tuesday after missing their latest deadline to pay football creditors.

United owner Tommy Agombar has since confirmed that action was taken because they were unable to pay a £350,000 Conference bond – a guaranteed sum of money to see them through next season.

After surviving relegation from the Conference Premier on the final day of the season, Hereford's place in the top tier of non-league football will now be taken by Chester.

"It's sad for them," remarked Hurst. "I've been following the story and saw that there was going to be a takeover which could have sorted everything out.

"But, like everyone else, I saw the news this week that they'd been kicked out and you feel for the players who have gone through a very difficult time.

"Players are often criticised but there's an example where they did their job and kept the club up despite payment issues, and it's almost like that's been for nothing.

"Also, you feel for the fans down there. It's never nice and you don't wish that on any club.

"It's a real shame, but hopefully they can get themselves right and start moving back up again soon."

STRIKER Wayne Rooney hopes his partnership with Daniel Sturridge will provide England with some fireworks tonight.

Rooney and Sturridge were the two most prolific English forwards in the Premier League last season, but the two have only started seven games together for their country.

Even though he is a Manchester United player, Rooney admits he greatly admires the "telepathic" communication Sturridge says he enjoys at Liverpool with Luis Suarez.

Now, after spending three weeks training together, the hope is that Rooney and Sturridge can develop a similar partnership at the World Cup.

"They've certainly been the best two frontmen in the Premier League this season, that's for sure," said Rooney of Suarez and Sturridge, who scored 48 Premier League goals between them.

"It's easier (to build a partnership) at a club, where you have more time together, but we've had time to work on stuff where we haven't in the past. Hopefully we'll see the benefits of that."

Sturridge did not make England's Euro 2012 squad as he was struggling to score for Chelsea.

He was played out of position on the right for the Blues, but his career has kick-started since he moved to Liverpool, where he plays down the middle.

Rooney thinks Sturridge will be able to cause Italy problems when the two teams meet in their World Cup opener in Manaus tonight.

"He has turned into a top, top striker and it's great to see," Rooney added.

"(Liverpool manager) Brendan Rodgers deserves a lot of credit for his progress.

"He's been at Man City, went on loan Bolton and didn't get a chance at Chelsea, where he played out wide on the right and then was left out of the team.

"He went to Liverpool and played almost every game. His goalscoring record is incredible.

"He's unpredictable, and that makes him hard to mark for defenders.

"He's a big player for us. That's a quality of his."

PAUL Hurst says news of Liam Hearn's deal at Mansfield Town was far from a shock.

As reported, the former Grimsby Town striker has agreed a one-year deal with the Stags as he looks to get his career back on track following Achilles and cruciate knee ligament injuries.

After being released from his Mariners contract early in March – at his own request – the forward has been continuing his rehabilitation at Field Mill.

That has culminated in a contract offer from Mansfield boss Paul Cox, and a chance for Hearn to play near his Nottingham home.

"It's an obvious one, with Paul (Cox) knowing him from lower down the pyramid and the fact it's the same area and location," commented Hurst on the deal.

"There was a bit of interest in him there previously as well without anything coming to fruition.

"Everything fits there for Liam, and probably for Paul and Mansfield as well.

"As I've said before, you don't wish those kind of injuries on anyone and hopefully he can make a full recovery.

"It will nice for him to finally play in the league, although Liam won't feel like he's made it until he's played a number of games there.

"Knowing what drives strikers, a few goals will make him feel like a Football League striker – he won't want to just go there, get his fitness and not feature.

"For Liam's sake, hopefully it works out for him."