A POPULAR Indian restaurant is to reopen in its former premises due to popular demand.

Indian Kitchen closed its 130-seat venue on Cleethorpes High Street in June last year – just over a year after relocating from its previous home in Alexandra Road.

Now one of the three brothers who used to run the restaurant has returned to take the helm – with a new team of relatives on board.

Zick Hassan said he and his siblings Naz and Jamin had closed the business in order to pursue new careers.

Zick now works as a building surveyor, while Naz has set up a media business and Jamin is an engineer.

However, Zick says he has been inundated with requests to reopen the venue, and admits that he missed working in the restaurant.

New Indian Kitchen, as it will be called, is set to open for business within the next few weeks.

It will open in the 50-seat venue which became Asian Kitchen following Indian Kitchen's move to High Street.

With Naz and Jamin offering advice on a consultancy basis – along with another brother Mitu, who opened the restaurant in 2007 – Zick has recruited his cousins Feda Sarowar and Emdadul Hoque to run the kitchen.

Having previously worked at Indian restaurants in East London and St Albans respectively, the pair will be bringing a new range of dishes to the menu, while they will be versed in the Indian Kitchen classics by former executive chef Jamin.

The business will also be recruiting for an additional six staff.

Zick said: "I haven't been around for six months but I have been inundated with texts and calls to reopen the place.

"Indian Kitchen was really busy and so we moved to the larger premises. The reason we closed the business was because my sister wanted us to get careers.

"But over the past six months I have missed working in a restaurant.

"We are going to try to keep what we had before but offer something different as well.

"We are going to offer Indian Kitchen classics alongside new dishes."

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POLICE and council officials exhumed the remains of a pet dog buried in a Grimsby park.

As reported at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, officers cordoned off part of Ainslie Street Park after council staff discovered a recently-dug grave marked with flowers and a toy windmill.

They raised the alarm after it was initially feared the grave may have been the resting place of a baby.

However, it was later revealed the grave was dug by a family two weeks ago, after their Staffordshire terrier called Poi died at home.

The eight-month-old suffered a miscarriage just a few weeks before dying at its owner's family home in Willingham Street, Grimsby.

Having initially said pet graves could not be dug in public parks, a parks manager said the grave could remain in place, but left unmarked.

A spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council said the remains of the dog had started to decompose and that "reburying it was the best option".

Council workmen were cutting the grass at around 7.30am yesterday when they found the grave.

Poi's owner Zoe Taylor said: "She was more a member of the family than a pet. We had a beautiful ceremony for her. This is where she ran and played every morning, so we decided to put her to rest here."

Zoe, 20, added: "It was awful losing her. We wanted to leave her where she would have been the most happy."

NELC's portfolio holder for environment and housing, Councillor Dave Watson, said: "It is a very sad time for any pet lover when they lose a close companion but for further advice and guidance on how to dispose of a deceased pet, please contact your local veterinary practice and first seek the landowner's permission.

"At the moment the council does not offer a burial service for pets, but there will be a separate section for the cremated remains of pets at the new Woodlands burial site at the Scartho Road cemetery."

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: "In the circumstances no police action was required. However, police attended in support of the local council and in the event of there being a need for police intervention."

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GRIMSBY boxer Kevin Hooper will be 100 per cent ready for his dream TV date – on the same card as Tyson Fury.

The 30-year-old lightweight will face unbeaten Liam Walsh at Manchester Arena later this month, in a clash screened live on BoxNation.

It takes place on the same evening (July 26) as the world heavyweight title eliminator between Fury and fellow Brit Dereck Chisora.

And for Hooper, the chance to mix it on such an occasion will be "massive" for his career.

He told the Telegraph: "It's what I've been craving and I'm over the moon.

"Of course it will be a tough fight against Liam, but the time is right for me to step up – and it's a great opportunity.

"It's massive for me to get the chance to fight on a bill like this, and it means so much.

"There will be thousands of people watching, and the exposure from being on TV is something that I've always dreamed about."

Having trained with Walsh before, the ten-round clash will see Hooper challenge the Norfolk man's flawless pro record.

And while the Fury-Chisora rematch takes centre stage – in their bid to meet champion Wladimir Klitschko – the Mighty Mick's star is now plotting his own success.

It will be the third time 'Super Hooper' has fought at national level, after points defeats to Gary Sykes and Jon Kays last year.

He added: "I first heard about the chance when I got a call a couple of weeks ago.

"We were told it was on, then off again, but then got the final yes and our camp is ready for it.

"Liam is a really good fighter, and I've done a lot of sparring with him.

"He will be a tricky opponent, as his record shows because he is unbeaten in 15 fights, with ten stoppages.

"But I think that we both matched well when we were in sparring, and I will be ready on the night 100 per cent."

GRIMSBY Town's players returned to training yesterday and, as promised, Paul Hurst wasn't going easy on them.

The Mariners squad reconvened at Cheapside for the first day of pre-season, having enjoyed a two-month break from football.

But, as Hurst said in yesterday's Telegraph, it wasn't just a day for picking up their new kit and having a nice little jog.

"There's no getting away from the fact that it will be tough from the off, but the footballs will be out and from a strange, perverse point of view, I think they'll enjoy it," Hurst commented.

And, as these pictures of the first day's training show, the Town gaffer was true to his word.

Summer signings Scott Brown, Jack Mackreth and Toto Nsiala met their new team-mates, while Youth-team graduates Ellis Humble, Caine Winfarrah and Paul Walker experienced their first training session as professionals.

The hard work will continue throughout this week as the Mariners prepare for their opening pre-season friendly against Cleethorpes Town at Bradley Community Stadium on Wednesday, July 9 (7pm).

PRE-SEASON FIXTURES

Wednesday, July 9 – Cleethorpes Town (7pm) (A)

Saturday, July 12 – Scarborough (3pm) (A)

Tuesday, July 15 – Harrogate Town (7pm) (A)

Friday, July 18 – Matlock Town (7pm) (A)

Tuesday, July 22 – Doncaster Rovers (7pm) (H)

Friday, July 25 – Mansfield Town (7pm) (H)

Tuesday, July 29 – Sunderland (7pm) (H)

Saturday, August 2 – Boston or Gainsborough (3pm) (A)

Tuesday, August 5 – Brigg Town (7pm) (A)

MAJOR expansion and more jobs are on the way to Grimsby after the company that keeps Europe's Food Town on the move was bought out in a multi-million-pound deal.

As revealed yesterday, cold storage and transportation specialist Quayside Distribution has been acquired by Danish shipping and logistics giant DFDS Group, already a large employer in the area through operations at Port of Immingham.

The announcement came as the purchase of eight acres of land neighbouring the company's headquarters on South Humberside Industrial Estate was completed, paving the way for more cold storage and depot facilities in the town.

It will enable the business to handle the anticipated growth across the entire seafood supply chain it operates within.

Mick Wilkinson, managing director and major shareholder, founded the business in 1997 with just three trucks. It now employs 260 people, turning over £23 million a year, with the gleaming white and blue vehicles a familiar sight across the UK and beyond.

Staying on board as managing director, he said the deal was an emotional one, having steered Quayside to some incredible highs. It secured a huge contract with salmon farming giant Marine Harvest in 2007, rapidly accelerating growth, and won the Forrester Boyd Award for Business Excellence at the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards in 2009. That accolade brought it to the attention of The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 in 2010, listing it as "one to recognise".

Mr Wilkinson said: "It is a success, and while good for me, obviously, it is genuinely good for the staff. I am 50, this will secure jobs for a long, long time. It has come a long way since 1997, and the key to this industry has been to deliver on time – fish is such a valuable product, and everyone involved wants it on time.

"We must have put a marker down for the town, and now it is business as usual."

Looking ahead, he said: "The investment from DFDS has allowed us to purchase the land, eight acres of additional space for expansion, and move forward. This will be good for Grimsby.

"It will allow us to combine our skills to provide an even better, more efficient network for seafood throughout the UK and Europe."

No redundancies are envisaged, and an integration team is now being established to manage the merger of operations. The Quayside name will be phased out, though no timescale has been set.

In Grimsby to sign the deal, Eddie Green, executive vice-president of the DFDS Group and head of DFDS Logistics, told how the business already worked with all the major retailers in the fresh and frozen food sectors.

He said: "Quayside is a company we have known and respected for quite some time. We have a similar business in Scotland serving the industry and we have worked together over the years. We have got to know each other and now we are coming together. It is a strong team here, with strong management. It is very much the plan to grow the business and bring the support needed to the industry here. A good example of that is the land that has been acquired.

"Our presence in England will be strengthened and Grimsby's proximity to the Port of Immingham will expand our commercial relations in the Humber region. This will create many new opportunities for DFDS Logistics."

Quayside was advised by solicitors Ian Sherburn and Adam Aisthorpe of Grimsby-headquartered Wilkin Chapman Grange.

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ROSS Hannah joined his Grimsby Town team-mates for the start of pre-season training and insisted: "I've been desperate to boot a ball again!"

The Mariners returned from their summer break yesterday, and were immediately put through their paces by manager Paul Hurst.

After two months of inactivity, it was day of mixed emotions for Hannah, pictured, and co.

"I don't think anybody particularly looks forward to pre-season, but I wouldn't say I dread it either," the striker told the Telegraph.

"It's got to be done and is part and parcel of being a footballer. We get paid to be full-time footballers.

"I've worked for a living so I know what getting up early and grafting properly is like, so I'll gladly take any type of running as my full-time job!

"It's not much fun, but you definitely get your rewards later in the season."

Last season's top goalscorer added: "When the season finishes you're usually ready for a break, but after two weeks off you're itching to get back into it.

"I've been occupied with my little boy, and it's been brilliant spending lots of time with him – he's kept me busy and on my toes!

"But you find yourself thinking ahead to the new season and just desperate to boot a ball again."

A 79-YEAR-OLD man has spoken for the first time about how he gave thousands of pounds to a rogue carer before she tried to rob him, leaving him injured in the street.

John Meadows, who is 80 next week, spoke to the Telegraph to warn other pensioners not to be taken in by people unless they are absolutely sure they are genuine.

He spoke as Elaine Kutte, 43, of Roberts Street, Grimsby, was locked up for 28 months after admitting the attempted robbery.

Mr Meadows suffered a broken hip and head injury when Kutte tried to rip his wallet from his pocket in broad daylight as they crossed the road on Bethlehem Street.

Mr Meadows said the robbery bid was the culmination of years of support he had given Kutte.

He said he had been "a fool" to employ her 15 years ago and he urged all other people in need of care to ensure the person they employ is genuine.

He said: "When she came to me in 1999 she said she needed help to get over her drug problem.

"It has cost me a fortune. She was always hounding me for money and I gave her thousands."

The former Gulf diving ship commander said: "I used to have money but now there is nothing left."

He added: "I was a fool to take her on. I thought I was helping her."

Mr Meadows said he is hoping to get some compensation through the courts for her action.

He added: "People should check who they are allowing into their homes before they employ them."

At Grimsby Crown Court, Judge David Tremberg said: "In the struggle he struck his head and broke his hip. That is how you left him, you, his carer."

The judge said she had targeted a vulnerable man when her primary responsibility was to support him.

As well as jailing Kutte, he imposed a three-year restraining order on her. Kutte must not contact Mr Meadows in any way, including social media, or go within 200 metres of his address in Dugard Road, Cleethorpes.

Prosecuting, Craig Lowe said Kutte was the official carer for Mr Meadows, who paid £35 per week for her services.

Mr Lowe said they had developed a sexual relationship.

He said Mr Meadows had arranged to meet his carer at Asda in Grimsby at 2pm but she did not appear so they met up at the Friary bar in Grimsby's Top Town.

Mr Lowe said they decided to do their shopping at Iceland where Mr Meadows spent £50.

He said she then asked for £30 to buy tobacco and she started to pull at his pocket to get his wallet.

Mr Meadows started to walk across the road.

In his statement he described Ms Kutte as "a woman possessed".

As the pair struggled, he fell forward and hit his head on a wall.

A number of people gathered round and told the woman to leave his wallet.

Although the wallet was initially taken, it was returned to him with a £20 note and two £10 notes returned to another pocket.

She pleaded with him not to tell the police.

In hospital he was diagnosed with a broken hip and needed a screw fitted. He was in hospital for seven days.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Meadows said: "She has no respect for me. I tried to help her."

After the hearing he told the Grimsby Telegraph he was grateful to a tall man in a dark suit who came to his rescue.

He said: "I was in shock, but I remember him shouting at her to put the money back.

"He was the one who rang 999. I don't know who he is but I am very grateful to him.

"There were some women walking along with pushchairs telling her to leave the money. She shouted abuse at them."

For Kutte, Tom Ledden said his client denied any sexual relationship took place between them.

He said: "The force used was not the most serious. She did not intend to harm the complainant as she did. There was no financial loss and there is genuine remorse."

He added his client had a history of drug abuse.

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A LIDL store in Grimsby is to be extended after being granted planning permission at the second time of asking.

As previously reported, the discount supermarket applied to North East Lincolnshire Council to expand its shop in Cromwell Road, creating an extra 136 square metres of floor space.

The application went before the Planning Committee last month, but a decision was deferred amid claims the company had carried out a flawed consultation on the proposals.

Lidl apologised after failing to invite residents of Fairfax Avenue and Marklew Avenue, whose homes back on to the site, to a public exhibition of the plans.

But yesterday the Planning Committee approved the development, by nine votes to one.

Three empty terraced houses to the immediate east of the site will be demolished to make way for the extension. Yvonne Lickerish, was one of three Fairfax residents who formally objected to the proposal, saying it would affect the view from her garden.

She told the committee: "I am objecting to an eight metre building 20 metres from my house, about five metres from my property."

Ward councillor Peter Wheatley (Lab, Yarborough) told the committee the development would have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of neighbours.

Councillor Andrew De Freitas (Lib Dem, Park), who voted against the proposal, said: "There's a fair chance that the local greengrocer will struggle to make a living out of his existing business.

"There's a danger that North East Lincolnshire is slowly being overrun by the supermarket industry. The little man trying to make a living will be affected."

However, Councillor Terry Thurogood (Lab, Croft Baker) said it would be difficult to justify refusing the application if the developer went to appeal.

Councillor Matthew Brown (Lab, Croft Baker) said: "I want to vote against it if we can find a reason. We are so limited as a planning committee in terms of trying to refuse applications.

"It pains me so much that I'm going to have to support this because I can't find a material planning condition on which to object."

Councillor Stephen Harness (UKIP, Humberston and New Waltham) said: "I do have sympathy with residents. We are looking for a planning reason to turn this down and I'm still looking for it."

A spokeswoman for Lidl said: "We look forward to extending the store on Cromwell Road as it will enable us to create a larger sales and warehouse area as well as install a brand new in-store bakery."

AN "ICE pad" costing £200,000 could be installed at Grimsby ice rink as a temporary measure to get its doors back open.

North East Lincolnshire Council has revealed the option will be considered by Cabinet members at a special meeting later this month, as the authority decides whether to press ahead with repairs.

As reported, the rink has been closed since June 6 following a failure of the cooling system.

The council has now revealed proposals to reopen the rink will be discussed by councillors at a special meeting later this month.

Options on the table include the possibility of laying a temporary "ice pad" to allow users to return.

The council said it will also look at stepping up attempts to attract a private sector partner to develop an ice rink for the area.

The report to Cabinet is expected to include options for "reviewing the charges" for users of the ice rink to help offset any additional costs associated with bringing the facility back into operation.

Councillor Mick Burnett, cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: "We have said all along that we have to carefully consider all the options to ensure we get best value for money for all our residents and not just ice rink users.

"We now need to agree a structured way forward and have instructed our officers to pull together a report with all the options, and their financial implications, so we can take a decision.''

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, the council will carry out preparatory work to look at sourcing the ice pad unit to allow it to be fitted as soon as possible should councillors agree to it as a viable option.

It is understood the ice pad required for the rink could cost around £200,000 to install and run.

Engineers have been investigating the scale and costs required for the repair and replacement works for the cooling problem, along with requirements needed to comply with new European regulations that come into effect from January 2015.

From that date, the ice rink's current cooling system will become obsolete due to new legislation.

Mr Burnett added: "In terms of the options, we understand there's around a four-week lead-in time for this type of ice pad, so we're pushing ahead with that so if Cabinet decides to pursue that option, we'll be in a position to install it as soon as possible.

"And we'll also be looking at the commercial potential to bring a private sector funded new ice rink to the borough, but this must be proved to be financially sustainable before being taken forward.''

A Facebook group launched last month called Save Grimsby Ice Rink has more than 4,000 members, while a petition calling for the same has attracted over 1,000 signatures.

Successful former Grimsby skaters James Black and Kelly Hemingway are among those who have lent their support for the cause.

ANDY Cook is returning to Barrow "a better player" following his two years at Grimsby Town.

That's according to Bluebirds boss Darren Edmondson after convincing the striker to re-join the Conference North side on a two-year deal.

The Mariners signed Cook from Barrow in summer 2012, but the 23-year-old was released by Town in May – paving the way for his return to Holker Street.

"Cooky is the one I've been trying to get in for a while," Edmondson told the North West Evening Mail.

"His attributes are great, he's a strong boy. Barrow fans know all about Andy, he did well here before and I hope that they'll get excited by his return.

"I know he's coming back a better player than what he was the first time around. He's got more experience and a hatful of goals under his belt since then.

"In both penalty areas – so both defensively and attacking-wise – you don't get many better at this level."

TIME is being called at Cleethorpes Social Club which will shout last orders on July 12.

Even the Christmas party due to be held as it always is in July has been cancelled, along with a members' day trip to Skegness.

Manageress Lucy Pope said the owner John Sant is in poor health and has decided to close the popular venue, on the corner of Grimsby Road and Daubney Street, after more than 30 years.

Prior to it being a social club it was Cleethorpes Naval Club and has been serving customers for more than 40 years.

Lucy, who has been the licensee for the last five years, said: "It is the end of an era, but we will be going out with a party."

Club member Sher White said: "We have invited the world and his wife to our closing party.

"We are all devastated that it is closing because John (Sant) has a good nature and has made it like one big family. Everyone knows everyone else."

She added: "We have done a lot for charities, including Debs' Fight For Life, When You Wish Upon A Star, Cancer Research and St Andrew's Hospice."

The club also hosted the Daubney Street Neighbourhood Watch meetings in the past.

Sher added: "We have seen a lot of the children of the members grow up and become members themselves."

The closing party for the club, which is normally open Monday to Saturday, will be on Saturday, July 12, from 8pm, and feature live entertainer Ian Marshall.

Regular Terry Yull said: "It is a very sad day. I have been coming here for 20 years. I came when the old Clee Park closed down and was demolished."

Member John Latham, 46, said: "I am gutted. We bring our little one up here because it is one of those places where they can run around safely.

"The day trips to Skegness and Ingoldmells were great fun. It has been my second year as a member and my girlfriend and I are very sad it is closing."

The club also had a successful junior football team called Santos Juniors and also hosted a darts, dominoes and pool team.