ALAN Connell is eager to pick up where he left off – should he make his second Grimsby Town 'debut' this afternoon.

As revealed yesterday online at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport, the former fans' favourite is back at Blundell Park having penned a short-term contract.

And the frontman looks set to be thrown straight into the action for this today's Conference opener at Bristol Rovers (12.45pm).

Speaking to the Telegraph after his sensational return was confirmed, the man who scored 29 goals in his last season with Town said he cannot wait to get his second stint started.

"I'm very excited by coming back to Grimsby Town – it's a club that I know well and is close to my heart," Connell, pictured, said.

"I loved my time here and hopefully this will prove to be a good move for both me and the club.

"I'll do my best and give everything I can for this club – just like I did when I was last here.

"The supporters were always brilliant with me and I've always remembered that – it was a big factor in my decision to come back.

"Since leaving, I've been looking on from afar, hoping that Grimsby would do well, but now I can actually play a part in that and it's great.

"I can't wait to get back in front of the fans again and give everything I can for their club because I know how desperate everyone around the club is for success."

With the injured Jon-Paul Pittman and Nathan Arnold ruled out of today's clash with Rovers – and Ross Hannah rated as doubtful – Connell's arrival solves something of a striking crisis for Town.

On the prospect of featuring at the Memorial Stadium, he added: "It's a really exciting prospect to be able to play in the opening game.

"I only spoke to Paul Hurst for the first time on Thursday, so it's all come about very quickly.

"I've got a lot of time and respect for Paul having played for him before.

"He's a very straight and honest man and it was nice to talk to him and manage to get something sorted.

"Now I just can't wait to get going, whether that's today or not – hopefully we can get off to a good start.

"Bristol are one of the favourites for the league – as are Grimsby – so it's a fantastic game to kick-off my time here again."

A LATVIAN lorry driver who smuggled more than two- million cigarettes through Immingham Docks – dodging "huge" potential duty of nearly £500,000 – has been jailed.

He was part of a professional smuggling operation and had travelled from Denmark on a ferry, a court heard.

Jevgenijs Rauza, 42, admitted fraudulently evading duty on cigarettes on May 13.

Alasdair Campbell, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Rauza was driving a lorry and a trailer when he arrived at Immingham from Gothenburg, Denmark, at 10.10pm.

The trailer contained six large water filtration tanks. Hidden inside them was a hatch to an inner area containing a large quantity of illegal cigarettes that were not on general sale anywhere in Britain. There were 2,128,160 cigarettes in packs of 20 or in cardboard boxes of 4,720.

The total duty that would have been dodged if the cigarettes had been sold was £494,819.

False paperwork claimed that the items had supposedly come from Sweden and were bound for a company in Peterborough – but it knew nothing about them.

Rauza had a previous conviction in Poland in 2011 in which he had been fined £2,500 for smuggling 40,000 cigarettes between Poland and Lithuania.

"It's thought it was the same brand of cigarettes," said Mr Campbell.

Stephen Lowne, mitigating, said there was no evidence the cigarettes contained any extra health risk.

The lorry was stopped by chance, although it was of interest to customs officers because of where it had come from, and it was a professional operation.

Rauza had his suspicions about the load and "his eyes were open to some extent". He had been given tickets, told where to go on a satellite navigation system and had been given a credit card to buy return tickets.

"He must be a trusted courier but he is clearly at the bottom of the chain," said Mr Lowne.

"He is the one whose head was on the block. The chiefs never stick their heads over the parapet in these types of cases. He feels he has been used.

"He wants to put this behind him and get back to his family in Latvia. He wishes to take his punishment and never to be in the same circumstances again."

Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC told Rauza: "There was a relatively sophisticated system in place to hide the cigarettes. The amount of UK duty that would have been evaded is huge.

"You knowingly brought these cigarettes to this country. This was professionally planned. You were clearly somebody trusted to bring a very large consignment of cigarettes in to the UK."

Rauza was jailed for two years and three months.

Jo Tyler, assistant director of Criminal Investigation at HMRC, said: "Rauza tried to evade half-a-million pounds in excise duty by smuggling more than two million cigarettes into Immingham Docks hidden inside water tanks. Tobacco crime undermines legitimate producers and retailers, costing the UK around £2 billion a year in lost revenue.

"This sentence should send a clear message to criminals that the penalties can be severe. Anyone with information about the illegal production or sale of tobacco should contact the Customs Hotline on 0800 59 5000."

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GRIMSBY Town have drawn 0-0 with Bristol Rovers in their opening game of the Conference season this afternoon.

New signing Alan Connell was handed his debut up front alongside Lenell John-Lewis, but the former fans' favourite never really had a clear-cut opportunity to make an impact.

After a tight first-half, Town had chances to nick it through Paddy McLaughlin and then Lenell John-Lewis, who poked wide of an unguarded net from yards out after a scramble.

But after more chances for both sides came and went, Paul Hurst's side were made to settle for what is a solid point on the road.

For a timeline of the action, see below.

FIRST HALF

03 mins: A cross from Ryan Brunt looks dangerous, but McKeown claims easily.

08 mins: Good work from Lenell John-Lewis earns Town a deep throw-in, but Scott Brown's eventual cross is too deep, and former Town stopper Steve Mildenhall collects.

12 mins: Brown does excellently to intercept on the edge of the Town box, with Rovers' building a dangerous-looking attack.

14 mins: Rovers produce the games' first shot on target, but Brunt's shot is easily gathered in.

15 mins: At the other end, Alan Connell's volley deflects behind for a Town corner.

24 mins: Bristol go close amid a goal-mouth scramble in the Town box, but good hassling from Brown and John-Lewis clear the danger.

29 mins: Stuart Sinclair has a chance on the edge of the box, but his shot is charged down well by Craig Disley, with Magnay timing another last-ditch interception to perfection minutes later.

32 mins: John-Lewis almost barges his way through from just inside the box, but he's closed down well.

35 mins: McKeown gets hands on a deep cross, but it drops loose and he has to gather with blue and white shirts waiting to pounce from yards out.

41 mins: Rovers corner, but McKeown punches away well.

HT - Rovers 0 Town 0

Former Town stopper Steve Mildenhall receives a warm round of applause from the travelling Town fans as he takes to the goal in front of them.

48 mins: CHANCE TOWN: The ball falls to Paddy McLaughlin inside the box and his deflected effort is tipped over superbly by Mildenhall.

51 mins: Panicky defending sees Town concede a corner, but they see out the danger.

54 mins: A clipped long pass from deep gives McKeown and Boyce cause for concern as neither takes charge effectively, but the ball runs through.

56 mins: Town win a deep free-kick after a late challenge on Thomas by Leadbitter, who is booked.

58 mins: CHANCE ROVERS : Matty Taylor evades the offside trap and is through on goal, but McKeown comes out well to block. The Town stopper holds on to Andy Monkhouse's low drive from the edge of the box minutes later.

62 mins: Clever link-up play between Connell and John-Lewis allows the latter to drive into the box, but his shot is deflected.

63 mins: CHANCE TOWN: Mildenhall flaps at a cross and the ball falls to Disley, who sees his shot blocked on the line, the ball bobbles to John-Lewis at the back post, who pokes wide from only yards out.

68 mins: The ball drops to Stuart Sinclair on the edge of the box and the former Salisbury man cracks a drive over McKeown's bar.

71 mins: Mackreth cuts back and cross that John-Lewis is eased off and the ball goes behind for a corner.

78 mins: Game begins to stretch and Bristol win a corner, but it comes to nothing.

80 mins: Play is stopped after Brown takes a nasty knock on the head and new signing Jamie White comes on for Rovers.

81 mins: Magnay's clearance drops to the edge of the box and White drives first time down the throat of McKeown, as the bandaged Brown returns to the fray.

84 mins: Rovers win another corner and McKeown's punch falls staight to Tom Parkes, who volleys wide.

88 mins: Craig Clay comes on for Connell as Town switch to a 4-5-1.

90 mins: Four minutes added on.

90+3 mins: Jake Gosling twists and turns and brings a save out of McKeown as the ref brings the game to a close.

FT Rovers 0 Town 0

TEAMS:

Grimsby Town

1 McKeown, 3 Thomas, 4 S Brown, 6 Magnay, 7 Mackreth, 8 Disley, 12 Doig, 14 John-Lewis, 17 Connell, 26 McLaughlin, 30 Boyce. SUBS: 2 Bignot, 15 Humble, 16 Clay, 25 Winfarrah, 27, Bemrose

Bristol Rovers

1 Mildenhall, 2 Leadbitter, 3 L Brown, 4 Lockyer, 5 McChrystal, 6 Parkes, 7 Mansell, 9 Brunt, 10 Taylor, 23 Monkhouse, 24 Sinclair. SUBS: 22 Preston, 8 Clarke, 11 Gosling, 14 White, 17 Harrison

YOU can see the work of Humberside Police first hand from next week, when documentary series Neighbourhood Blues returns to BBC1.

As reported, the popular show follows the Humberside Police Neighbourhood Policing Teams as they combat antisocial behaviour.

Series three achieved between 1.3 million and 1.5 million views at its peak and it is hoped this latest series will prove to be just as successful.

This is the third time Humberside Police have featured in the documentary with the region's key towns and cities, including Grimsby and Cleethorpes and Hull, featuring heavily.

Presented by Rav Wilding, the Raw Cut crew get up-close and personal with the police team, bringing viewers behind-the-scenes footage out on the job.

The show will screen from Monday, at 9.15am, and runs for two weeks.

Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph and www.grimsbytelegraph .co.uk/crime for updates on all the latest crime news.

TEMPERATURES have reached boiling point in a row over a proposal for new homes and businesses on greenfields in Old Clee.

Known locally as the old horses field, the five-acre site could soon have between 25 and 30 houses and become the first plot of land in North East Lincolnshire to harness geothermal heat.

The natural heat source is below North East Lincolnshire and could be piped into the homes, businesses and greenhouses.

The farmland sits between King George V stadium and Old Clee Primary School's playing field.

But residents claimed the increase in traffic, especially in the construction phase, could disrupt weddings and funerals at Old Clee Church.

At a public exhibition at Old Clee church hall, director of CRG insolvency and financial recovery firm Charles Ranby-Gorwood outlined his vision for the site which could become the base for CRG Research And Development Ltd. He said: "We are looking at using this as an exemplar and showing how bore hole technology can be used for a development.

"There will be a community greenhouse for people to grow their own food. It will also supply heat for the homes. They will have their own greenhouses. We will use the heat source for our own business offices."

The director said: "We are trying to take the research on geothermal energy done in 1985 and 1986 here and apply it.

He said there had been mixed feedback on the innovative proposal.

Mr Ranby-Gorwood said: "Some people have asked when can they move in, while others are against it and others want it left as it is, which is difficult because it is farmland in the heart of a town."

He said he had also held talks about using the site to provide training for people with learning difficulties which could provide a route into employment.

He added: "This is the first site I have found that is suitable in our view. We are listening to people."

No formal application to North East Lincolnshire Council planners has yet been submitted.

Further meetings among residents are due to be held next week, and a time and date will be announced in the Grimsby Telegraph.

Anita Andrews, of Colin Avenue, said: "We are losing all the green spaces. We used to walk that way to Weelsby Woods."

Old Clee Preservation Society chairman Geoffrey White said: "We have got to discuss traffic and they are talking about holding private meetings with the society so there will be more consultation. There is a long way to go yet."

Andy King, of Frobisher Avenue, said: "We are concerned about the traffic and if a development goes ahead that it has architectural integrity."

Joan L Stannard, of Hawkins Grove, said: "There are quite a lot of questions to be asked. My husband Jack thinks it would be good for the area, but I have yet to be convinced."

Neighbour Jean Dawson said: "What about the funerals at the church? There would be no dignity if there is all this traffic going through. It would be the same at weddings."

Henry Burns, of Church Lane, Old Clee, said: "There have been accidents involving school children along here because there are not enough pavements. They have to cross the road twice to be on a pavement. We live in a conservation area, this is going to spoil it. It will be an eyesore."

Glenn Wilson, of Drake Avenue, said: "They have already pulled up a hedgerow and they are going to get rid of another large one in the centre of the site. What will happen to all the wildlife?"

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TWO young girls were brutally punched and kicked during a violent confrontation after two furious women took offence at rude remarks made during a telephone conversation, a court heard.

Levi Oliveria, 20, of Harold Street, Grimsby, and Laura Smith, 19, of Birch Avenue, Brigg, admitted assaulting a girl and stealing her mobile phone on December 14.

Oliveria also admitted assaulting another girl on the same day and a separate offence of stealing toiletries and razor blades, valued at £17.45, from Tesco in Brigg on December 18.

John Harris, prosecuting, told North Lincolnshire magistrates that the two girls, aged 15 and 16, spoke to Oliveria and Smith on the telephone and one of them made a derogatory remark which made the women want to go round to her home and "have things out".

They forced their way into the premises in Brigg and there was a "very ugly" confrontation. Both girls were punched and kicked. One of them suffered bruises and lost some hair. Her mobile phone was stolen but was recovered a day or two later. The other girl suffered injuries including bruising and swelling. She originally had a suspected broken nose and black eye.

Ian Haywood, mitigating, said the actions of Oliveria and Smith were "utterly out of character" and both had no previous convictions.

"This is an absolute aberration as regards their previous behaviour," said Mr Haywood.

It showed the "catastrophic effect" that a bottle of spirits could have on their behaviour after a drinking session.

"It never ceases to amaze me how much people's behaviour can change when they have drunk too much," said Mr Haywood.

"Both are very remorseful."

They both had children and Oliveria was pregnant again, he added.

Oliveria and Smith were each given a 16-week suspended custodial sentence, a one-year supervision order, a one-month 8pm to 7am curfew and were ordered to pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £80 victims' surcharge.

Oliveria was given 180 hours' unpaid work and must pay £200 compensation to one of the girls.

Smith was given 240 hours' unpaid work and must pay £300 compensation to the other girl.

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RATS were allegedly breeding in piles of "disgusting" rubbish dumped on open space in Immingham.

A fridge-freezer, children's pram, household waste and settee cushions are among the items that have been abandoned at Spring Street fields.

Donna Fitch-Grice, 47, who walks her dog on the land every day, claims it has become dangerous.

She said: "It's absolutely disgusting that people dump their rubbish here rather than disposing of it properly.

"There are lots of children and families who walk across the fields and it's dangerous for them to be treading through piles of rubbish.

"If children play on the field at the moment they could really hurt themselves.

"A wild rat had a stand-off with my dog the other day and they can be really vicious. They're not like domestic rats; there have even been cases elsewhere of children being attacked by them.

"If the rubbish is left then the rat problem is only going to get worse because it gives them somewhere sheltered where they can breed."

Donna, who lives in Battery Street, Immingham, added that the land has become a blight on the town.

She said: "We hear so much about Immingham In Bloom and how it is making the town better, but then all this rubbish is left here for weeks.

"There's no point making Pelham Road look nice if the fields look like this.

"A lot of us try out hardest to make our gardens tidy but Immingham In Bloom needs to concentrate on cleaning up the whole area."

Councillor Dave Watson, cabinet member for environment, said: "We were alerted by members of the public to a fly-tipping incident at Spring Street fields in Immingham.

"The land, unfortunately, does not currently have a title holder registered at the land registry and as such under the EPA legislation we have a statutory obligation to remove waste items on any land that is open to access.

"In this case the bulkier items were removed by our street cleansing team followed up by the community payback service ensuring items of rubble and soil were also cleared.

"As with all incidents of fly-tipping in Immingham, we will work in conjunction with the town council to pursue the perpetrators and bring charges against them."

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SCOTT Brown has demanded a maximum points haul from Grimsby Town's double-header of home games – starting tomorrow night against Nuneaton.

The summer signing impressed in the heart of midfield as the Mariners claimed a point on the road at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

But it could have been even better for Town, who wasted a string of chances to leave the Memorial Stadium with all three points.

And while Brown acknowledged an away draw as a decent start to their Conference charge, he wasn't entirely satisfied and called for more against Nuneaton and Dover Athletic on Saturday.

He said: "It was a good point on Saturday but, if I'm honest, we were a little bit disappointed because we had two decent chances that I'd expect us to take. If we'd have done that, we'd have been talking about a fantastic win.

"Macca (James McKeown) has pulled off a brilliant save in the second half to keep us in it, so in fairness, it was probably the fair result.

"But if we get chances like we did on Saturday tomorrow night, then we've got to take them, simple as that.

"We're looking to come away from every game with a positive result, if not a win. Saturday was a decent start for us but it's about kicking on from here. We set our standard against Bristol and now it's about maintaining that and bettering it every time we take the field.

"We've got two home games coming up now back-to-back and the aim is to take maximum points, as it has got to be."

Brown had stitches to a head wound that he picked up during a typically tenacious performance against the Gas, who came at the Mariners right from the off.

But the Scouser is expecting Town's next two opponents to pose an altogether different challenge.

"Both us and Bristol really went for the win on Saturday, but I'd imagine Nuneaton and Dover will both come to Blundell Park and get behind the ball to try and nick a point," he added.

"Regardless of that, realistically we've got to be looking at taking three points from both of those games – no question about it.

"I felt alright on Saturday. I'd have liked to have been a bit more involved in general play, but defensively I did okay – I know I've got to build on it now, starting tomorrow.

"I didn't get any shots off on Saturday and I want to try and get on the scoresheet a bit more this season, so I might have to have a crack tomorrow night!"

A FORMER Grenadier Guard has just shot a movie with none other than big screen legend Sir Michael Caine.

Doug Cooper, 76, of Roundway, in Grimsby, met The Italian Job actor in the make-up room at London's Wimbledon Theatre while filming scenes for feature flick Youth.

From Oscar-winning Italian director Paolo Sorrentino, the movie has an all-star cast that boasts Hollywood heavyweights Jane Fonda, Rachel Weisz and Harvey Keitel.

Doug, who served in the infantry regiment for three years in the 1950s, got to rub shoulders with acting royalty as he prepared to go before the cameras as a Prince Philip lookalike.

He said: "I was down in London for four days; the film company sent a car to pick me up from Grimsby, I got all the VIP treatment.

"It was lovely, I couldn't ask for better. I had my own dressing room that simply said 'Prince' on the door – I was referred to as Prince when we were filming."

The movie follows the story of Fred Ballinger, played by Sir Michael, a talented orchestra conductor who gave up on his music career.

But someone is determined for him to conduct again and he is asked to head an orchestra at Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday.

Two years ago, after receiving numerous comments that he looked like the Queen's husband, wife Maureen sent a photo of him off to an agency – and this was the first job he booked.

He said: "I wasn't that interested to start off with if I'm honest with you, but my wife persuaded me to do it.

"I filmed alongside a Queen lookalike and we were shot coming into the circle at the theatre and sitting on gold chairs, with Michael Caine turning to us and bowing.

"At one point they put a fake tear in my eye to make me look emotional; it was great meeting him though, he was very down to earth despite being a Sir.

"There were also 400 extras in the audience, too. It was very professional set with lots of people doing various important jobs."

The film is due for release in the spring next year, when it is set to be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Doug added: "There was no dialogue, but I'd do more films as Prince Philip if the opportunity came about.

"For years I've been told I look like him, even people abroad have approached me saying so, and there's a certain crowd in the pub who annoyingly always bow to me when they see me come in."

But the ex-builder would not have met or shook hands with the Brit acting star were it not for his wife encouraging him.

She said: "Everyone in the family is really excited to see him in the film."

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GIVEN the circumstances, Grimsby Town would have been happy to take an opening-day point at Bristol Rovers – but they will have still left the Memorial Stadium wondering what might have been.

With almost a quarter of the squad unavailable through either injury or suspension, a 0-0 draw away from home against the bookies' favourites represents a solid start to the Mariners' 2014/15 campaign.

But Paul Hurst's side could have been going into tomorrow's clash with Nuneaton on the back of the best possible start, had they capitalised on the second-half chances that came their way.

Speaking after the full-time whistle, the boss told the Telegraph: "I was delighted to take a point first and foremost.

"That's not how we set up or how we approached the game but, considering the players that were out, I thought it was a fantastic result.

"On reflection, I'd say that both teams' defences were on top on the day and both keepers only had to make two real saves each.

"Both teams had good spells, but I was very pleased with some of our individual performances and certainly with the collective effort on Saturday."

He added: "If we'd have been talking about a win, people would have been getting carried away and if we'd lost, people would be thinking it was doom and gloom.

"But it's a point and something to build on. There are 45 games – at least – to go, as well as the cups and it's a long old season."

Having only met his new team-mates at the hotel the previous evening, Alan Connell was thrown straight into the action alongside Lenell John-Lewis following his sensational return the day before.

Elsewhere, given the number of players unavailable, there were few surprises in Hurst's first starting line-up of the new season.

Both teams began brightly enough, with burly Rovers frontman Ryan Brunt bringing an early routine save from James McKeown.

Connell's only opening of an otherwise quiet first half came on 15 minutes when he won Town a corner with a volley that deflected wide from the edge of the box.

There was a goal-mouth scramble at the other end six minutes before the half-hour mark, but excellent work from the tenacious Scott Brown cleared the danger.

Craig Disley then foiled his former club when he charged down Stuart Sinclair's effort from the edge of the box, before Carl Magnay produced another superb last- ditch interception to deny the same man minutes later.

And that proved to be the last action of a half that the hosts had just about shaded on the balance of play.

Former Mariner Steve Mildenhall received a warm round of applause from the travelling fans as he took to the goal in front of them.

But Town's supporters wouldn't have been feeling as charitable when the Rovers stopper produced a fine-point black save to deny their side three minutes after the restart.

John-Lewis won a decent flick-on in the box and the ball fell to McLaughlin, 12 yards out.

The Northern Irishman's effort looked to have taken a deflection, but that didn't deceive Mildenhall, who threw up a hand to palm over.

Two minutes before the hour mark, Rovers had their best chance to win it when former Forest Green striker Matty Taylor evaded the offside trap to go one-on-one with McKeown.

And it was the Town man who came out on top, closing down the angle superbly and deflecting the eventual effort wide with his legs.

Then came the moment that left the travelling fans thinking 'what if' on the drive home – as Town spurned two match-winning chances within seconds of each other.

Mildenhall flapped at a superb Aswad Thomas cross and the ball fell to Disley, whose snapshot was blocked on the line and bounced at the feet of John-Lewis, who poked wide of the unguarded far post from no more than two yards out.

Sinclair cracked an effort over McKeown's bar and with ten minutes to go, the game was brought to a temporary halt when Brown caught a nasty blow to the head.

But after Jamie White had driven straight at McKeown from Magnay's clearance to the edge of the box, Town were back to a full complement as a bandaged Brown returned to the fray.

Connell was replaced by Craig Clay, two minutes from time, with Hurst switching to a 4-5-1 as four added minutes were signalled.

And the visitors were nearly made to pay for wasting those earlier chances when, in the dying stages, the referee missed a clear push in the box and the ball fell to Jake Gosling, whose shot was gratefully held by McKeown as the full-time whistle blew.

However you look at it, a point away from home at one of the league's most fancied teams, is never a bad result.

But now the challenge is to build on a solid – if not points-perfect – opening to the season, against Nuneaton tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

FLOODED residents say they are "crying out for help" as they face the task of having to dry out their homes again after the weekend's flash flooding.

Some of the homes affected, which were all over town – including in the Cromwell Road area, the Willows and Wybers estates, were flooded only three weeks ago, when residents on the West Marsh were also left without power. They were also among the worst affected in floods of summer 2007.

One local, who did not wish to be named, said that he's "lost the whole of the downstairs before" and wants the street drainage sorted out.

The Wentworth Road resident said: "We need the drainage to be looked at, our street has gone under for the third time in seven years and the second time in three weeks.

"It's deeper this time – we're crying out for help.

"We've got sewage coming into our house and it stinks; we're just having to live like this but it shouldn't be this way.

"Between the council and Anglian Water something needs to be sorted, it should be a priority."

A statement from Anglian Water said they were working hard to help residents and businesses affected by flooding and have drafted in extra staff to help tackle the challenging conditions. The statement added: "Sudden heavy downpours can overwhelm the sewer and road drainage network resulting in surface water flooding or sewers backing up and overflowing. We share responsibility for managing the drainage network with councils and highways authorities. We work closely with these partners wherever flooding occurs to understand and address any issues. Engineers are on the ground across the region making sure our network and pumps are working as best they can. We're also getting in touch with customers who have reported problems to us and helping in anyway we can.

"We take our responsibilities on the drainage network very seriously and are investing heavily to maintain and improve our systems to tackle problems now and in the longer term."

Becky Winchester, 28, was working at Marks and Spencers with her partner Jonny Drew when they say the rain started coming through the ceiling and they decided to head home.

The locals, also Wentworth Road residents, returned to their street where they made their way back to their house by wading through knee-high water.

She said: "All of our stuff was upstairs because we still weren't back to normal from flooding three weeks ago.

"The house had to be dehumidified and new carpets were only just put down, but the whole of downstairs was flooded through.

"There seemed to be a lot more water this time; we'll be stuck living upstairs for a few weeks most probably or however long it takes to get the house back in order."

Cromwell Road was partly shut and badly affected at the stretch of road where the Murco garage and shops are.

Graeme King was doggedly sweeping water out of his opticians with the help of his family. Keen King & Jones opticians has flooded for the second time in three weeks and now four times in a total of seven years.

He said: "We've had the carpet down for four days and now the water is up to our ankles.

"There seems to be more water this time and we're dealing with it ourselves.

"Perhaps the drains just are not large enough and the water has got to go somewhere.

"We've been here for 24 years and unfortunately I can remember each occasion of flooding vividly.

Street resident Lynsey Milnes, 32, said that despite not being flooded, her house had lost power.

Water was stopped just shy of her front door.

She said: "We've managed to escape the flooding but we've got nothing coming out of our power sockets and if the rain comes again it might start coming into the house."

Elsewhere, Ellis Way flooded and was closed, and children were evacuated from Cromwell House on Grimsby's Willows estate.

Events were cancelled across North East Lincolnshire, including the East Halton Show and the second day of the 1940s weekend.

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A HEALTH and social care group says it is having to leave its base in Grimsby after ten years due to high rent rates.

Navigo's lease on the Tukes building, in Brighowgate, has come to an end and bosses say the proposed increase in rental payments would make staying there "unaffordable".

The organisation is in the process of securing alternative premises in the town, which will enable it to expand further in the future.

However, a gap between the end of the lease at Brighowgate and securing the new site, means all services have had to be relocated to other Tukes-run buildings across the town in the meantime.

Kevin Bond, chief executive for Navigo, said: "In order to further expand the work of our organisation, Navigo and Tukes have been looking for alternative, fit-for-purpose premises within the town.

"We would then relocate all of our current service provision from the ground floor of Navigo House, in Brighowgate, as well as providing additional space into which we can expand our operations further, when our current lease expired.

"The rent increase the landlord had required from us for future occupancy was not affordable or thought good value, in a climate where we are being funded less and less. After leasing this building for ten years, and improving the property and area surrounding it a great deal, we have found this very disappointing to leave, naturally.

"As we knew our lease of the ground floor at Navigo House was due to cease at some point this year, we have entered into commercial negotiations to secure a new town centre property.

"Unfortunately, the cessation of the lease at Navigo House has not coincided fully with the conclusion of negotiations on a new property, which has left us with a short-term gap in terms of a location to base these services.

"All people who use services at present have, however, been relocated to the many other Tukes services sites and also a new partnership with Centre4.

"Navigo would like to assure both our staff and the public that all of this particular Tukes provision will be replicated and, in fact, improved, enhanced and expanded upon in our new venue, and we would be very grateful for your patience during the changeover period.

"As a local community organisation, we value the support of both the local public and people who use these award-winning services very much.

"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and hope to announce our new location very soon, watch this space."

The building in Brighowgate contained offices, a function room, cafe and other work-based opportunities for people with mental health problems.

Newman & Bond Solicitors, acting on behalf of the building's owner, Mr Daryan, was unavailable to comment at the time of going to press.

Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for details of Navigo and Tuke's new home.

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RESIDENTS hit by yet more flooding were today joined by their ward councillors in calling for action.

Parts of Grimsby were heavily flooded yesterday and many roads cut off as torrential downpours caused havoc for households and local businesses for the second time in days and only three weeks after residents and traders on the West Marsh found themselves bailing out water from their homes and shops after another bout of severe weather.

Heavy rain and thunder storms battered areas of North East Lincolnshire yesterday, including Grimsby's Doughty Road where council vehicles were prevented from getting out of the severely flooded depot.

Yarborough ward councillor James Cairns said: "We've had calls from residents wondering why the council were not doing anything, something needs to be done urgently.

"It appears that the council have not learned enough from recent episodes of flooding – it needs sorting."

Mr Cairns added that he would be meeting fellow Ukip councillors today to discuss recommendations they will make to ensure residents do not suffer the same fate.

Many residents seem to be unsure as to where they can obtain sand bags from and Councillor Ray Sutton says that information needs to be clearer from the council's point of view.

The Freshney ward councillor said: "I've been dealing with concerns since last month and I've been trying to support residents in getting to the bottom of why we are still having problems with flooding.

"The council needs to be clearer on information regarding sand bags because such items are actually the responsibility of homeowners but many do not know that.

"We seem to produce flash flooding in this area so I've been in touch with people at the top of the council, including the chief executive, to ensure we are better equipped to deal with sudden weather changes.

"When residents ring you up saying water is about to come into their house, all you want to do is be able to stop it for them."

One unfortunate local was 62-year-old Alfie Ross, of Yarborough Road, who paid £120 for a new pump to try to clear water from his own and neighbouring houses.

He, like many others, has had to deal with two bouts of flooding in three weeks, and some were also affected during Friday's downpours.

He said: "Well, we've had it twice in one day; the drains do not seem to be taking any water, some may be blocked and we've complained before.

"We've seen the water come up from the pavement and into our gardens, it's spilt into the house causing flooding yet again.

"It comes down the drive and in through the air vents. I've got wooden flooring so all the electrical cables underneath have tripped out.

"Something has to be done to stop this happening time and again, even if we had higher kerbs that would stop some of it for a start."

Another Freshney ward councillor, Cliff Barber, spent most of his weekend helping residents on the Willows estate, which had lorries attend on Sunday to clear out the gullies.

He said: "The main reaction from the residents is that they want the drains to be cleared more regularly, like they used to be.

"We don't get this weather every day, it's freak weather but it's not nice for the residents who have been badly affected.

"I have full sympathy for the residents and hope something can be done going forward."

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