A man left critically injured after an attack after a night out in Grimsby is improving, police said.

The 26-year-old, named locally as Jake Miller, was found in the early hours of last Saturday in Cooper Road, near the junction with Ladysmith Road.

A Humberside Police spokesperson said: "Police enquiries are continuing as the injured man's condition slowly improves."

Detective Inspector Lee Bridgeman said: "We have been making extensive enquiries to try to piece together the events preceding the victim sustaining his injuries.

"Our investigation is very much ongoing and we underline the importance to the public of coming forward to speak to us if they know anything in connection with the circumstances surrounding this incident."

The victim was found outside Betfred bookmakers and was believed to have been on a night out in Grimsby earlier before a passing police patrol found him at around 4am.

A reward of £1,000 has been put up by an anonymous businessman in an effort to catch those responsible for leaving him fighting for his life.

Police urged anyone who can help to call 101 quoting log number 126 of November 29.

ALL aboard!

Santa Claus himself will be boarding the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway this Christmas to meet excited children.

St Nick has found a new home in Cleethorpes ahead of the festive season and the railway has again been taken over with festive cheer.

The railway is offering trips to "Lapland Central" this Christmas, starting today – and you don't even have to get on a plane to experience it.

When you arrive, Santa's elves will greet you from the train.

And Light Railway staff are promising that it will be the best year yet for passengers.

Ryan Middleton, from the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, said: "The Santa Specials always see a huge turnout and are such a special time of the year for everyone at the railway.

"We always try and have different experiences each year.

"This year, we will make sure it will be the best one we ever hosted."

Visitors will find Mrs Claus' kitchen and will be able to enjoy a variety of scrumptious biscuits, cakes and festive drinks, as well as entertainment and activities for all.

Then of course, children enter Santa's magical grotto to see the man himself and receive a quality present – if they have been good this year.

Santa Specials will take over the railway every weekend in December. And before Santa heads off to deliver presents across the world he will be there two extra days on Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23 at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Tickets are priced at £12 per person and pre-booking is essential.

Why not go along to find lots of festive joy and Christmas spirit?

To book or enquire about the trips, phone the booking office on 01472 604657 or e-mail info@cleethorpescoastlightrailway.co.uk

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FAMILIES are already queuing up to move into five newly-built affordable homes in Scartho – with the first due to settle in just in time for Christmas.

The construction of the contemporary two-bedroom homes has completely transformed the area adjacent to Fairfield Primary Academy – on the corner of Tonbridge Walk and Wicklow Avenue – from a wasteland to a smart block of terraced homes.

The development – built by Scunthorpe firm GS Kelsey Ltd for Shoreline Housing Partnership – was part funded by North East Lincolnshire Council and the Homes and Communities Agency.

And the project has kept a local feel, having been designed by Cleethorpes-based Hodson Architects.

All the homes boast a range of environmentally friendly features, including low energy light fittings and water-saving measures.

Two will be sold on through a shared ownership scheme, while the remaining three will be put up for rent.

Shoreline director Helena Kirk said: "These are fantastic modern homes in a lovely location and we hope residents will be very happy here.

"Shoreline is delighted to be investing in much-needed, two-bedroom properties which help to meet local housing requirements and create affordable accommodation in areas where people want to live."

NELC has provided £227,000 funding, which has been split between this development and a further 11 new homes which are being built for Shoreline at the site of the former Murfin Court sheltered housing scheme in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes.

The money has been allocated from a fund set aside for the provision of affordable housing.

As reported, when significant planning applications are approved, developers are required to make contributions to the community – often though the provision of affordable homes.

However, not every development is suitable for such provision to be made on-site and, in these cases, the developer instead pays into the fund.

Councillor David Watson, portfolio holder for Housing and Environment at NELC, said: "The council is really pleased to have been able to contribute towards the delivery of affordable homes and will continue to work with Shoreline in the future.

"These are houses that are really needed."

Further funding of £121,000 was provided by Government agency the Homes and Communities Agency.

Spokewoman Sarah Coutts said: "The agency provides funding towards the provision of affordable housing – both rented and through shared ownership schemes.

"This is quite a small development and the first project Shoreline has done for some time.

"These are much needed additional affordable homes for people in the area."

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NEW life has been breathed into The Pavilion on Sussex Recreation ground in Cleethorpes.

The new-look facility was formally opened by Humberside Police And Crime Commissioner, Matthew Grove, who hailed it as a "sparkling, welcoming and friendly" place to be – which will be enjoyed by generations of families.

He also took to the dance floor with Labour ward councillor Hazel Chase, whirling her around the floor to mark the official opening, before unveiling a plaque and promising further funding for the community project next year.

As reported, the 1934 building has undergone a transformation thanks to a Big Local lottery grant of £52,000 and a lot of hard work by a dedicated team.

They were praised by Mr Grove for a "fantastic achievement."

He said he was filled with pride at the outcome and hoped many people would get the best use out of the community facility and get on the dance floor.

He said: "You will make the community better, stronger and safer."

But the event was marred when PCSO Noel Horsaman told members of Clee Lincs Neighbourhood Forum that a youth had damaged the CCTV cameras overlooking the newly-restored venue.

The criminal damage happened last week. One person has since been arrested in connection with the offence.

The Forum was told The Pavilion will soon be used as a venue for surgeries for PCSOs and police officers in the Neighbourhood Policing Team and residents can talk to them in confidence about any matters.

Chairman of Clee Lincs Neighbourhood Forum, Steve Pygott said the restoration of The Pavilion would not have happened without the support of North East Lincolnshire Council and he praised Leader Councillor Chris Shaw and Councillor Hazel Chase for their support.

Mr Pygott said he had many people approach him to tell him they had danced at The Pavilion during its glory days.

He said: "I hope we can produce the next generation of dancers."

Councillor Shaw praised the work of Pavilion Group treasurer Alan Johnson who restored the dance floor and much of the building.

He said: "It will be a credit to the whole community. The work has been tremendous."

A bouquet of flowers was presented to Councillor Chase for her support of the project.

Bill Geer, director of Empower Social Enterprise Scheme hailed the success of the restoration which was carried out by around 10 members of the Community Payback scheme who carried out repairs to the outside of the building.

Interior work was done by The National Citizenship Scheme members.

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NORTH East Lincolnshire's MPs are pushing for a decision on a direct rail service to London as soon as possible.

Cleethorpes' Martin Vickers and his Great Grimsby counterpart Austin Mitchell have written a joint letter to the Office of the Rail Regulator asking when the application by Alliance Rail will be determined.

The company submitted a bid to run four trains a day each way between Cleethorpes and London King's Cross earlier this year.

And following this week's announcement that North East Lincolnshire is to keep its through service to Manchester, the MPs say securing a direct service to the capital is the next priority.

The letter was sent after Mr Vickers and Mr Mitchell met with Alliance Rail bosses to receive an update on progress.

It states: "This service will greatly benefit our constituents and local businesses. It goes without saying that the company would like a decision as early as possible.

"The long delay in reaching a decision is hampering the development of the Grimsby/Cleethorpes area and frustrating the Government policy to maximise developments in the area linked to the off-shore renewables sector."

Speaking to the Grimsby Telegraph, Mr Vickers said he remained optimistic that the Alliance Rail bid would be successful.

He added: "They have stated the business case, they are very experienced and they already run a number of services from London. They are acknowledged experts."

Under the proposal Alliance Rail would operate trains under the GNER banner using the East Coast Main Line to King's Cross from December 17.

Services will call only at Grimsby Town, Habrough, Scunthorpe and Doncaster.

Initially, GNER plans to use new inter-city trains capable of reaching speeds of 125mph, but there is the possibility of running at 140mph from 2020 once a new signalling system is in place between King's Cross and Doncaster.

The new franchise for the East Coast Main Line, which was recently awarded to Virgin Group and Stagecoach, does not include direct services to North East Lincolnshire. However, Mr Vickers said he and other MPs would be meeting with the company to discuss the possibility of extending some of the planned London to Lincoln services to Cleethorpes, adding: "We will continue to lobby for better services.

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PADDY McLaughlin nearly went out on loan while Craig Clay also wants to be featuring more for Grimsby Town – but both midfielders must bide their time.

That's according to boss Paul Hurst who insists there 'isn't a problem' with either player, but admits there are team-mates ahead of them in the pecking order at present.

Clay hasn't started a league game since the 1-0 victory at Braintree on November 4, while seven of McLaughlin's 17 league appearances this season have come from the bench.

Hurst revealed that the club looked into the possibility of getting the Northern Irishman some games out on loan – but nothing came to fruition, meaning both he and Clay will have to stay and fight to regain their place in the side.

He said: "Craig hasn't exactly lost his form, but I don't think he's quite hit the levels that he was reaching at the start of the season.

"You could have argued that he was perhaps our best player at the start of the season, along with Scott Brown, who he created a really good partnership with in the middle.

"But Craig's showing signs that he's getting back to that.

"He had a bit of an illness, but he's over that now and he's feeling better within himself and is starting to show that energy that he displays when he's at his best.

"We've had a little chat and there's certainly no problem there at all. He's keen to force his way back in, but understands that there are some good players in the midfield that he's got to try and get past."

Hurst added: "Paddy's not featuring as much because of the form of the other lads really and it's been tough for him.

"But he's trained really well over the last couple of weeks and he's just got to keep doing what he's doing because you never know in football – you've got to be ready when called upon.

"We looked into getting him a loan move at one stage, but it didn't quite fit for all parties. Paddy is happy here apart from the obvious – he wants to be playing, just like Craig and all the other lads who aren't in the team.

"I'm certainly not desperate for Paddy to leave the club – he's a good player and we know that he always does a good job for us."

PAUL Hurst hopes Grimsby Town's free week will allow some of their 'injury niggles' to settle down.

Danny Parslow and Aswad Thomas both sat out training this week as they continue to recover from groin and ankle problems.

But far from 'sitting on their backsides', Hurst says the duo have been doing what work they could in order to be ready for next weekend's FA Trophy trip to Nuneaton.

He explained: "Aswad and Pars haven't trained this week so we hope, particularly with Aswad, that it will give them chance to recover – they both should be back training again on Monday.

"Pars turned his ankle, but he was talking about training this week, but we put him off that idea to make sure it really settles down.

"He's got a great attitude and wants to get back playing. He's one of those players who feels as though he's already missed enough football because of injury and he wants to get back out there.

"But the important thing is to make sure he's available for the Trophy game and not rush him back a week beforehand.

"With Aswad, his groin is a bit sore and it has been for a little while to be honest. We're just trying to use this break to give him rest and see if it's something we can get cleared up.

"He says it's certainly started to feel a lot better and hopefully when he trains on Monday, he won't have any side-effects and it'll be gone for the time being.

"He hasn't just been sat on his back-side, he's been doing strengthening exercises and doing a bit of work without stressing that injury out too much."

Meanwhile, Hurst added that Nicky Walker's recovery from a cracked bone in his hand also continues apace.

He added: "Nicky's felt more comfortable with it every day, which is encouraging. He is training and so we don't envisage that being a problem."

A PERFECT antidote to Black Friday arrives this weekend ... Small Business Saturday.

The celebration of independent gems comes after the chaos surrounding the major retailers seven days ago, with the Christmas countdown in full swing.

Now North East Lincolnshire Council has come on board, contributing to the season of good will by removing car parking charges in ALL of the car parks it controls, in order to further stimulate interest.

Laura Fowler, chair of North East Lincolnshire branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, had flagged up the opportunity for the local authority to enhance the day, which is enjoying a strong social media campaign and Government support – with both Prime Minister David Cameron and Business Minister Matthew Hancock on board.

"I am delighted the council has acted," she said. "Hopefully this will bring a lot more people out on Saturday to support local business."

The festive spirit can be found no stronger than in Cleethorpes' Sea View Street, where this weekend's nod to the 'nation of shopkeepers' is followed by next week's Christmas Market. Parking charges will be waived again for that.

Kim Penistone and Janice Laver are well prepared for their second Christmas trading in Cleethorpes, having opened Willow and Co Ltd in summer 2013.

Their window display, the centre-piece of which features a large cast iron steam train, has already been described as a 'mini Harrods' by one visitor to their gift and home decor shop, and is one of a run of enticing decorations.

And the attention that Small Business Saturday, and the resulting market brings, has been welcomed.

Mrs Penistone said: "It is very important to make an effort. People come down the street for the whole atmosphere, and we are all independent shops, all offering something different.

"We are only a small business, we have only been open 16 months We are getting bigger as time goes on, and we have made a massive effort this year. We have worked really hard on it, and are very proud.

"People say 'you'll miss the summer trade,' but Sea View Street to us is as much about local people supporting us all year round. That said we do get people from Doncaster and Sheffield, we have had people taking things down to London and have even sent items to Australia and New Zealand."

The train was spotted at a special show at the NEC in February. "That's when it first came to mind. We planned it from there, it has taken a long time, but we think the end product is fantastic," she said.

Not impressed by what she saw nationally on Black Friday, Mrs Penistone said: "I don't like the whole idea of it, it fetches the greed out of people."

Looking ahead, to the three day market which starts next Friday, with late shopping until 9pm then and on Saturday, with more free parking laid on, Mrs Penistone added: "It is going to be fantastic. There is lots going on. There will be stalls all down the street, mulled wine and mince pies, roasted chestnuts, local gifts, a fun fair, donkey rides, magic fairies, Santa's grotto and sleigh, choir singers, a brass band and Frozen's, Anna and Elsa act to sing along! The fun is opening out into a whole square with Knoll Street and Cambridge Street too."

IT MAY not have been akin to the hysterical madness of Black Friday but shoppers still rushed through the doors at Grimsby's newest department store.

The Range, owned by billionaire Chris Dawson, spans 16 departments offering bargain deals across its extensive product portfolio.

Many shoppers even took the trouble to queue outside the Victoria Street store in the cold before the ribbon was cut early yesterday morning in a ceremony attend by the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire councillor Alex Baxter.

There is an in-house cafe, called Dee Dee's, alongside sections like arts and crafts and home decorations, as well as an onsite garden centre.

The store has created between 70 and 80 jobs drafted from the area.

An emotional Mr Dawson said: "Opening this place is very special to me, we've been trying to get into Grimsby for a while – it means a lot coming here.

"The council has been great and has welcomed investment in the area, which makes a big difference and I would like to thank all the people who have worked day and night to get this store going.

"What you're getting here is affordable and quality products. Not everyone is earning vast sums of money and you don't have to be rich to shop here."

First through the doors were Holton-le-Clay couple Thomas Smith and Rachel Jacombe who queued from 3am to get a peek at the new store.

Thomas, 23, said: "It's a well laid out shop with a good atmosphere – lots of things will catch your eye.

"I got a few bits for my car and my girlfriend picked up some toys for the dog. There is a lot in the store."

Someone who made sure she was early to the store's opening was Grimsby mother Melissa Love.

The 31-year-old said: "I often travel to the Scunthorpe store so it's great now having The Range on our doorstep. It's been great coming here and having a look around.

"I love the homeware products, they're really good quality at reasonable prices."

Deputy store manager Aaron Dolphin saluted the effort of his workforce, who have kitted out the shop with all its stock in just two weeks.

He said: "Our aim is to give 100 per cent customer service to all our shoppers.

"We've got 16 departments here and that makes us really unique. There is also the dedicated Christmas area as we're still wanting to bring the festive period to Grimsby.

"The range of our products and the value for money is superb and now customers can save petrol money as they don't have to drive elsewhere to find their nearest branch.

"You'll find that we even stock products that you won't see elsewhere, exclusives that may only be sold online"

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STEVEN Wilkins is one of Grimsby's most notorious killers.

In five days he murdered two people, one of them a relative, who was killed and then burned.

A few days later he stabbed a petrol pump attendant in Coldstream, on the Scottish Border.

In the aftermath Wilkins was nicknamed "kill 'em and chill 'em".

In the 1970s he was convicted of raping an 80-year-old woman and sentenced to spend an indefinite period at Rampton, a high security mental health and criminal hospital near Retford in Nottinghamshire.

While there, he threatened to kill members of staff, spent time on a top security ward, and tried to escape at least once.

Tragically, Wilkins was granted 14 days' trial leave in 1979. It was while on leave he committed both murders.

His first victim was a relative, 68-year-old Marie Jensen.

Wilkins brutally raped the elderly woman and then, ignoring her pleas to be allowed to live, strangled her.

He set light to the bed where his victim lay.

The murder sparked a massive police investigation, but Wilkins had disappeared to Scotland in a stolen van with his 17-year-old girlfriend.

Four days later, Wilkins was to kill again. This time his victim was 63-year-old petrol pump attendant Sydney Mowitt, murdered simply for money to allow Wilkins to take a touring holiday around Scotland.

Mr Mowitt was robbed of £89 and stabbed ten times.

But the violent trail Wilkins left from Grimsby to Scotland had alerted police and the double murderer was not to avoid justice for long.

Police in Grimsby investigating Marie Jensen's death discovered Wilkins was on leave from Rampton and circulated his name to police forces throughout Britain.

When Wilkins was arrested by Scottish police the day after Mr Mowitt was murdered, the connection with Grimsby was soon made and Humberside Police were quickly informed.

With Wilkins under arrest, the full horror of his actions became apparent and he was committed to trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

Wilkins pleaded guilty to charges of murder, rape and arson. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1980.

Steven Wilkins was a rebel from an early age. Twice he managed to reach America.

In one of his journeys he earned massive media coverage, when only 14 years old, he crossed the Atlantic as a stowaway on board a giant cargo airliner.

In a childish escapade which gave little indication of the dreadful events to follow, Wilkins tricked his parents into believing he was off to sea on a pleasure trip before hitch-hiking to Heathrow.

At the airport he slipped past security guards, ran on to the runway and crept on board a Boeing 707 where he spent the nine-hour transatlantic crossing in a hold no bigger than a small coffin.

When he arrived at Kennedy Airport in New York he was quickly apprehended by immigration officials and returned to Britain.

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A FURIOUS husband kicked and smashed a car window – sending glass flying over the occupants – after spotting his wife inside the vehicle with another man.

He suspected that "something was going on" between them and confronted the man by hitting the window "as hard as he could", Grimsby magistrates heard.

Daniel Robertson, 36, of Hewson Road, Humberston, admitted assaulting Lisa Robertson on August 26 and 27, assaulting Colin Dibb and a boy on August 27 as well as damaging a vehicle window, belonging to Mr Dibb.

Rebecca Dolby, prosecuting, said that Robertson went to his estranged wife's home after a drinking session and there was an argument about the breakdown of their marriage.

He pushed her around and in to a sofa. They continued arguing and he took hold of her wrist and held her by her throat.

He bit her on her hand, leaving bite marks.

The next day, Mrs Robertson and Mr Dibb were in a car with two young children in the Tesco car park off Victoria Street, Grimsby, when Robertson appeared on the scene.

He hit the door window "as hard as he could" while Mr Dibb was in the driver's seat.

The glass shattered, causing cuts and grazes to Mr Dibb's arms and lip as well as to the hands of Mrs Robertson and a boy.

Lauren Fisher, mitigating, said the car incident happened after Robertson found out that his wife had gone to the police station about the earlier assault and went looking for her.

He approached the vehicle but Mr Dibb began reversing out of the parking space.

He "completely lost control" and kicked the car window.

His foot went through the window but the sound of children crying inside the car "snapped him back" to his senses and he "realised the terrible thing he had done" during his split-second loss of control.

In October last year, Robertson found out that his wife was texting someone else, causing friction in the marriage.

"He was concerned that a relationship was going on," said Miss Fisher.

"He believed that there was something going on between them. He confronted the man who sent the text message.

"He also decided to have a word with Mr Dibb. There was an argument with his wife about the text message and the relationship with Mr Dibb."

Robertson was upset and distressed about the two incidents. He had no previous convictions.

Robertson, a lorry driver and a former football referee, was given a 16-week suspended prison sentence, a two-year supervision order and must pay £50 compensation to Mr Dibb and £85 costs.

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GRIMSBY Town boss Paul Hurst is facing up to the prospect of losing Toto Nsiala over the busy festive period.

The defender, who has been a near ever-present this season, is currently on nine yellow cards, meaning he's just one booking away from an automatic two-game ban.

Hurst says it's an inevitability that the 22-year-old will have to sit out games in the near future – given that the amnesty is not until the second Sunday in April.

And when it does happen, the boss says the former Everton scholar will be a 'big miss' over such a crucial period.

"I'm almost waiting for him to get the tenth in truth," he said.

"It's a formality that it will happen – he's not going to get to the cut-off point in April without picking up another.

"You look at the fixtures we've got coming up and you can't' really say there's a good time for him to miss any, so that will just run its course as and when it happens and we'll just see what games he does end up missing.

"It's quite possible that we may lose him over the Christmas period," he added.

"We play on the 26th, 28th 1st and 4th, so the chances are that he could pick one up in those.

"He's done well of late not to pick up that tenth booking but, as a central defender, at times, the things that they get booked for is unbelievable.

"I watched a game at Forest Green against Halifax and some of the challenges that people didn't even get spoken to about was unbelievable – I've seen our players be branded with a yellow for much, much less this season.

"Ultimately, in the modern game, you do tend to pick up bookings."

Asked what Nsiala can do to avoid the attentions of referees in the future, he continued: "I think sometimes he's a little bit eager to get to the ball and because he's so quick, he thinks he can get to the ball, but doesn't quite.

"There have been a couple of his bookings that I've not been so sure about – others he's warranted and others have been borne out of his frustration.

"But we're working with him on that, and the importance of keeping a level head.

"He's a young player and he's done very well for us and we will miss him when that suspension arrives."

A DOUBLE murderer from Grimsby who killed two people in five days in the 1970s escaped from prison.

Steven Wilkins was jailed for life for the murder of relative Marie Jensen in Grimsby, whose body he tried to burn.

He later went on to murder a 63-year-old petrol pump attendant in Coldstream in a five day killing spree in 1979.

Now aged 62, he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for absconding from North Sea Camp near Boston.

He was sentenced to four weeks in prison to run concurrently with his life sentence.

Wilkins is the son of Alf Wilkins, pictured, who was killed in an arson attack on his home on Grimsby's Yarborough estate in 2001.

The 67-year-old died from smoke inhalation after a turps substitute was poured through his letter box and set on fire on February 9, 2001. His dog, Lucky, was also killed.

Steven Wilkins has already spent 35 years behind bars.

Prison staff at the open prison near Boston carried out an evening roll call and noticed he was missing.

Officers launched an immediate search and Wilkins was spotted on a sea bank outside of the prison boundary and was then seen to jump over a fence and into a field of oil seed rape.

The yellow crop matched the colour of his waterproof clothing and he hid in the field for over half an hour before being flushed out by a police dog handler.

Wilkins had been due to be considered for parole but his conviction for escape means that is now unlikely to happen, the court was told.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, told a jury at Lincoln Crown Court that prison officers began searching the grounds after Wilkins was absent from an 8pm roll call.

"At about 8.30pm officers spotted him stood on the sea bank just beyond the eastern perimeter of the prison grounds," Mr Scott said.

Wilkins, who is still serving his original life sentence, denied escaping from lawful custody on June 14 this year but was convicted by a jury.

Wilkins estimated he disappeared for up to five hours. He said he went for a walk to clear his head and then fell asleep in a field.

He denied any intention to escape.

Robert Dacre, mitigating, said "The material effect that this conviction will have is that he is unlikely to now be considered for release in two years' time."

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Two men have been injured after the car they were travelling in collided with heavy metal gates in Humberston.

The crash took place on the A1031 Grimsby Road/Humberston Road, at around 6am today.

Police taped off much of the scene while investigations were carried out, but the road has since reopened.

Humberside Fire and Rescue said two adult males had to be cut free from the car by cutting the roof off and were taken to hospital with multiple injuries.

Both were unconscious but breathing, it was said.

The road is currently closed to traffic between Rosemary Way and Derwent Drive.

As a result of the closure, Stagecoach said service 7 was being diverted along Taylor's Avenue and Chichester Road.

Witnesses should call Humberside Police on 101, quoting log 117 of December 6, 2014.

Updates to follow

Could the Lincolnshire coast soon rival Blackpool for its illuminations? 

Members of East Lindsey District Council's executive board has appointed Blachere Illuminations UK Ltd following a tendering process to provide better illuminations in Skegness and Mablethorpe over the next three years.

The lights are normally managed by East Lindsey District Council, but the decision to contract out the service will save the council £65,000 in running costs over the next three years.

The illuminations cost the council £112,000 this year.

Spokesman James Gilbert said: "Blachere Illuminations have been appointed to manage and maintain the lights in both Skegness and Mablethorpe. There will be a noticeable variance in the display each year rather then it being the same.

"There will be a definite 'wow factor.' The lights will be more interactive with modern technology and use LED lights which are environmentally friendly.

"The current illuminations were starting to look tired and were coming to the end of their life. This decision means the lights will be improved and look fresh for each season and saves the council money.

Blachere Illuminations provided lights for the Eiffel Tower for the Millennium as well as working in other coastal towns.

Will you be among the thousands heading to Lincoln Christmas Market this weekend?

Direct trains leave for Lincoln from Grimsby Town station at 11.28am, 1.49pm and 4pm today, and Sunday trains with two changes leave at 9.34am, 11.34am, 2.34pm and 3.34pm tomorrow.

Lincoln Christmas Markets features 250 stalls nestled within the medieval square, a short walk from the railway station.

The four-day market ends on Sunday, and is expected to attract more than 250,000 visitors.

WEATHER: Saturday

There will be frost early on in the morning with temperatures below freezing, but the day will slowly warm up.

By the time the Lincoln Christmas Market is in full swing, the weather will be cloudy and temperatures staying at around 5 degrees.

Sunday

There will be rain early on in the day, turning into blustery winds and scattered showers.

Wind speeds will reach 15 to 16 mph, which will give the day a cold and wintry feel.

Two Dutch men have been jailed after a 'James Bond-style' drug operation which saw them earlier buy tools in B&Q in Grimsby before staying at a hotel in Cleethorpes.

Henri van Doesburg, 68, from Aalsmeer, masterminded a plan to use a high-speed underwater scooter to recover 108 kilos of cocaine hidden in the rudder area of the Colombian cargo ship Cape Maria anchored near to Hunterston in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland.

His plan was stopped by a multi-agency operation earlier this year.

The Indian Friendship vessel had been in Rotterdam in April and the ship continued its on journey to the port of Hull, anchoring off the port on April 25. A week later it moved a short distance down the Humber to Immingham and stayed there until May 4.

National Crime Agency investigators viewed hours of CCTV footage to evidence that the four men had travelled to the UK and established themselves in Cleethorpes. Van Doesburg was unaware that some cocaine had already been found on the Indian Friendship, it was said.

Van Doesburg and Van Milt arrived on April 29 on the Rotterdam to Hull ferry and were in a vehicle that was towing the boat. They visited B&Q in Grimsby to buy tools before booking into a hotel in Cleethorpes.

On May 1 they picked up two other men from Leeds Bradford Airport. RNLI lifeboat officers saw some of the men regularly going out to sea in their boat off Cleethorpes.

National Crime Agency investigators arrested Van Doesburg's son Roderick, aged 23, from Aalsmeer, his grandson Darryl-Jay, aged 22, from Aalsmeer, and Arnold van Milt, aged 49, from Amsterdam, at a hotel in Seamill on the evening of May 9.

Roderick and Darryl-Jay were later acquitted.

Investigators seized the underwater scooter, a rigid hulled inflatable boat with a powerful engine, wetsuits and diving equipment.

A specialist Border Force deep rummage team and divers from Police Scotland's Marine Policing Unit had recovered the cocaine earlier in the day following an extensive search of the ship. They also found pieces of cut rope in the rudder area indicating the hide had been used before.

Van Doesburg, who was in constant contact with Van Milt using an encrypted BlackBerry, was tracking the ship on his home computer. He was apprehended by the Rotterdam Hit and Run Cargo Team the following day, and was later extradited to the UK to face trial.

Dutch officers had observed meetings between Van Doesburg and two English men at a café in Amsterdam on May 8. They heard references to diving and later recovered sheets of notepaper showing calculations and telephone numbers.

Van Doesburg and Van Milt were found guilty of conspiracy to import cocaine following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. They were sentenced to 20 and 16 years respectively. The jury found Van Doesburg’s son Roderick and grandson Darryl-Jay not guilty.

Snow could fall over high ground in the Yorkshire and Humber area this evening, Met Office weather forecasters said.

Forecast in full:

Today:

Cloud will gradually thicken through the day with increasing winds becoming strong on hills later on. Some outbreaks of rain will reach northwestern hills by late afternoon. Maximum Temperature 7C.

Tonight:

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, this occasionally heavy with strong winds. Rain will clear later, but still windy with occasional showers, these turning wintry on hills. Minimum Temperature 3C.

Sunday:

A cold feeling day with strong winds and blustery showers, these wintry on hills, and even at lower levels later. Some sunny spells likely between showers. Maximum Temperature 5C.