THE Antiques Roadshow is coming to Lincolnshire in May next year. 

Do you have any family heirlooms, household treasures or car boot bargains that you think could be of value? 

Take them along to RAF Coningsby near Woodhall Spa where you can have them valued by some of Britain's leading antiques and fine arts specialists at the roadshow on May 28. 

The antiques appraisal show has been a BBC favourite since 1979 and has sparked versions across the globe.

Newsreader, Fiona Bruce has been hosting the show since 2008.

TODAY marks the slow hill climb out of winter as days gradually become longer.

Last night was the winter solstice, or the shortest day, where daylight hours are at their shortest.

From now until the longest day, the summer solstice on June 21, the days will continue to get longer and warmer.

Although marking the journey towards summer, the mornings will become darker until the New Year with with sunrise on New Year's Eve expected to take place around 8.05am.

The solstice marked the point of the year when the Northern Hemisphere is titled furthest from the Sun.

Astronomically it marks the start of winter despite most people considering December the heart of the season.

EXCITED children might catch a glimpse of "Santa's sleigh" on Christmas Eve.

The International Space Station (ISS) is set to pass over Grimsby on Christmas Eve and to the many children eager to start Christmas Day it could look like St Nick's and his reindeer's riding by in his iconic red sleigh. 

Clouds are set to clear throughout the day leaving skies clear over the town on Christmas Eve.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the best chance to see the ISS in Grimsby and the surrounding area will be at 5:22pm on Christmas Eve and it will last about 4 minutes.

It will appear 31 degrees above the south-west horizon and will pass over at a maximum height of 28 degrees before disappearing 10 degrees above the south-eastern horizon.

Police have not been able to locate 16-year-old Beth Wilkinson after she fell from the Humber Bridge.

Investigating officers had previously informed the Humber Coastguard that their "active searches" were on hold until further announcements.

A spokesman for the force said: "All reasonable searches for the girl have now been undertaken including extensive river bank and river searches involving numerous emergencies services, but she has not been located.

"She remains a registered missing person. The girl's family has been receiving support from specialist officers throughout the searches, to ensure they are aware of the activity undertaken as part of the missing person enquiries."

A coastguard spokesman said: "We are not conducting any searches today. The search has been called off until we receive new information."

Police were called to the bridge last Thursday morning after fears for the safety of the teenager who was the wrong side of the railings. She was then seen to fall from the bridge into the river.

The teenager is a former pupil of Wolfreton School in Kirk Ella, in East Riding, and from the west Hull area.

On Friday, friends laid flowers at Hessle Foreshore in an emotional vigil for the teenager.

Police and paramedics closed off a small part of Grimsby's Victoria Street this evening to deal with an incident that left two people needing medical treatment. It is believed that a collision took place, some time after 7pm, though the details of what happened are still unknown - officers at the scene declined to comment. A Skoda Yeti was seen in the middle of the road, near the Hope & Anchor pub; at least one airbag was discharged and the car also sustained damage to its front left side.

SANDRA Bemrose-Rees, who lives in Northampton, e-mailed us after we published a photograph of Freeman Street and asked for your memories.

Sandra said: "I was born in Grimsby and lived there until the mid-1980s before I moved to Northampton.

"My uncle, Walter Dorkin, was a manager for Granville Tours in their head office.

"They decided to open an office in Freeman Street in the 1950s and he was asked to manage it.

"It was situated at the top end of Freeman Street near the Scotch Wool Shop and La Mode dress shop on the corner.

"It was a small shop with a desk and chair so my uncle could take bookings for the holiday tours that they ran.

"It was also full of brochures you could take away and study. It was a very busy office at the weekend. There was also a small room at the back for making a cup of tea etc.

"My mother and I used to call in every time we went shopping to say hello and often to leave our shopping bags. Then we could walk down to the market and buy our veg, walk back and have a rest, pick up the rest of the shopping and make our way home.

"My uncle Walter was a tall, slim man who was very smart. He used to be in the RAF and always wore an RAF blue shirt, a tie and a dark suit and a trilby hat.

"I never saw him in any other clothing, not even in the summer. In winter he always wore a beige mac, and it was always belted. He would not be seen with it unbuttoned, or not properly belted. He was always dressed formally."

Do you have memories of Freeman Street? Let us know by writing to Bygones, Grimsby Telegraph, 80 Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN31 3EH or e-mailing bygones@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

TRANSPORT arrangements for bus services over the Christmas and New Year period have been released.

A normal Wednesday bus service will run on Christmas Eve until the early evening, while no buses will run at all on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile, special buses will run hourly on routes 3, 4, 5 and 10 on Boxing Day.

Saturday services will run on all routes except 1, 2, 20 and 25 (which will run a normal Monday to Friday service) on Monday, December 29 and Tuesday, December 30.

A normal Wednesday service will run until the early evening on New Year's Eve, but no services will run on New Year's Day.

A Saturday service will run on Friday, January 2, on all routes except 1, 2, 20 and 25, which will run a normal Monday to Friday service.

Service will return to normal on Saturday, January 3.

POLICE officers from both Humberside and Lincolnshire forces will team up to prevent trouble at Sunday's Lincolnshire derby between Grimsby Town and Lincoln City.

The Mariners will host the Imps at Blundell Park on Sunday, December 28, for their Conference Premier fixture.

Lincoln won the reverse match at Sincil Bank 3-2 in September, courtesy of a late goal.

And now, police have issued a warning to anyone looking to cause trouble at the game, saying spotting teams from both forces will be working together to prevent violence.

They have urged supporters to show passion and get behind their teams but not to get involved in antisocial behaviour.

The Twitter account for the team responsible for policing Lincoln City games said: "It's only a few days now until the local derby with Grimsby, a fixture which gets emotions running high. We urge supporters to remain sensible. Get behind your team, show passion but do not get involved in antisocial behaviour or disorder."

The game in September saw a steward taken away by medical staff after she was struck by a chair.

The game on Sunday kicks off at 3pm.

DEFIBRILLATORS should be as easily accessible as fire extinguishers, according to an ambulance chief.

Steve Pratten, East Midlands Ambulance Service operational support manager, is spearheading a campaign to have as many businesses, schools and organisations in North East Lincolnshire equipped with the life-saving devices.

He praised bosses at Cleethorpes Parkway cinema for becoming the first in the region to buy one.

He said the venue, which attracts around 450,000 customers each year, is among the first organisations to equip and train staff in life-saving skills.

There are several other businesses, parish councils and schools which have installed defibrillators.

In the UK, approximately 30,000 people sustain cardiac arrest outside hospital and are treated by emergency medical services each year.

The Department of Education has instructed head teachers to make one available in all schools.

Mr Pratten has written to all 961 schools, academies, nurseries and educational establishments in Lincolnshire to offer advice on how to buy one.

If they are bought through the ambulance service they are sold at a discounted price of around £1,000.

Once installed, their location is inputted into a database held by the 999 emergency service, and in a medical emergency, callers to ambulance control will be told the nearest location of a defibrillator.

He said: "The key is getting this equipment to the patient as quickly as possible. We need to get as many defibrillators out there in the community as possible. It is about patient care and increasing the chances of survival.

"That decreases by 10 per cent for every minute that is lost without a defibrillator.

"My view is that if a premises has a fire extinguisher they should also have a defibrillator."

Mr Pratten said members of the public have bought them, as well as organisations.

Automated external defibrillators have a voice recording which talks the first aider through each step.

When the electrode pads are attached they will only shock a shockable heart.

Mr Pratten said: "It is foolproof – it repeats the instructions until you complete them and go to the next step."

Lately he instructed a team of Beavers aged eight to ten years.

He said: "Within 30 minutes they could all do it. The difference with children is they are not afraid. It is when people get older they feel worried about the consequences.

"When there is a cardiac arrest, there is no heart beat and technically they are dead. How can you make them any worse than that? All you can do is improve their chances of survival."

He told how the ambulance service works to the principle of maintaining a chain of survival.

That chain has four links:

Early 999 call

Early CPR

Early deployment of a defibrillator

Early contact with advanced life support from paramedics and hospital staff

Mr Pratten said the key part is the initial response from the public in the first instance and their ability to do CPR.

He said it is vital to give an exact location of a patient when calling the 999 service.

Scott Marshall, general manager of Parkway cinema, said: "It was good to talk to East Midlands Ambulance Service about the purchase of a defibrillator as it gave us confidence to get the right machine. There are so many manufacturers and the amount of information can be bewildering."

Charlotte Cartledge, cinema team leader, and Andrew Cooper, cinema manager, were among the first to undergo training on the new defibrillator.

Charlotte said: "I think it is a fantastic idea."

Andrew said: "It gives peace of mind that our customers are as safe as they can be. It can happen to anyone at any time. Anything we can put in place to stop any problems and provide our due care has to be good."

Details of defibrillators are available by e-mailing community.responder@emas.nhs.net

PAUL Hurst has declared himself 'pleased' with Grimsby Town's first half of the season – but has called for 'more ruthlessness' in the New Year.

With Christmas just days away, it felt an opportune time for the Mariners boss to assess how his side have fared since August.

Thanks to last week's 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Forest Green Rovers, Town will be fourth in the table on Christmas Day – ahead of clashes with Macclesfield and Lincoln.

"I think we've had a good first-half to the season and I'm very pleased with it," said Hurst.

"We've had one or two issues to deal with at the start of the season such as suspensions and injuries but I think we've done well.

"People may point to the fact that we haven't picked up too many points against the teams at the bottom half of the table, but in terms of the form table against teams in the top-half, we'd be top.

"That's pleasing for me and shows me what we're capable of this season."

He added: "After the victory over Forest Green, we've now got some big games coming up against Macclesfield twice and Lincoln.

"If we can perform in those, and add that bit of ruthlessness against the teams lower down in the second half of the season, then we'll give ourselves a chance.

"I don't question the character of the team, I think if you look at how many we've lost, it's the second-least in the league, I think it's just a case of taking our chances against those teams lower down.

"But overall I'm pleased and I do certainly feel that we've got the quality in the squad to achieve something this season."

ORGANISERS of a children's Christmas party have been left "disgusted" after a thief stole door takings money – and cash from a handbag – while the youngsters were having fun.

They are sickened that the "despicable" theft happened while the special festive treat for the children was in progress – and have asked how "someone can stoop so low".

The mean-minded theft happened while organisers and helpers were busy inside the Grange Community Centre building, off Carnforth Crescent, on Saturday.

Dave Waller, one of the leaseholders of the centre, said: "We had the misfortune of someone entering our office during the night while we were in the building and deciding to help themselves to the money we had taken on the door.

"We are disgusted that someone can stoop so low and steal from a community centre party for children."

Mr Waller said he believed that the office was entered between about 6pm and 6.30pm.

A total of about £120 was stolen – about £90 in entry fees and another £30 from a handbag.

"There was a lot of change and notes in the tub," he said. "It was all on a table in the office."

Handbags had also apparently been rifled – and about £30 was thought to have been taken from one.

"It's despicable and a nasty thing to do," he said.

"You shouldn't steal from kids. It's put a downer on everybody who has organised it.

"The kids really enjoyed the day and the kids haven't been hurt.

"We didn't find out about it until Sunday morning. Someone started asking around where the money raised on Saturday for the parties was and it had gone missing.

"One of the handbags was on the floor with the contents out of it but the person didn't think anything of it at the time."

Two parties had taken place at the centre on Saturday, one for the children and one for residents.

Mr Waller appealed for the person who took the money to return it. He is hoping the thief might have an attack of conscience – but he is not holding his breath.

"Maybe somebody might have a change of heart and will say 'I did it'," he said.

"We don't get any funding in that building, apart from a little bit every now and again.

"The money we have got is money we have raised ourselves. It's on a tight budget.

"For money to go missing just like that really does knock you back.

"But they won't beat us. It's not disheartened us. We will be back in 2015 with a big smile on our faces."

Mr Waller, of Sherwood Road, Grange Estate, said the theft had been reported to the police and checks were being made of CCTV coverage to see if any clues could be revealed as to who was responsible.

Those who run the centre have only two sets of keys between them, so opportunities for others to enter the building are very limited.

The Grange Community Centre has recently been given a welcome boost through the involvement of four new leaseholders – Mr Waller, Jackie Thompson, Lorraine Drinkell and Arthur Lee.

They took over four to five months ago and have a peppercorn lease from North East Lincolnshire Council for 15 years.

A YEAR ago today, cinema worker Richard Breed suffered a cardiac arrest and spent Christmas in a coma.

But after being given a second chance at life, the 62-year-old is now looking forward to a very different festive season to the last one.

Richard, a maintenance superviser at Cleethorpes' Parkway Cinema, was working on December 23 when he suffered a cardiac arrest in the toilets at the venue.

He said: "The last thing I remember was being in the gents toilets. The next, I was waking up in Grimsby hospital.

"I asked my wife why I was there and what I was doing in a hospital bed and wanted to get home for Christmas.

"She told me I had missed Christmas after being in a coma for four days."

He said he will be forever thankful for the quick actions of managing director Scott Marshall, other staff at the cinema and Bob Elson, the paramedic who treated him.

Only around 10 per cent of patients survive the type of cardiac arrest he suffered.

Mr Marshall told how a cleaner raised the alarm after finding Richard collapsed.

Cinema manager Antony Maggs rang 999 and ambulance service control room staff gave advice over the phone.

Having successfully completed a First Aid course, Scott knew to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Scott said: "I was just getting going when the ambulance crew arrived. Thankfully they were here in a minute and we are extremely grateful for their response.

"I knew from the First Aid training to keep calm. But when it is someone you know it is hard. We are all like family at the cinema."

Bob and ambulance care assistant Deb Furneaux immediately began CPR and "shocked" Richard with their defibrillator three times before he was revived.

Bob said: "Three times is a lot. The aim was to get him breathing for himself. He was clearly not going to give up."

Richard was later transferred to Castlehill Hospital, Hull where surgeons fitted a stent and microscopic cardiac defibrillator.

He joked: "It is like having my own GPS. Now I can't go anywhere without my wife knowing about it."

Since the medical drama he has enjoyed a 25th wedding anniversary celebration and a trip to Barbados with his wife Susan.

He said: "It is a whole new life. Without them I would not be here. Today, I am one year old and plan to have two birthdays every year from now on.

"Since it happened I feel a lot sharper. I tend to work quicker."

He joked: "In the summer I was waking up at 4am wanting to cut the lawn and get on with jobs – until I started to think what the neighbours would say."

He said he had also enjoyed receiving messages of support from old friends who heard of his ordeal.

An old friend in Tenerife had returned in person to wish him well.

Richard, who has never smoked, and kept fit by cycling, added: "It puts your life into perspective."

East Midlands Ambulance Service operational support manager Steve Pratten said Richard's ordeal highlighted the need for a quick call to the ambulance service and the use of a defibrillator.

He said: "If the crew had not arrived so promptly it might have been a different story. Bob has 32 years with the service in Grimsby. He is a very senior paramedic. He is the one the new paramedics go to for guidance and advice and look on him as a mentor. He is also an instructor."

And now, as a result of the life-saving drama, the Parkway is leading the way in putting vital medical equipment into its venue.

Mr Pratten praised Parkway cinema for being the first cinema in the region to have its own defibrillator.

He said: "With such a huge foot fall of customers it increases the chances of survival of someone in an emergency."

Cleethorpes will have a rip-roaring air display next year, it has been revealed.

Council Leader Chris Shaw and the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Alex Baxter, through their roles in local Armed Forces groups, have confirmed plans for a military air display during the Sunday of the two-day annual Armed Forces Weekend at the very end of June.

Mr Shaw said the announcement was a "great Christmas present for the resort" but said financial support from businesses would be needed to make it a success.

It comes after organisers of the Cleethorpes Air Show pulled out of organising a display in 2015 due to funding problems.

Read the full story in the Christmas Eve edition of the Grimsby Telegraph.

Loved ones of a teenager tragically killed in a crash on the Lincolnshire coast will pay tribute to her with a balloon release.

Schoolgirl Jess Dunning,16, died in a crash in Skegness last week, as reported.

Balloons will be let-go from the end of Skegness Pier at 1.30pm on Sunday, January 4, with notes and tributes to the teenager attached.

An event created on Facebook has almost 200 people listed as attending so far.

The page states: "Bring a balloon with your name and a note on if you wish.

"If you knew Jessica come along and pay your respects for our angel! Let everyone know."

Jess was killed in a crash on the A158 Burgh Road at around 7am on Wednesday December 17.

She was fatally injured near Southview Leisure Park and died at the scene.

Police in Lincolnshire are investigating the suspicious death of a nine-year-old boy.

The boy's death is being investigated and a 64-year-old man is helping police with enquiries, a force statement said.

Officers were called just before midday to an address in Pennell Street, Lincoln, from where the boy was taken by ambulance to Lincoln County Hospital. He was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.

A cordon has been put in place at the address while officers carry out a number of investigations at the scene and is expected to remain overnight.

Pennell street resident Paul Hardwick 27, who lives in a property opposite the house, with his wife Kayleigh, 26, said: "I work at Sainsburys on the night shift and I was asleep in bed at lunchtime when I woke up and saw police cars and the first responders parked in the street.

"We've only lived here since August but I've seen the little lad a few times."

The public are being warned of the risks of sky lanterns to wildlife and buildings this festive season.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) says evidence has shown that the frames of lanterns can harm or even kill farm animals if they are ingested, fields of standing crops and buildings are at significant risk of being set alight, while littering is also a big problem.

The NFU is highlighting the dangers as part of its Love your Countryside campaign.

Last month we reported how a sky lantern ignited a shed in New Waltham.

Retired store owner Harry Doherty, 78, raced out with his garden hose when the blaze started at the rear of his back garden in Anningson Lane.

As neighbours shouted at him to withdraw from the fire and warned him he would be killed, Harry showered water on the fire to protect his own garden shed.

It contained gas bottles and could have caused an explosion.

A number of local authorities have already taken steps to ban the release of lanterns on their land while concerns have also been raised by airports, fire services and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency over the similarity to distress flares.

NFU deputy president Minette Batters said: "We realise that these lanterns can be quite spectacular but our members know only too well how dangerous they can be - they can harm and even kill farm animals, cause fires to crops, grassland on moors and bales of hay and straw that have been stacked, which can lead to a loss of buildings.

"We would urge everyone to back British farming and think twice before setting them alight this New Year and releasing them into the environment.

"The NFU continues to call for an outright ban on the sale of sky lanterns and we will continue to lobby government until action is taken."

Sony have announced that they will show The Interview in selected cinemas on Christmas Day despite previously stopping the film's distribution.

Following terrorist threats, the company previously decided to cancel the release of the movie starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, this drew a lot of criticism with even president Obama saying the decision was a "mistake".

US officials had blamed North Korea for a high-profile hack into Sony servers that leaked scripts and personal emails.

The film is based around an attempt to "take out" the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un.

Threats were made on cinemas that were expected to show the comedy, which cost $42million to make and tens of millions to market.

Theater founder Tim League at the Alamo Drafthouse, in Texas, tweeted: "Breaking news: Sony has authorized screenings of THE INTERVIEW on Christmas Day. We are making shows available within the hour. #Victory."

The Alamo has theaters in California, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Texas, and Virginia.

The Plaza Atlanta also posted: "Breaking Plaza News:The Interview will open Exclusive on 12/25 . The Plaza will be one of the few theaters in the nation to open the film."

The Grimsby Telegraph understands that there has been an accident involving at least one vehicle on Thoresby Road near the village of Fulstow.

The road has bee closed off by police in both directions as they wait for a vehicle recovery service.

Motorists are advised to find alternative routes in the meantime.

One witness commented on the amount of "flashing blue lights" at the scene but it is unknown, at this point, if any has been injured as a result of the incident.