LACEBY residents are being urged to get involved in a project aiming to restore the natural splendour of a globally rare habitat in the village.

Laceby Beck has been classified as being in "poor ecological status" by the European Water Framework Directive due to environmental changes in the area.

The beck is a chalk stream, a habitat which can only be found in parts of eastern and south England as well as Normandy in France.

As they are fed by groundwater from a chalk geology, these types of streams offer a number of special characteristics which make them unique.

When in peak condition, their clear water carries little sediment which, in conjunction with their stable flows and temperatures, and low levels of nutrients such as ammonia, phosphate and nitrate, make them attractive to an array of rare and unusual wildlife.

Among the species which call chalk streams their home include water voles, otters, kingfisher, heron and the nationally threatened white-clawed crayfish.

Ruth Craig, project officer of the Lincolnshire Chalk Stream Project (LCSP), explained why Laceby's chalk stream is in dire need of attention.

She said: "The beck is fed from the chalk spring Well Beck just off the A18.

"Unfortunately, in recent years, this spring has become intermittent which impacts on the ecological status of the river.

"It's not just here either. Agricultural intensification over the past few decades has affected much of Lincolnshire's chalk stream habitat."

The LCSP was founded almost ten years ago to turn the tide and help protect streams such as Laceby Beck.

In recent years, projects to restore the stream have seen improvements made at Laceby Manor Golf Course. The LCSP also worked with farmers downstream of the golf course to restore 2km of the bankside.

Plans are now underway for further work to be carried out.

Ruth said: "We have now received further support thanks to WREN's Biodiversity Action Fund, which will allow us to increase resources to help encourage and support more community involvement and to deliver a further 9.8km of chalk stream improvements in Lincolnshire, including Laceby Beck."

Assistance from local residents is an important part of this latest phase and Will Bartle, chalk stream monitoring officer, is looking to get volunteers who want to get hands-on in helping to improve the beck.

He said: "We are trying to encourage local people to take ownership of the beck

"We have got some rare butterfly and fish species in there. It's a Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat so we're keen to improve the ecology.

"For example, there should be a population of brown trout but there isn't because the flow is so low. Improving this is vital."

Now the new year has arrived, the ideal time is fast approaching for the latest phase of work to begin, which is planned to take place around March and April.

"It's best to do it in the winter when flows are high," said Will.

"We'd like to get people to do a bit of stream-dipping and we're also on the lookout for volunteers to do some riverfly monitoring."

The LCSP is also hoping to keep interest in Laceby Beck's natural beauty alive by other means.

Will said: "We're looking at getting a display board put up near the beck.

"This would give information to visitors on the various species they can spot in and around the stream.

"We think something like this would help promote the beck and show that it's a habitat to be appreciated.

Anyone who would like to volunteer can get involved by e-mailing Will Bartle at william.bartle@lincolnshire.gov.uk

LOUTH-area golfer Ashton Turner is part of the powerful England junior golf squad which will attempt to defend their title at the Costa Ballena International Quadrangular Tournament in Spain.

The six-strong team will go into battle from January 21-23.

The Costa Ballena competition is played on a round robin basis against teams from Finland, Germany and hosts Spain, with each match comprising three foursomes and six singles.

England's victory in last year's event was their first since 2006.

Turner, who is a member of Kenwick Park Golf Club, will fight for victory alongside team-mates Jamie Bower (Meltham, Yorkshire), Jamie Dick (Forest Hills, Gloucestershire), Scott Gregory (Corhampton, Hampshire), Bobby Keeble (Crowlands Heath, Essex) and Sean Towndrow (Southport & Ainsdale, Lancashire).

Turner, 18, is a former Under-16 and current boys international.

Last year the Alford ace represented GB&I against Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy – and also tied for fourth in the Daily Telegraph Junior event, despite carrying an injury.

HARDY swimmers saw in the New Year by plunging into Alexandra Dock.

It has kept the 54-year-old Grimsby tradition going.

Pete Winchester, 73, who celebrated his award of an MBE in the New Year Honours list was joined by Margaret Smith and Tony Espin in the plunge into near freezing waters.

It was Margaret's 39th and Tony's 20th dip on New Year's Eve.

Pete said: "Due to other commitments, there were just the three of us. But we had a group of around 40 to 50 people cheer us on. That is amazing when you consider that it was midnight on New Year's Eve."

He told how the temperature had dipped to 34 degrees Fahrenheit which is just above freezing.

Pete said: "It was blooming cold. We frolicked around for a while and then retreated to the showers and then enjoyed a glass of whisky."

Pete, who received his honour for services to swimming and the local community by raising in excess of £150,000 over 30 years, was the founder member of the New Year's Eve dip.

He recalled: "Myself and the late Alec Davies thought we would come up with the idea after we spoke about the Christmas Day swim.

"It has been a ritual and we thought we should do something different and do a bit for charity.

"I did not think it would go on this long.

"I thought it would be a one off. But there was a load of people and the Grimsby Telegraph made a big thing of it.

"People kept asking when we would do the next one and it has gone on ever since.

"I said I would give in at 50 but we are up to 54 now and there is no chance of giving in. After my heart operation it has given me a new lease of life. I feel strong and feel I can do it."

Peter told how he celebrated the award of his MBE at home in Holton-le-Clay with friends and family.

The host said: "We had a drink to my good fortune."

He added: "I feel happy, honoured and humbled by the MBE.

"Thanks to the coverage in the Grimsby Telegraph and it going on the paper's website, the news has gone all over the world. I have had messages from India, America, Angola, Spain and a special message of congratulations from the president of the Channel Swimmers Association, Michael Reid.

Peter said he appreciated the congratulations of champion swimmer Brenda Fisher of Grimsby.

He also received praise from Marguarite Pike, of Plymouth, who is the only woman to have swum across The River Humber and back in the 1980s.

THANKS to the response from Grimsby Telegraph readers, a gang of cats are on their way to finding a new home.

A group of up to ten cats were left alone in a property following the sad passing of their owner.

Melvin Brambles died aged 63 and it was his final wish that his cats would be looked after.

His close friend Kim Harvey made a promise during his illness, at the hands of a life-limiting condition, that she would see them all into good homes.

The 53-year-old, of Manchester Street, said: "I am so pleased we have been able to find new families and foster homes for the cats.

"It is a relief because even catching them in the first place was quite difficult, but I'm very happy with where each cat has ended up; they are all in lovely homes.

"I would like to thank everyone who has provided a loving home for these cats, as well as those who have donated food recently."

Cats have gone to homes in Waltham, Grimsby and Scartho, as well as to a charity in Cleethorpes.

Her friends Chris and Michael Knowles even donated to the cause all the way from Coventry.

Kim added: "His funeral is on Wednesday and now I am confident that he can go in peace.

"I am pleased we managed to sort things out before his funeral, he would be over the moon.

"He lived for those cats and I hope they get used to their new surroundings as soon as possible. I'm sure they will be very happy."

She would also like to thank Karen Harvey, Claire, of Warneford Road, and her friend Jane Clark; all of whom have helped with the appeal and care of the cats.

THE following people have been sentenced by Grimsby magistrates:

Andrew Borum, 43, of Corporation Road, Grimsby, admitted stealing three legs of lamb, to a value unknown, from Sainsbury's on December 3 and committing a further offence while subject to a 12-month conditional discharge imposed by Grimsby And Cleethorpes Magistrates' Court on June 2 for theft. He was also resentenced for his original offence of stealing goods to the value of £333.91 from Morrisons on May 15. He was made subject to a 12-month community order, with supervision and a requirement to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £22.50 compensation.

Michael Bennett, 46, of St Lewis Court, Grimsby, admitted failing to attend an appointment to assess whether he was dependant on drugs, after supplying a sample, which suggested opiates may be present in his body, on November 3. He also admitted committing a further offence while subject to a 12-month conditional discharge, imposed by Grimsby and Cleethorpes magistrates on October 23 for theft. He was fined £50 with a £20 Government-imposed victims' surcharge.

Raymond Ward, 47, of Rutland Street, Grimsby, admitted possession of an offensive weapon on November 11; stealing deodorant to a value unknown from Boyes on October 1; committing a further offence while subject to a 12-month conditional discharge imposed by Grimsby and Cleethorpes magistrates on April 14 for two counts of theft and commission of a further offence while subject to a 12-month conditional discharge imposed by Grimsby And Cleethorpes Magistrates' Court for burglary and failing to provide a specimen. He was committed to prison for ten weeks, suspended for a year, with a 28-day curfew and 12 months' supervision. He was also ordered to pay an £80 victims' surcharge and £85 costs. A knife and hammer were also ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

THE local authority is backing a Government campaign to reduce the amount of sugar children are consuming.

Change4Life, a campaign launched by Public Health England (PHE) on Monday, is promoting "sugar swap" tips as part of a push to reduce the sugar intake of young children.

One of these tips is for children to bin their ice creams and eat low-fat yoghurt instead.

It comes as a survey found that two-thirds of parents are worried about the amount of sugar in their children's diets.

In North East Lincolnshire, 14.8 per cent of children start school overweight.

Councillor Peter Wheatley, portfolio holder for health and chair of the health and wellbeing board, said: "We are all eating too much sugar and the impact this has on our health is evident.

"Past national campaigns have shown that making simple swaps works and makes a real difference and this year's is focusing on sugar alone.

"We know that mums want to provide a healthy diet for their children but balancing a number of competing priorities, including healthy eating, can be tricky.

"Although sugar consumption is a worry for parents, we understand that taking steps to reduce sugar can be really difficult."

According to Department of Health guidelines, added sugars should make up just one tenth of a person's calorie intake.

But statistics show that younger children, particularly those aged between four and ten, are consuming up to 50 per cent more than this.

The Change4Life campaign will offer parents a 'sugar challenge', suggesting food which can be substituted for sugary products.

Research shows that 17 per cent of children's sugar intake comes from soft drinks, and another 17 per cent is made up of biscuits, buns, cakes, pastries and fruit pies.

Fruit juice makes up 13 per cent and eight per cent for breakfast cereals.

Cllr Wheatley added: "Reducing sugar intake is important for the health of our children now and in the future. We hope that these simple Sugar Swaps from Change4Life will make it easier for parents to reduce their family's sugar intake."

"Look out for further information about healthy eating sessions in schools and children's centres across North East Lincolnshire."

For more information about the campaign, contact the PHE press office on 020 83277901.

A DELAY in the collection of recycling waste over the New Year period left certain Grimsby streets looking "horrendous" – according to one borough councillor.

Liberal Democrat councillor for the East Marsh, Steve Beasant, has received complaints from residents whose recycling boxes have overflowed into their road.

The blue, orange and green recycling boxes do not have lids on them so there is no way of stopping the content flying off across the pavement and into the street in adverse weather conditions.

It is particularly problematic at this time of year, given that families have acquired excess bottles, cans and cardboard packaging during the celebratory festive period.

Councillor Beasant said: "The recycling was meant to be collected last Wednesday, we were then told that the delayed collection would be sorted by Friday and Saturday but they never turned up.

"There was high winds on Friday which caused litter to spread all over the roads – like Columbia, Cooper and Fairmont.

"It was horrendous, it really was, so I went out and collected some off the streets myself and tried to put them in our bins – it's a joke.

"I have received ten different complaints from residents asking why they have not been collected.

"If they had said that because of the time of year it is, they would not be collecting from certain areas until such a time then that would be more acceptable, but don't say you're going to come and then not turn up."

Councillor Beasant, of Columbia Road, is no stranger to collecting rubbish within the ward, having volunteered as a litter picker in the past, pictured right.

Columbia Road resident Dave Smith said: "I could see the recycling blowing into the gutters on the street and so we cleared what was around our house.

"At this time of year, I feel it's more important to clear the recycling because of how much more each household goes through.

"Our green bin has been cleared and that is good but why can't they do the same with the recycling too?"

A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesman said: "As previously reported, the collection of waste bins and recycling boxes across North East Lincolnshire over the festive period ran behind schedule.

"The freezing temperatures made it difficult for crews to make collections due to slippery roads and footways.

"Since then, operatives have been working to clear the backlog and all domestic waste has now been collected.

"However, the collection of dry recyclables is still running behind schedule in some areas of the borough.

"Residents are asked to present their recycling boxes on their normal collection day and the backlog will be cleared by Friday.

"Additional vehicles have been deployed to clear the backlog with 24 crews currently operating instead of the normal 11.

"The council apologises for any inconvenience the delay in collections may have caused."

THE final phase of the demolition of Louth's redundant Malt Kiln has got underway.

GBM Demolition, which is based in the town, has now started the last phase of the work to flatten the 150ft eyesore to pave the way for a new Aldi supermarket.

Demolition of the main part of the kiln is due to take between two or three weeks – and you can see amazing footage of it now at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Newbridge Hill will be closed to traffic for around six weeks for the work to be carried out safely.

A diversion is along Ramsgate and Victoria Road and Keddington Road for northbound traffic.

The Louth malt kiln was the first of its kind in Europe and was built of reinforced concrete to an American design.

It processed 50,000 tonnes of barley per year, with much of the malt exported through Immingham.

It employed 65 people and production ended in 1998.

A spokeswoman for Aldi said the firm is working closely with East Lindsey District Council to make sure any disruption to the road network is minimised due to the proximity of Newbridge Hill.

The new store and car park will be a total of 1,571sq metres.

Aldi propose taking on between 35 and 40 new staff.

It is expected to be open later next year.

One of the owners of GBM, Simon Grantham, said: "It is like making memories."

He added: "Everyone has been more than supportive and helpful with the road closures."

Louth Malt Kiln Demolition 05 Jan 15 from Kurnia Aerial Photography on Vimeo.

The businessman said the demolition of the malt kiln will have an impact on house prices by adding value to properties on Newbridge Hill.

Mr Grantham said: "We heard one resident has had to buy curtains, as nobody was overlooking the property before."

He told how 100 per cent of the materials from the site will be recycled, with the concrete used as hardcore for roads and the metal sent to India for recycling for steel.

Proud mum, Lynn Bonnett, 53, took photos of her son Daniel Chapman, 31, operating the "claw" tearing down the 150ft kiln.

She said: "It is fantastic. I hope everything goes smoothly.

"We used to live down Leakes Row which had lodgings for the men that built it in the Fifties."

Louth resident, Ray Storr said: "We have been hating this gruesome landmark for 30 years. We can't wait for it to go."

Malcolm Smith, 72, of Louth said: "It is a shame to see it go. It has been a landmark for all that time."

You can see incredible footage of the demolition – from above, thanks to a drone – on our website now.

Look out for more about the drone, coming soon in your Grimsby Telegraph.

ON THE WEB: Check out a video of the demolition by logging on to www.grimsby telegraph.co.uk

TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular firefighter – who greeted the Duchess Of Cambridge on her visit to Grimsby – after he lost his six-year battle with cancer.

Pete Oxley died at home surrounded by his family on December 29. He was 39.

The married father-of-one was diagnosed with myeloma in June 2008, and his brave battle against the illness inspired friends and colleagues to raise thousands of pounds for the charity Myeloma UK in his honour.

He joined Humberside Fire And Rescue Service in 2003, after four-and-a-half years in the Royal Marines, spending most of his career on Red Watch at Peaks Lane Station.

One of his proudest moments was meeting the Duchess of Cambridge on her visit to the station in March 2013, along with his daughter Evie who handed Kate a bouquet of flowers.

Today, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to an "absolutely top bloke" who always put others before himself.

Born in Grimsby in 1975, Pete grew up in Healing and attended the village's primary and secondary schools, before going to Franklin College.

He worked as a lab technician at Ciba (now Novartis) from 1991 to 1998, but after becoming bored with "watching test tubes popping all day", he joined the Royal Marines Commandos.

It was while serving with the Marines that he met his future wife Natalie in 1999, and they married at Old Clee Church in 2001.

That year, their daughter Evie was born and deciding that he wanted to be around to see her grow up, he left the Marines and signed up for the "next most exciting thing" – the fire service.

Natalie, 41, of Larkspur Avenue, Healing, said: "He absolutely loved working for the fire service and he made some great friends there. I think he found civilian life quite frustrating because he was such a get-up and go guy."

On his encounter with the Duchess in March 2013, Natalie said: "He really enjoyed that. He kept jokingly referring to her as his girlfriend for a long time afterwards! He was bowled over by how stunning she was."

Despite undergoing chemotherapy and having stem cell and bone marrow transplants, Pete returned to work on several occasions whilst he fought the illness.

Natalie said: "In 2010 he came back from being poorly and got 11.1 on the bleep test. You have to get 8.7 but he always pushed himself.

"He was a very determined guy. He set his heart on certain things and would fight as hard as he could to get there.

"The words do not exist to express how deeply he was loved and how much he will be missed.

"He was an amazing dad and everything he did was to make sure Evie could achieve what she wanted to achieve.

"I realised he was special but I didn't realise he was so special to everyone else until I got all the cards and messages. Everyone adores him."

Evie, 13, said: "He was really funny. He used to play with me all the time and he would make me and my friends bananas and custard with chocolate. He gave up his dream job for me."

Pete's funeral will take place at Grimsby Crematorium at 12.20pm on Thursday, January 15.

A JEALOUS husband angrily grabbed his wife, pulled her backwards to the floor and stamped on her after accusing her of "having a physical relationship with his father".

He slapped her in the face the next day after again demanding to know whether she was having an affair with his father, Grimsby magistrates heard.

Michael Cutter, 44, of Willingham Street, Grimsby, admitted assaulting Kimberley Cutter on November 12 and 13.

Brendan Woodward, prosecuting, said Cutter and his wife were at their home in Duke Street, Grimsby, when he started making accusations, which he had done before, about an alleged "infidelity" by her.

She decided to leave the house and allow things to calm down. She was putting her coat on when he grabbed her and pulled her backwards, causing her to fall to the floor.

She tried to get up but her husband stood over her and stamped down with his foot on her chest, causing pain.

She was struggling to breathe but managed to get up and go to another room.

The next day, Cutter was "abrupt" with his wife and she decided to leave to let him calm down.

She later returned and was sitting on a settee when he approached her and slapped her on the side of the face.

She left and went to a neighbour's house.

Andrea Wilkes, mitigating, said Cutter suspected that his wife was in an "inappropriate relationship" with his father and "tried to confront" her over "whether that relationship had become more than just a familial relationship".

His wife had "always denied any wrongdoing" over the matter.

"As the relationship deepened, he became paranoid that she was having an affair with his father," said Miss Wilkes.

"He asked her again if she had been having a physical relationship with his father.

"He just wanted to speak to her and have one-to-one contact with her. He grabbed her. She fell to the floor.

"She was kicking out at him while he put his foot on her. He doesn't deny that what he did was wrong.

"The argument resurrected the following day. When she was responding to his accusations, he did slap her across the face.

"He is deeply remorseful and distressed by his actions."

His wife had indicated that the relationship was over, despite what he at first thought, and he believed that this was the case.

"He has lost everything because of this," said Miss Wilkes. "He has lost his home."

Unemployed Cutter had previously served in the Armed Forces and had apparently suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

He was given a four-month suspended prison sentence, a two-year supervision order, including 29 sessions of a domestic abuse programme, and a two-year restraining order, banning him from contacting his wife.

He must pay £85 costs and a Government-imposed £80 victims' surcharge.

PAUL Hurst knows that in Ollie Palmer, he's got a striker who's desperate to make the most of his loan spell with Grimsby Town.

The striker was prolific in his days with Havant and Waterlooville but things haven't gone entirely to plan since his move to League Two side Mansfield Town in 2013.

And after tracking the 22-year-old since his non-league days, Hurst was only too happy to hand him an opportunity to reinvigorate his career during his one month stay at Blundell Park.

The boss told the Telegraph: "I've had my eye on him for a while and he's someone I've wanted to bring in.

"Obviously he's got a physical presence, but he's also got a fantastic work-rate as well.

"It hasn't yet worked out at Mansfield for him on the goal front, because it's been a little stop/start for him.

"But his record before that at Havant and Waterlooville was very, very good. His manager from his time there, Lee Bradbury, was talking him up and is full of praise for him, so I'm delighted to be able to bring him here.

"He's still a very young lad, and given his size, people can sometimes forget that, but he's very mobile and has got a good first-touch, we saw that in his first training session with us yesterday.

"Different strikers score different goals and he certainly can score with his head, but he can play well on the floor as well.

"He's got that desire to get into the box and score goals and he shown that in training, which is encouraging to see – we're pleased to have him on board at the club."

On the first January arrival, Hurst continued: "He's desperate to come in and make an impression, which is what you want as a manager – you want players that are hungry and want to impress.

"Already, I've been impressed by his work-rate and that might sound extremely basic but it's something that isn't always a given with some players.

"I'll be looking for him to bring that side to his game and hopefully he can get back to the kind of goal-scoring form that he showed earlier in his career."

LOAN striker Ollie Palmer may not be the only new face on show at Grimsby Town this month.

That's according to boss Paul Hurst, who kicked-off the Mariners' transfer dealings with the signing of the 22-year-old yesterday.

It comes as a host of other Conference clubs have begun to bolster their ranks ahead of the business end of the season.

But Hurst says he will continue to shop around this January, as Town look to re-ignite their promotion charge.

He told the Telegraph: "I'm always looking, of course I am.

"If we feel that I can make an improvement to the squad and add some competition, then I'll look to do that.

"I don't want anyone to feel overly comfortable in the squad.

"I don't want us to be okay – I want better than okay and I don't want us to waste the position that we're in.

"There are going to be a lot of teams involved and it's going to be an exciting end to the season.

"Hopefully bringing in Ollie will give the squad a bit of a lift.

"You see other teams bringing new players in straight away and it's good that we've followed suit.

"Teams will look to us doing business with Ollie, but most important is the boost it gives to us.

"Ollie is the first one through the door and we'll see how we go from here on in."

Town now have three loan players at the club – with Palmer, Danny Parslow and Nathan Arnold on board.

Hurst added: "With the loans, we have to be mindful that you can only use five in your matchday squad.

"But there is still room for a couple more, but having some of the versatile players that we have means we have cover in plenty of positions."

The price of petrol could drop below £1 for the first time in five years this month.

Drivers who spend an average of £10 per week on petrol will save £1.96 a week in January, which translates to a saving of £102.14 a year if the prices remain at that rate.

Over the last 12 months the price of fuel has plummeted at North East Lincolnshire filling stations.

Since the autumn, supermarkets have lowered their prices and Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's announced this week they were knocking a further 2p off a litre.

Further oil price drops are expected before May's general election as a pre-election boost for consumers, before it rises again towards the end of the year.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: "This week's cut in supermarket petrol prices has brought lowest pump price back below 108p a litre for the first time since 2010.

"However, out in the more rural towns, supermarket petrol is 4p to 5p a litre more expensive. For anyone who commutes into the city, it would pay to keep an eye on prices there and take advantage of the up to £2-a-tank saving.

"Speculation about the average price of petrol hitting £1 a litre still remains doubtful. Oil needs to fall to $40 a barrel, but remains slightly below $60 a barrel. A weaker pound makes hitting the target even more unlikely.

"History teaches us that, in January 2009, following the late-2008 collapse of pump prices, the commodities market took a fresh look at economic prospects and started to push the price of oil back up."

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New Year, New Home! Find dozens of properties for sale and to rent in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and northern Lincolnshire at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/property

Councillors in Lincolnshire will today vote on whether to increase council tax for residents by almost 2 per cent - around £20 a year.

Lincolnshire County Council's share of the council tax could rise by 1.9 per cent – the first increase for four years.

People will pay an extra £20 for such services in 2015/16, if the proposed increase is agreed by the council's executive.

This would bring in £4.2 million to help balance the books.

In addition, there could be an extra £4 on the £193.86 police precept at Band D and increases to district councils' share of the bill.

West Lindsey District Council, which faces a £868,000 shortfall in 2015/16, is working towards a zero per cent increase.

Council leader Jeff Summers said: "Unless something crops up I'm fairly confident that it can be achieved.

"By streamlining our operations we have created space in two-thirds of our building and we have brought in businesses who pay us rent."

County council leader Martin Hill said the authority has been able to save about £150m from its annual budget in recent years and maintain frontline services.

The amount of council tax rate payers are charged is based on the value of their home:

Properties fall into one of eight 'Bands'.

The first, Band A, is for homes up to the value of £40,000.

"The last, Band H, is for homes worth more than £320,001.

All other homes sit in between, with Band D being the middle category.

In Lincolnshire, the Band D charge for county council services including schools, roads and social services in 2014/15 was £1,065.69.

New Year, New Home! Find dozens of properties for sale and to rent in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and northern Lincolnshire at grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/property

Northern Lincolnshire television star Sheridan Smith has been shortlisted in two categories for the 2015 National Television Awards.

The awards will host the biggest stars of Britain's best-loved shows at The O2 London on Wednesday January 21, 2015, live on ITV.

The first nomination for the 33-year-old, who hails from Epworth is in the Drama Performance category, for her performance in the acclaimed biopic, Cilla.

Sheridan's performance saw her version of 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' shoot up the charts in one of the TV surprises of the year.

The second nomination is in the Drama category, where the Cilla goes up against international dramas Downton Abbey, Doctor Who and Sherlock.

The actress, who has many roles to her name, graced the stage locally at a Cleethorpes talent contest.

In the archives of the Telegraph, in 1992, coverage of the Cleethorpes Junior Talent Contest grand final revealed an 11-year-old girl taking Cleethorpes by storm in a red wig.

How to vote

The final round of voting opens today, Tuesday, January 6.

You can vote free online

Oryou can vote by phone on 0901 888 2015. Calls cost no more than 26p per minute from BT landlines plus no more than 16p connection charge. Calls should last no longer than seven minutes. Calls from other networks may be higher and from mobiles will be a lot more.

Voting closes at midday on Wednesday, January 21.

Lincolnshire Police have confirmed that a 70-year-old who suffered serious facial injuries following a collision in Fulstow has been transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary.

As reported, the incident happened in Thoresby Road at around 5.25pm on Tuesday, December 23.

It has been suggested, by a spokesman for the police, that the male cyclist's condition had not worsened.

A 17-year-old moped rider, who is from North Thoresby, was treated for minor injuries.