A MAN caught speeding the wrong way down a one-way street, running a red light and driving on the wrong side of the road while trying to evade the police has been jailed.

Grimsby Crown Court heard that on June 7, Humberside Police had been asked to keep an eye out for a Ford Focus, following reports that such a car had collided with a wall and then driven off.

Prosecuting, Simon Waley said James Joss, 26, of Mansel Street, Grimsby, who was driving a Focus with a damaged bumper, was later spotted by officers in the Laceby Road area and they signaled him to stop.

However, despite the officers stopping their car in front of him, he swung out and sped away, reaching speeds of between 50 and 60mph in areas with a 30mph limit and driving "erratically".

He drove the wrong way down a one-way street and sped along Boulevard Avenue on the wrong side of the road, before mounting a kerb on Freshney Drive and coming to a halt. Joss then tried to run, but was apprehended by the police.

He later admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance.

The court heard he also had previous convictions for dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified.

Andrew Bailey, mitigating, said the only reason Joss was still disqualified was that he had not taken the extended driving test required to regain his licence.

He said the offence had "not been the worst of its kind", taking place in the early hours of a Thursday morning, with no collisions, injuries or "inconvenience to others" resulting from the incident.

Mr Bailey added Joss – who has two children and another due to be born in March – had also spent "the equivalent of a seven-month prison sentence" on remand and had a job lined up for him on his release.

However, Recorder Felicity Davies said she was minded to keep him in custody for "a little longer", adding what he had done was "absolutely stupid".

She said: "It appears likely that you had been driving the Ford Focus on the day before, on the evening of June 6, and been in collision with a wall, because it had been reported that such a vehicle had been and, consequently, the police were looking out for it."

Jailing him for 10 months, with an additional 18-month ban from driving, she said she was mindful he was soon to become a father for the third time and that he would be released in time to "help out" with the baby.

She added: "It seems to me, the sooner you can complete the disqualification period and pass the extended test, the better it will be for you and, more importantly, your family."

STUNNING Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hauer, wowed a ballroom of dancers during her debut performance in Grimsby.

The dancer performed a Latin American routine with her boyfriend Kevin Clifton, of Cleethorpes, at Clifton Dance Academy's annual Christmas dinner dance at the Humber Royal Hotel, in Grimsby.

It was a similar routine to the one she performed with Westlife heartthrob Nicky Byrne and her first dance since she was voted out of the popular TV competition.

In an exclusive interview with the Grimsby Telegraph, the Venezuelan-born beauty described her time on the show as "amazing" and spoke of her love for the "family warmth" she feels when she visits North East Lincolnshire.

She said: "We had our ups and downs as all the dancers do, but the ups were amazing and the downs weren't so bad.

"Making it into the top six and it being my first year was a great accomplishment and it was great to dance with Nicky.

"It feels great to be dancing in Grimsby. It is the first performance since the show and it feels lovely to do it for Kevin's family and friends. They have been treated to a lot of quick twirls and steps – everything they saw in Strictly, except all the lifts that we weren't allowed to do on the show! It has been a fun night, we love performing together and showing what ballroom is all about."

Kevin's parents Keith and Judy Clifton who have run the academy in Cleethorpes for 25 years.

Karen and Kevin, who works as a choreographer for the TV show, managed to squeeze in the performance despite still having heavy commitments to Strictly.

While Kevin still works on the show, Karen is preparing for the Strictly Christmas show performance as well as rehearsing for the show's tour, which begins in January, and both were back in London for 9.30am yesterday.

They will spend Christmas in Cleethorpes – before jetting off to New York for the new year – and are looking forward to a well-deserved break.

Karen added: "I love coming here – you have the best fish and chips I have ever tasted!"

FOOTBALLERS swapped the green pitch for a hospital ward, putting smiles on children's faces.

Grimsby Town players visited the Rainforest children's ward at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital.

Armed with festive goody bags, they met youngsters and chatted to parents.

First to receive the Christmas treats was four-year-old Mason Smith.

The Grimsby boy was admitted to hospital on Sunday with urinary problems. He has undergone tests and is expected to have an ultrasound scan.

He said: "I had no idea the footballers were coming. They gave me a calendar but my favourite gift was the blowing bubbles."

His mum Emily Mapplethorpe, 40, said her son had been brave.

"He had a catheter inserted and did not complain once," she said.

"We hope to go home soon but I am eager to see what the tests show.

"Having the players come in was wonderful.It gives them a lift."

Football fan Jessica Fernie, 7, of Grimsby, was having a check-up at the hospital after being admitted with stomach ache.

She said: "I am really happy to have seen them. I play football at school. T

"he players asked me how I was and told me to get well soon.

"It took my mind off of being in hospital."

Corey Todd , 9, who is Manchester United fan but follows his home team, said: "I started having chest problems and on Sunday night I collapsed.

"I was taken to hospital to be checked over and am back in for tests.

"It made me smile when the players came in.

"They gave me lots of cool stuff and I managed to get an autograph from Shaun Pearson, Grimsby Town's centre-half."

Team goalkeeper Greg Fleming said: "I have done similar things to this at other football clubs but never with Grimsby Town.

"It is a special day for us all as it puts a lot into perspective when you see these poorly children. I have two children myself and I am just thankful that they have their health. I'm blessed to be able to give my time."

DESPITE a 700-signature petition and concerns over its leadership, Great Coates Parish Council should not be axed.

That is the finding of a review after residents called for it to be abolished.

Villagers have waged a war against the council after it was revealed council tax would be increased to repay a £300,000 loan for a new hall.

When plans for the development progressed – despite 80 per cent of residents voting against it – 700 people signed a petition calling for the governance review.

A report prepared by members of the review panel – which heard from interested parties on November 5, 6 and 9 – has stated the authority should stay.

But there are a number of areas of concern, including:

The "stand-off" between the council and residents could have been avoided with better engagement.

Lack of transparency surrounding the village hall project led to the distrust between the council and residents.

The council's reaction to the overwhelming outcome to the parish poll – where the majority of residents voted against the village hall – was "somewhat dismissive".

It is not clear if leadership on "significant local issues" is being given by the village councillors or the clerk, Kathy Nunn.

There have been "lapses in governance" at the council, which have created concerns over the village hall procurement process.

The review recommends that the "Draconian" step of abolishing the council would not be effective, but that the council should carry out a review into its activities.

It also recommends that the council begin working closely with members of Great Coates Residents' Association (Grass) and others to agree a plan for the future of the hall, as work has started.

Councillor Terry Thurogood, chairman of the community governance review panel, said: "The panel held three public meetings during November and residents and the village council were invited to speak. We also accepted representations from residents. The meetings covered a number of issues relating to the leadership, culture and governance of the council."

The panel has come up with the recommendations that will be put to an NELC scrutiny panel tomorrow at 2pm, prior to referral to full council.

The report is also being discussed by members of the parish council at its meeting at Great Coates Village Nursery School, in Station Road, from 6.30pm tonight.

ELLA Henderson was meeting lawyers at music giant Sony yesterday, discussing her record deal.

The Tetney teenager, voted off The X factor in week seven, has been snapped up by the label, revealing the news on Ireland's The Saturday Night Show.

She told host Brendan O'Connor: "I'm just so, so excited to go into a studio and finally do what I've always wanted to.

"I have already written stuff, but I can't wait to write new material because I haven't done so through the period of the show, and I've experienced so many emotions."

Proud mum Michelle told the Telegraph that Ella is "over the moon". "She has been working so hard and it has now paid off. Record executives within Sony will be now pitching to Ella."

The family are looking forward to spending Christmas at home because Sean, Ella's dad, is in London managing her.

"It will be nice to spend Christmas as one family," Michelle added.

"It has been really hectic and Ella can't wait to chill out."

Singing tutor Stephanie Norman, of Clee Road, taught Ella for four years.

"Ella has a natural talent and it doesn't surprise me she has got the deal. I feel really proud I taught her," she said.

THE date has been set for the auction of Cleethorpes' iconic Pier – and it is expected to attract scores of property hunters.

Held at the historic venue itself, the auction led by Swindells Auctioneers and Consultants, will be on Saturday, February 2, from 6pm.

It promises to be quite a show as the auctioneers are inundated with interest from potential bidders and the public are welcome.

Auctioneer Edward Swindell said: "There is definitely going to be a buzz about the place and we hope to get a good cross section of people.

"The survival of this building is so important for the surrounding area. It has such a great potential; it just needs to be utilised in the right way."

With a guide price of £400,000, it is not the most expensive in Swindell's portfolio, but it is one of the quirkier, and Mr Swindell added: "It is one of the most unusual lots we have ever sold."

Owner Bryn Ilsley spent £200,000 refurbishing it after buying it in May 2010 but when leaseholders Alistair Clugston and Hugo Marfleet decided to close the venue, for unknown reasons, he decided to sell up.

The building appeared in the London Metro at the weekend – prompting interest from the Isle of Man and Sussex.

Auction manager Tina Waterfall believes it could make a perfect replacement Winter Gardens.

She said: "It should be the focal point in Cleethorpes for live entertainment. It has got character, history and if the right person buys it, this could be the turning point in its history. The only thing this building needs investment in is the owner's time.

"We want the auction to be jam-packed with people.

"It is a very exciting, quirky lot and we are proud to be assisting with the sale of it."

A CLEETHORPES woman has been warned she faces jail after being convicted of stealing more than £17,000 from a Grimsby nursery.

Grimsby Crown Court heard Kelly Marley, 31, of Nishe Mews, Taylors Avenue, had consistently denied two counts of stealing £17,616.50 in payments made by parents of children attending the Grimsby Institute-run Little Stars nursery.

Marley, who has an 18-month-old son, openly wept as the jury delivered their verdict and Recorder Felicity Davies told her it was only an "act of mercy" that she had not been immediately jailed.

Bernard Gateshill, prosecuting, said the money had been stolen in two different ways, but on each occasion Marley – who was then deputy manager – had been at work and had taken some part in the day's banking.

He explained that when parents paid they would be issued with a receipt, then the payment would be logged into the child's record card – also known as an A to Z file – and a daily cash book.

The entries in the cash book would then be added up between 3pm and 5pm each day and a nursery banking sheet prepared to be sent to the Institute finance office with the money.

Mr Gateshill said the thefts had come to light on Monday, October 18, 2010, when the nursery's then-manager Tracy Bennett was finalising the banking, but was unable to get the totals to tally.

She checked the receipts issued for that day and discovered that three signed by Marley – two for £57 and a third for £80 – had not been entered into the daily cash book. There was also no sign of the money, which had all been paid in cash.

After informing Colin Bagley, the then-director of student services at the Institute, the pair went back through the daily cash book, checking it against the receipts issued for each day.

On discovering more money appeared to be missing, the police were called and Marley was subsequently arrested and dismissed.

After seizing the nursery's records, Humberside Police officer DC Susan Shepherd – who led the investigation – found further discrepancies, which revealed a total of £13,686.50 had been stolen on 83 days between June 25, 2006, and October 18, 2010.

In the course of the investigation, DC Shepherd also found that on 39 occasions in the same period, the totals on the nursery banking sheet had been wrongly added up – with the final totals banked up to £100 less than the amount actually taken.

This time the total unaccounted for was £3,930 and again, all the sheets were signed by Marley.

For Marley, Andrew Bailey read numerous character references from her family, friends and colleagues, including her current employer, who said she had been marked out for promotion.

She said she had taken her on in full knowledge of the charges she faced, giving her access to large amounts of cash and high value goods without issue and that Marley was a "valuable" and "highly trusted" member of the team.

It was also not disputed that the nursery's banking procedure was "lax" – often with different members of staff involved at all four stages of the procedure.

The court also heard security was almost non-existent, with the door to the office left open and the money kept in a brown envelope in an unlocked filing cabinet that could be accessed by staff and parents.

Marley claimed that just because she had signed the paperwork, it did not follow that she had even had sight of the cash, adding that during busy periods, she would sign receipts and other members of staff would physically take the payments.

She added the end-of-day banking was "often" done by more than one person, with one counting the money and shouting out the totals and another – who would sign the form – writing down the figures without first checking they were correct.

However, the jury rejected her assertion that she would not sign to say she had taken money from a parent and then steal it, knowing she had incriminated herself, and that whoever was really responsible for the thefts had "set her up".

Recorder Davies told her these were "serious offences" and that it was only her previous unblemished character that had prevented her from being immediately jailed. She will be sentenced early next year.

COUNCIL leader Chris Shaw accused local In Bloom groups of pulling a "cheap political stunt" after they questioned the authority's support for their work.

Councillor Shaw made the comment in response to a question asked at last week's full council meeting, which suggested that he was not prepared to support the groups unless they agreed to "draconian terms and conditions".

As reported, the Labour council leader says that an elected member, in the shape of portfolio holder for tourism and culture Mick Burnett, should sit on the In Bloom committees of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham.

However, this is opposed by the groups themselves, who say it will turn them into a "political tool".

But in an outspoken riposte at last week's meeting, Councillor Shaw accused the groups of making "misleading comments", and claimed that the chairman of Cleethorpes In Bloom Bob Callison had committed the authority to spending a five-figure sum on hosting next year's Britain In Bloom awards ceremony without asking its permission.

In a thinly veiled attack clearly aimed at Mr Callison, Councillor Shaw also accused a "certain individual" of politicising In Bloom in the past, by posting "certain political leaflets" in Cleethorpes In Bloom envelopes.

Mr Callison has stood as a Conservative candidate in the last three local elections. Councillor Shaw also seized on comments made by Mr Callison in the Grimsby Telegraph that a portfolio holder would not be able to tell the difference between "an oak tree and a monkey tree".

Councillor Shaw said: "I think what he means is a monkey puzzle tree."

He then went on to reel off a list of facts about both species, before adding: "I think that shows that some of us do know the difference between a monkey puzzle tree and an English oak tree.

"I also know the difference between a question asked out of concern and one that is asked as a cheap political stunt."

He added: "My final piece of advice – when you go to pick the grapes from the vine, pick the ones at the top because they are the sweetest. Don't pick the sour ones at the bottom."

Mr Callison said representatives of all three In Bloom committees will meet to discuss the outcome of the meeting once the minutes have been published, expected to be later this week.

MONKS' Dyke Tennyson College's Year 8 football team have made it through to the last 32 of the English Schools Football Cup with a hard-fought win over South Hunsley.

In freezing conditions, it took a while for the Louth team to settle and they soon found themselves 1-0 down.

Joe White was stretchered off injured and the score remained the same at half-time meaning it was a dejected Monks' Dyke team that went into the dressing room at the break.

But they emerged looking like a different team and soon began to reach the standards that they had set in previous games.

And, after only a few minutes of the restart, Riley Hall scored a stunning goal to bring his side level.

Tom James made two fantastic saves to keep the Louth team in the competition and with ten minutes of the game to go, Jay Turner popped up at the other end to score what would prove to be the winner as Monks Dyke held on to see off a resilient South Hunsley outfit.

After the game, coach and head of PE at the school Steve Wright, said: "This was a massive achievement for the team.

"It was a fantastic game, played in the right spirit and all credit must go to both sides."

Monks Dyke now face a home tie with Malet Lambert of Kingston Upon Hull in the next round of the competition in the New Year.

Monks Dyke are through to battle it out with the last 32 teams in the country – a huge achievement, considering the tournament initially attracted over 700 entrants.

The team are currently seeking sponsorship, if you can help, please call Steve Wright on 01507 606349.

A COUPLE who have been through one of their toughest challenges in 48 years of marriage got a welcome Christmas gift.

The Grimsby Telegraph has teamed up with the Artie White Foundation for the 12 Days Of Christmas campaign, giving deserving members of our community toy vouchers or Christmas hampers.

One of the lucky couples was June and George Aisthorpe, of Pendreth Place, Cleethorpes, whose year got off to bad start when June, 85, fell and fractured her pelvic floor bone.

George, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, visited his wife daily while she was in hospital for five weeks but when she returned home, she fell again and had to return for another ten weeks.

However, when June started rapidly losing weight, George insisted on taking her home to care for her himself – and she is now on the mend.

George said: "June couldn't do anything for herself so I wanted to care for her because I love her – for better, for worse.

"I washed and clothed her, did cooking, housework, cleaning – I did it all, but she would do the same for me and did when I was first struck with rheumatoid arthritis.

"June had always insisted on doing all of those things before so it took some getting used to, but even June admits, the cooking at least has definitely got better."

The couple met at Stevenson's Dance Hall and were married in Old Clee Church.

And although their dancing days may be over, June, who has spent almost all of 2012 in a wheelchair, is now hopeful she will be able to walk again.

"I am determined to walk again – I just want to get out to the shops," she added.

June said she couldn't believe it when the hamper was delivered after friend Kay Lovecock, who she met through her late brother Peter, nominated the couple.

George said: "It was such a lovely surprise and we didn't expect it at all. The people who make these up are real heroes."

Chairman of the Artie White Foundation Barry Meadows, who presented the hamper, said: "They were a lovely couple and were over the moon when we gave them the hamper. "

NEW owners of a bar open for more than 15 years are catering for a slightly older crowd on Cleethorpes High Street – creating 15 jobs.

Harvey's Lounge and Kitchen opened last week with a strictly over-25s policy after a £250,000 refurbishment, taking on 15 employees, including a manager, bar workers and kitchen staff.

The building had been Mitchell's Bar since 1997 but, this summer, it was bought by Coach House pub owner David Butler.

Mr Butler is also behind The Wine Bar and Kitchen on Sea View Street, formerly Mercer's, which opened earlier this month.

The Sea View Street premises became Jose's, briefly, at the end of October before changing its name again.

Manager of Harvey's Andrew Fisher said a bar for older people is exactly what the resort needs.

Mr Fisher said: "There are plenty of bars for the 18-25 age group but nowhere older people can go and enjoy a nice drink in a safe and calm atmosphere. The surroundings are very nice and in-keeping with the boutique-style bar which the new owner is trying to create in this area."

But there will be no room for manoeuvre for younger people wanting to check out the exclusive new bar.

"It is a place for a more mature crowd and we will enforce the policy strictly," he added.

The bar is opening for drinks from 7pm at the moment and has a licence to serve until 2am.

However, Mr Fisher said they plan to "play it by ear" and will soon be opening in the daytime, serving a menu based mainly on Mediterranean food.

Those who went to the exclusive opening-night champagne reception on Thursday seemed to like the idea – and the new look.

Steve Higgins, 52, of Cambridge Street, said: "It's a really good idea for this area. Most of the pubs in Cleethorpes are full of younger people so people my age don't really come into the resort for a drink."

Mary Green, 64, of Primrose Way, said: "It's really nice inside – they've done a good job of doing it up. It will be a good place to come for women who want to go out together."

Sue Clark, 59, of Fieldhouse Road, said: "It is very impressive and exactly what the area needs – somewhere a bit upmarket.

"The bar is somewhere really nice that older people can go to on a special occasion."

IT'S a high-octane, full contact sport and it's about to hit North East Lincolnshire with a bang – Roller Derby is coming to town.

When Sandra Ritchie decided to take on a fitness drive after the birth of her child, she could have taken up cycling, walking, or some other sedate means of exercise.

But instead, she decided to try out the rough-and-tumble sport of Roller Derby.

It is one of the fastest growing women's sport in the world – although male sides do exist – and involves two teams of five players, battling it out over hour-long 'bouts'.

A bout takes place on an oval track, where team members – four 'blockers' and a 'jammer' will use any legal means necessary to block or knock the opposing team over in order to get their jammer through and score points.

When Ritchie found out that the area didn't have a team, she and a group of friends decided to set up their own.

The result is the Grim Reavers – Grimsby and Cleethorpes' first ever team.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Sandra explained: "I was having a bit of fitness kick, trying to lose a bit of weight after having my third and final baby.

"So I took up running and joined the gym, which was all well and good, but it wasn't that exciting," she said.

"I've got a few friends that do Roller Derby in the areas where they live and I thought – 'I wouldn't mind trying that'.

"And so I went on Facebook and asked if we had a team around here that I could train with and the general consensus was that there wasn't one in the immediate area.

"But I got a lot of feedback from local people saying how much they'd like to give it a go if a team could be set up around here, and so it was a case of 'let's do it – let's start a team'.

"It all just went from there really."

After only a few weeks since its inception, the team is now holding weekly training sessions at Grimsby's YMCA on Peaks Lane.

The ultimate aim is for the Reavers to eventually meet the criteria laid down by the UK Roller Derby Association, enabling them to take part in bouts against teams from across the country.

But Sandra said that for now, the sole focus is growing the team and allowing its members to have fun while also keeping fit.

"We've only just having our first couple of training sessions and it has been amazing to watch this idea turn into reality – it's literally happened over a couple of weeks, it's been amazing.

"We've got a team name, a team logo by a tattooist in Louth and we're ready to go now – there is a lot of people backing it and it's really exciting.

"We have around 20 players already, which is fantastic considering how early it all is.

"There is a real cross section of people, we've got some who are experienced in roller derby right down to complete beginners.

"We've got to train hard for six months, pass our basic skills test and once we've done that, we can start going to bouts and then after that we can join the UK Roller Derby Association and play teams from all over the country – that's the ultimate aim.

"It's a rapidly growing sport and it's a fun and exciting way of getting fit.

"It is a contact sport and there are going to be injuries but people can just come along and take part for fitness and not necessarily join the team."

She added: "It's completely new to the area – it's never been done before so we're testing the water with it at the minute, but so far, it's going really well."

WHAT IS ROLLER DERBY?

Roller Derby is a full contact sport played on roller skates. There are five players from each team on the track at any one time; four Blockers and one Jammer. The Jammers need to get round the track passing opposing team members to earn points, the other teams Blockers will be trying to stop her and vice versa.

Roller Derby originated in America and was first played in Chicago in 1935. Each game lasts one hour.

There are 64 pages of rules and an astonishingly varied array of tactics, including 'Ending the Jam', 'Passing the Star' and 'Goating'.

Get involved

The Grim Reavers Roller Derby team train every Sunday at the YMCA, Peaks Lane.

Men and women over the age of 18 are welcome.

For more information, call Sandra on 07850211027 or email lolaheart.grimreavers@gmail.com or search for Grim Reavers on Facebook.

LOUTH'S Christmas Fatstock Show was rammed with champions.

The 83rd annual show at the town's historic cattle market was hailed a great success as organisers began planning for the 2013 show.

Generous supporters and visitors to the show helped raise more than £2,000 for the county's air ambulance service and the support network for farmers.

The event showcases the finest beasts in Lincolnshire and attracts producers from all over the county to the Louth market.

It is the only surviving market in Lincolnshire and hosts a regular Thursday auction of cattle and sheep.

The entries of cattle and sheep were again high for 2012 with 38 cattle and 79 sheep on show.

Russell Jeanes, prime cattle auctioneer said: "This is the one opportunity that the livestock farmers of Lincolnshire have to show off the quality of their livestock at the only remaining livestock market in the county.

"The event was very well supported by the agricultural community, and the judges had an entry of excellent quality livestock to judge.

"The quality of the cattle and sheep in the show was very good this year, which was reflected in a strong trade on the day.

"The auctioneers would like to thank all our vendors and buyers for their continuing support, and we look forward to a successful 2013."

A total of £2,100 was raised for the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

A CHIEF executive is being sought by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.

The move follows the increasing level of responsibilities from Government, and the launch of its five-year plan for growth that focuses on realising the potential of the Humber Estuary.

With chairman and manager in place, the Humber LEP has already secured the largest enterprise zone in the country, as well as £30 million of Regional Growth Fund money to invest and an £8 million business loan fund to unlock development projects.

The post is one of several appointments that will be made over the next few months.

Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement saw plans to give LEPs control of devolved growth funding, the ability to set priorities for European funding, and a new strategic role in skills policy, revealed.

Further developments are expected in the Government's response to the Heseltine Review, which proposed an expanded role for LEPs, in the spring.

The LEP is also working with the four Humber local authorities on the development of a City Deal proposal, which would see further powers and funding devolved.

Chairman, Lord Christopher Haskins, said: "The role of LEPs is expanding as the Government places increasing trust in them, and the successful ones develop a growing arsenal of tools and funding to support their local economies.

"We need to grow our own capacity as well, while remaining small and nimble, in order to manage all of these functions.

"The new chief executive role will be pivotal in providing leadership and bringing together the talent and assets that already exist to drive forward our ambitious programme."

For more information visit www.humberlep.org

North East Lincolnshire Council's animal welfare officers deal with more than 560 stray dogs every year. Reporter Richard York spent a day with the officers.

THE Animal Welfare Team deals with many cases of unwanted and stray dogs every day.

I spent the day with enforcement officer Jamie Taylor, who has worked for the council for six years.

He says every day is different, but the Christmas period always brings a big influx as people cannot afford to look after their dogs.

"We get calls to collect strays and we have people bring them in."

However, there are some unscrupulous people who try to get rid of their unwanted pets.

"In our job we have to investigate the circumstances of every dog we receive.

"Microchips are a big help. People don't realise how easy and effective it is to get dogs chipped. It only takes ten minutes and we can even come to you.

"We always scan dogs for microchips, but even if they have them they are not always helpful, as owners often do not update the information when they move house or pass the animal on.

"We keep all animals for 24 hours to try and return them to their owners – after that they go to Sangreat Kennels, in Brigg."

The kennels provide accommodation for 15 dogs from the council and will hold them for eight days before they are placed for adoption. So far this year the kennels have taken 170 and more are expected over Christmas.

Jamie said: "We don't have much space, so we have to move them on quickly.

"There has been a big increase in status dogs, the staffies and the rottweilers, and we have also seen expensive breeds like akitas.

"These dogs are sought-after, so you would think owners would try to sell them first before abandoning them.

"A lot of people would think that areas like Nunsthorpe and the East Marsh would be where most of the dogs come from, but that's not the case.

"We find strays all over the town and have many brought into us.

"We investigate all cases and if we find the owner has abandoned them we will take action."

Dogs that cannot be given back are taken to Sangreat.

Joint owner Paul Greenfield said: "During the summer people can be more concerned with going on holiday and if they cannot get a kennel they sometimes just leave the dog and hope its still there when they come back.

"Bonfire Night brings many dogs that escape and get disorientated by the fireworks.

"People chuck the dogs out at Christmas because they can't afford them."

"Some dogs are genuinely lost and simply having a collar and tag would make so much difference to reuniting them with the owners.

"A lot of people don't realise it's a legal requirement to have a collar and tag."

Sangreat and the council post images online of the dogs they currently hold in a bid to find their owners.

Paul said: "We never put down healthy dogs, but sometimes we must make a decision on a dangerous dog. Only the ill, old or the extremely dangerous dogs are humanly destroyed.

"Staffies can be really nice friendly dogs. Any dog can be aggressive it just depends on the human interaction it has had."

Councillor Dave Bolton, portfolio holder for community safety and neighbourhoods, said: "To give every possible chance of reuniting a dog with its owner, all dogs are recorded on the Sangreat Kennels website.

"Sadly, we find many dogs are abandoned by owners who can no longer look after them.

"I would urge any dog owner in this situation to contact a dog charity so that a home can be found.

"Letting them loose puts the public and the animal at risk.

For more information on stray dogs, visit www.sangreat kennels.co.uk

FIRMS in North East Lincolnshire, in fact anywhere in Britain, are finding it very tough in today's economic climate.

It is a simple fact that many, many people just do not have any spare cash – in fact they are finding it hard enough to cover the basics they need to have a decent standard of living.

This is undoubtedly having an impact on businesses, which obviously rely on money changing hands to survive, thrive and provide employment.

So those hit by other issues could find themselves deciding enough is enough.

It appears that this is the case at Grimsby firm Tony's Autos.

The business was hit by a raid some months ago now, when thieves plundered the premises.

Between then and now, the owners have decided that they just cannot go on and will be closing.

It would seem that this break-in proved to be the nail in the coffin for this company.

How many others would find themselves in a similar situation if this happened to them?

The impact of theft on anyone can be significant but to actually close a business down is criminal – literally!

Have you been hit by theft, either in your home or at your business and what impact has that had on you or your family?