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An inspirational and selfless former councillor and mayor who devoted most of her life to helping the people of Barton has sadly died at the age of 88. Wendy Witter MBE served for 50 years as an independent councillor on Barton Town Council, before stepping down aged 83. Over many years, she threw herself into helping the causes she was passionate about, being appointed as the Director of the North Lincolnshire branches of charities Age UK and Voluntary Action. But it was Wendy’s efforts in helping disabled people in the area find employment that earned her a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1992 – an honour she was incredibly “humbled” by. READ MORE: She leaves behind two sons John and Richard, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, with one on the way, as well as thousands of people in the Barton area who she helped over the years. Wendy was born on February 28, 1936 in Scunthorpe, and attended Scunthorpe High School before leaving to take up a prestigious traineeship working for British restaurant chain store J. Lyons & Co in London. She eventually moved back to Scunthorpe to work for the family’s window-cleaning business, and met her future husband David at a party in the town. Wendy and her husband David (Image: Baysgarth Bugle) On June 14, 1958, Wendy and David were married. John was born in 1959 and Richard was born in 1963. In 1968, the family relocated from Scunthorpe to Barton, with Wendy joining Barton Town Council shortly after moving to the area. She was also the school governess for St Hugh’s Special School in Scunthorpe and Baysgarth School in Barton, as well as being a member of the Medical Ethics Board, Agricultural Training Board and the Gas Consumers’ Council. The couple were married for more than 50 years (Image: Submitted) Not only this, but Wendy worked tirelessly with the former Ada Flower Charity in Barton, which provided transport and other essentials for people visiting their poorly loved ones in hospital. She was elected as the Mayor of Barton on three separate occasions – in 1976, 1996 and 2006. Speaking to Scunthorpe Live, Wendy’s sons said: “She was a true inspiration. She did 50 years on Barton Town Council and devoted nearly all her working life to the town of Barton and its citizens. She was awarded an MBE for helping disabled people find work, and was really humbled and happy when she received the letter. Wendy Witter served as the Mayor of Barton three times (Image: Submitted) “She loved walking, and walked Viking Way and Wolds Way, and loved going on holidays with her family. She enjoyed visiting Devon and Cornwall, Isle of Aron and the Yorkshire Dales, and would take the grandkids to places like Paris and Venice. She also liked a good pampering session at Ragdale Hall.” Wendy’s granddaughter Amie said: “She was wonderful. She taught us to bake and sew and took us on a lot of cultural experiences abroad, she loved teaching us things, and would always get me to type up my recipes on the computer after I’d made them. She’d leave grandpa at home and give him a list of jobs to do. “She was a very special lady.” Wendy’s funeral will be held at 2.30pm on Tuesday, March 26 at St Mary’s Church in Barton. Family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to Huteson & Sons Funeral Directors in Barton, who can be contacted on 01652 530179. Donations will go to a charity which works closely with and helps the people of Barton. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

A Scunthorpe couple who were seriously injured in a horrific car crash on Mother’s Day say they have been left traumatised, triggered by loud noises and frightened to travel in a car again after what happened to them. Chloe Elwick, 26, and Levi Sumner, 23, were travelling back to their home in their friend Vicky Grzenkowski’s car after helping to decorate her childrens’ room at her home in Kirton Lindsey, when they collided with another vehicle, at around 8.10pm on Sunday, March 10. The force of the collision was so strong that Chloe remembers the car “flipping ten feet up into the air” and crashing back down. She said she managed to unbuckle her seatbelt and open the passenger door, causing her to fall out of the car. READ MORE: Bravely sharing her story with Scunthorpe Live, she said: “My leg was basically hanging off and I started crawling away from the car, panicking. I didn’t feel a thing pain-wise because of the adrenaline and shock. I felt my leg, which was all wet and mushy and disgusting. “When I was crawling up the hill I started blacking out and started to see a little white light. I thought I was going to die and not see any of my loved ones again, so I started praying and screaming that I didn’t want to die, and screaming for Vicky. “Then I heard my partner mumbling and he had got out the car and I was so glad he got out. We thought Vicky was dead because she was unresponsive and not moving, but about ten minutes later she started groaning and mumbling. I had to sit at the scene for two hours watching the emergency services cut Vicky out of the car.” Chloe and Vicky holding hands in hospital after the horrific incident (Image: Submitted) As a result of the incident, Chloe suffered multiple injuries, including a deep laceration to her leg that left it “hanging off”, and required surgery to stitch her muscles back together. She said she was told by doctors that they would have been forced to amputate had the cut been “1cm deeper”. She now needs extensive physiotherapy and estimates that it will be around a year until she can walk unaided. Her partner, Levi, suffered a broken wrist, whiplash and bruising, as well as severe trauma. Chloe continued: “It has affected Levi quite a bit, especially since he’s been home. Before, he wasn’t a paranoid person, but because of the trauma of what happened, noises are triggering us. He’ll be sat at home and he’s constantly locking the doors and windows, he’s constantly living on edge thinking something is going to happen to us. Everything is haunting us at the minute. “I’ve not processed it properly yet, and I’m scared to get back in a car again and terrified of driving on country roads. I’ve been having a lot of bad dreams.” Chloe was severely injured as a result of the crash (Image: Submitted) Because Chloe is unable to work and her partner is taking time off to recover from his own injuries and become her full-time carer at their Scunthorpe home, as well as the costs of a wheelchair, the couple have launched a Gofundme page to help with day-to-day costs. The description reads: “My name is Levi, and I’m reaching out for your support during an incredibly challenging time for myself and my girlfriend, Chloe. On Mother’s Day, we were involved in a traumatic car accident that has left both of us physically and emotionally shaken. “Since the accident, I’ve been grappling with mental health challenges that I never anticipated. As someone who has never been significantly affected by mental health issues before, the aftermath of the crash has been overwhelming. I’ve experienced breakdowns, constant anxiety, and haunting visions of the accident replaying in my mind. It’s a daily struggle just to feel safe and secure. “Chloe has been in the hospital for the past week, and although she’s due to be discharged soon, her recovery journey is far from over. We’re facing the daunting task of adjusting to life post-accident, including finding resources like a wheelchair to ensure Chloe can move around comfortably during her recovery period. Levi is suffering severe trauma (Image: Submitted) “Financially, we’re in a precarious situation. With me having to take unpaid leave from work to support Chloe and manage my own recovery, we’re worried about how we’ll cover our bills, groceries, and other essentials. The rising cost of living only adds to the pressure, making it even more difficult to make ends meet. “We’re reaching out to our community for help during this challenging time. Any donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in supporting our recovery and easing the financial burden we’re facing. Your generosity will enable us to focus on healing and rebuilding our lives after this traumatic event. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering supporting us. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us during this difficult journey.” As previously reported by Scunthorpe Live, young mum Vicky, who was driving the car that Chloe and Levi were in, also suffered extensive injuries as a result of the collision. These include eight broken ribs, three breaks to her pelvis, a broken wrist, facial lacerations and a damaged eye, among others. A Gofundme has also been launched to help Vicky’s partner, Dom, who is having to take unpaid time off work to care for the couple’s two children. You can donate to the fundraiser here. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

A young mum from North Lincolnshire is “lucky to be alive” after being involved in a serious crash on Mother’s Day, her sister says. Vicky Grzenkowski, 25, from Kirton Lindsey, suffered eight broken ribs, three breaks to her pelvis, a broken wrist, facial lacerations and a damaged eye, among other injuries, in the crash on Sunday, March 10. Emergency services were called to the crossroads of the B1398 and Gainsthorpe Road at 8.10pm, after a vehicle allegedly failed to stop for police before the collision with Vicky’s car. The mum-of-two, whose children are just three and five months old, was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary. Two passengers in her car were also injured, while the driver of the other vehicle was being treated for life-threatening injuries. READ MORE: Vicky’s sister Elisabeth arrived on the scene of the crash before the emergency service after she received an emergency alert on her iPhone just moments after the incident happened. “The text said ‘SOS received, iPhone has detected a car crash’ and sent me the co-ordinates,” she said. “My partner drove me and we were there in ten minutes. “When I got there, I ran out of the car, and I couldn’t see Vicky’s car anywhere. I heard my partner shout her name and I put my torch on so I could see and I saw one of the passengers on the floor. I thought Vicky was dead. She was out cold, there was blood everywhere.” Elisabeth (centre) and Vicky (right) (Image: Submitted) Elisabeth added: “The car was so crushed it took them nearly an hour-and-a-half to get her out. I was there the whole time. She was just taking her friends home after they’d helped her decorate the kids’ bedroom for Mothers Day. “She is a by-the-book driver who never speeds, so for this to happen, it just shows that you can be the safest driver in the world and still have something like this happen. She’s very lucky to be alive.” It is thought that Vicky will spend around six weeks in hospital and then at least six months recuperating at home. She is likely to require intensive physiotherapy to enable her to walk again and has had to put her wedding to partner Dom, which had been planned for May, on hold. Vicky’s family has set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to help Dom, who is having to take unpaid time off work to care for the couple’s young children. Elisabeth said: “Dom’s had to take time off work and is sorting everything with the kids. We’re all chipping in with babysitting where we can and doing shifts at the hospital. “His work is allowing him four days paid leave and after that they can only offer him eight weeks unpaid parental leave, so they’re not going to be able to afford anything for the kids. I’ve spent £300 this week just getting to Hull and back and it’s money we haven’t got.” Earlier this month, Humberside Police said they attempted to stop a vehicle travelling on the A15, north of Junction 4 on the M180, at around 8.10pm on Sunday evening (March 10). The driver “is then believed to have failed to stop for officers” and fled towards Lincoln. The vehicle, a black BMW, then collided with another vehicle, a silver Vauxhall, at the crossroads on the B1398 and Gainsthorpe Road. Vicky and her partner Dom (Image: Submitted) A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “Officers investigating the collision are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has any dashcam footage of either vehicle before or around the time the collision occurred, to please contact us on our non-emergency number 101, quoting log 407 of 10 March. A mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in connection with the fail to stop.” Donate to the GoFundMe appeal for Vicky and her family here. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

A woman who admitted killing a friend by dangerous driving had been drinking in pubs before the fatal crash, Grimsby Crown Court heard. Four friends had been drinking at a couple of bars before Marzena Yeardley got behind the wheel of an Audi A4 convertible. She crashed into two trees, killing her rear seat passenger, Shannon Hunt. Earlier this month, Yeardley, 40, of Coventry Close, Scunthorpe, admitted causing the death of Shannon, 24, on June 17, 2022, in Burringham Road in the town. Eyewitnesses saw the Audi overtaking a car moments before the fatal crash. READ MORE: Yeardley then lost control as she attempted to avoid on-coming vehicles. The out-of-control Audi hit and toppled one tree and was travelling at such a pace that it then hit another. At court, there were bad-tempered comments from Shannon’s friends as they left court midway through the sentencing hearing, with shouts of: “It should be life for a life.” Flowers at the scene of the crash on Burringham Road, Scunthorpe, in memory of Shannon (Image: ScunthorpeLive/Donna Clifford) Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told the court that the Audi flipped over in the impact and Shannon was killed instantly. The crash happened at 9.30pm, just 10 minutes after Yeardley and Shannon left a pub along with two men. The driver and Shannon did not have seatbelts on, the prosecutor said. Shannon was thrown from the car and suffered multiple injuries. Despite valiant attempts by passers-by to give first aid, the young mother was pronounced dead at the scene. Yeardley was trapped under the overturned vehicle. Mr Evans set out a timetable of events which led to the tragic death. Shannon, who worked at Asda, had only been introduced to Yeardley a few days before the crash. They had arranged to meet up with a couple of male friends on Friday, June 17. Yeardley first drove the group to The Bluebell pub, where she was seen drinking alcohol. The four friends then went to The Queensway, where the driver had more alcoholic drinks, said Mr Evans. They left the second pub to drive to the address of one of the male friends. ‘Gambled on amber’ Video footage, compiled from CCTV and other cameras, was shown to plot the Audi’s journey. The car was captured going through a set of traffic lights on amber. “She gambled on amber,” said the prosecutor. Yeardley was seen overtaking a Skoda at speed. Mr Evans said the Skoda driver described the proximity of the Audi as “intimidating”. It was “a nervy moment” as the Audi overtook because two cars were coming in the opposite direction. “She darted back into the lane quickly and lost control of the vehicle and struck a large, substantial tree, before coming to rest upside down,” Mr Evans said. A passenger in one of the on-coming cars said there would have been “a head-on collision” if the Audi driver had not steered back into the correct lane. She said the Audi appeared to be going fast. The prosecutor said the exact speed of the Audi at the time of the collision was not known, but it was “a little above the speed limit of 30mph.” When she was later interviewed by police, the driver said she had no recollection of the crash and could not remember drinking alcohol. At shortly before 3am the next morning the driver gave a blood sample which had a concentration of 76 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Experts had calculated that, five and a half hours previously, the concentration of alcohol in the blood would have been between 125 milligrams and 233 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. The law states the court has to take the minimum reading. The legal limit for driving is 80 milligrams. Mr Evans said the crash investigation by police experts concluded that the Audi driver had deviated sharply, which destabilised the vehicle, “losing full directional control”. He said speed alone had not caused the collision, but the level of alcohol had impaired the driver’s ability to control the car. Mr Evans read Rule 95 of the Highway Code, which states that “alcohol will give a false sense of confidence, reduce co-ordination and slow down reactions, affect judgement of speed, distance and risk, reduce driving ability even if you are below the legal limit”. ‘A terrible thing’ For Yeardley, David Godfrey said his client was “sorry.” He said: “It is small solace, but she is. She recognises the pain she has caused and the impact it has had on so many people.” Mr Godfrey said his client was the sole carer for her son and he would suffer “a significant wrench” with his mother in prison. He told how she worked as a supervisor at a local food company. “She has led a blameless life and has done a terrible thing. If she could turn back the clock, she would. She genuinely regrets what she did that day,” he said. She had worked in the UK since arriving from Poland in 2007 and passed her UK driving licence in 2018, the defence barrister said. She had no previous convictions. Judge Richard Woolfall said he acknowledged Yeardley’s guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He said the driver was over the drink-driving limit and overtook a car at above the speed limit. She had steered back into the right lane before losing control and striking the tree. “Your behaviour ended Miss Hunt’s life. For her family, it is not something they will get over. The best they can hope for is to learn to live with it,” the judge said. “It is not suggested you set out that day to end a life. No sentence I impose can bring Shannon Hunt back. No sentence I impose can undo what you have done.” He added: “As has been said, you are a good person who has done a terrible thing. You accept it has had a devastating effect on her family and friends.” Judge Woolfall said that

A thief who stole crates of Creme Eggs worth £130, along with sex toys, has been sentenced in court. The unusual case was heard before magistrates in Grimsby. Other offenders dealt with in recent days include a driver caught with heroin in his possession and a man jailed for carrying a knife in a public place. While some cases were adjourned to be tried at a later date and others sent to Grimsby Crown Court, magistrates handed out prison sentences, fines and other sentences to offenders from across northern Lincolnshire. Here is a selection of the cases heard last week. READ MORE: Nicholas Scott, 33, of no fixed abode indicated pleas of guilty to stealing two crates of Creme Eggs worth £129 from Tesco Express and sex toys worth £80 from the OMG Adult World store, both in Grimsby Road. He also indicated pleas of guilty to multiple counts of shoplifting from Asda and Tesco. He was ordered to comply with drug rehabilitation. Peter Finch, 48, of Manor Farm Road, Scunthorpe changed his plea to guilty for the possession of heroin, driving whilst disqualified, without insurance and failing to stop his vehicle when asked to do so by police. He was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to comply with drug rehabilitation and unpaid work and disqualified from driving for 30 months. Andrew Chamberlain, 36, of Hope Street, Grimsby indicated a plea of guilty to the possession of a knife in a public place in Grimsby. He was jailed for 26 weeks. Claire Hall, 39, of Harrington Street, Cleethorpes indicated pleas of guilty to two counts of using racially aggravated, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person fear of immediate violence. She was fined £200. Lee Warne, 44, of Western Avenue, Brigg pleaded guilty to driving whilst under the influence of cannabis. He was disqualified from driving for two years, fined £576, ordered to pay a victim services surcharge of £230 and costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service. James Rimmer, 49, of St Ives Crescent, Grimsby pleaded guilty to driving whilst under the influence of benzoylecgonine. He was disqualified from driving for 16 months, fined £200, ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and an £80 victim services surcharge. Andrew McGeechan, 45, of Dorchester Road, Scunthorpe indicated pleas of guilty to stealing food from Tesco and Tesco Express, children’s clothing worth no less than £300 from Next and jewellery worth no less than £100 from TK Maxx. He was ordered to comply with drug rehabilitation. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

Several petrol stations have dropped their prices heading into this weekend, with our interactive widget showing the cheapest near you. According to the latest data supplied by retailers under a government scheme, the cheapest forecourt in the Grimsby area is offering petrol at 140.9p. It means that filling up at the Jet station, off the A180 in Immingham, will cost a motorist with an average 55-litre tank £77.50. The most expensive petrol in the Grimsby area costs 152.9p. The figures are based on a feed of live petrol prices which was set up by the Government’s Competition and Markets Authority last September. It is updated every morning. READ MORE: The Jet station in Immingham is also the cheapest place to buy diesel in the Grimsby area, at 149.9p. Here are the cheapest places to top your car with petrol in the Grimsby area on Saturday, March 16, according to data released at 4.45am: Jet, Luxmore East (A180), Immingham: 140.9p. Esso, Albion Street, East Marsh: 141.9p. Asda, Holles Street, East Marsh: 143.7p. You can use our interactive widget to find out the price of fuel at the petrol stations near you. Data us updated daily at 4.45am. In the Scunthorpe area, the cheapest fuel is at Sainsbury’s in Doncaster Road, at 140.9p for petrol and 149.9p for diesel. The next best price, according to the data, is at Applegreen, Ashby Road, at 141.8p and 150.8p. The cheapest place to buy petrol in the country on Friday, according to the data, was at an Esso garage in North Yorkshire where a litre of standard petrol is 133.9p. The most expensive petrol station in the country is a Shell garage in Elmbridge where motorists are charged 182.9p a litre. The prices quoted are for standard grade petrol (E10) and for standard grade diesel (B7). The figures are supplied by the major retailers under a voluntary scheme launched by the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure motorists are given a fair deal at the petrol pumps. Most of the major petrol retailers have signed up to the scheme and the petrol stations supplying up-to-date information account for around 60 per cent of the fuel sold in the UK. The price of fuel is often cheaper at Costco outlets, but their service is only available to members. Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our . Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

Two men have been arrested following reports of a burglary at a pub in Scunthorpe during the early hours of Friday morning. At around 1am, officers from Humberside Police were called to a pub on Holme Hall Avenue in Bottesford, where it was reported that two men had gained entry into the building and stolen a number of items. They then fled the scene. A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary and suspicion of theft from a shop in connection with another incident. READ MORE: Both men remain in police custody as the investigation continues. A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “Anyone that has information, or has CCTV or dashcam footage which may assist with our enquiries can contact us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting log 19 of 15 March. “You can also report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

A North Lincolnshire Council cabinet report has been accidentally published with internal council officer comments. The comments include questions raised about the council’s staff vacancy policy and its transport fleet. Eight comments in total were inadvertently published, and most relate to the phrasing of an earlier version of the report. One, on forecast transport budget overspend this year of £1.3m, asks “Are we not investing in better fleet? – this could bite us.” The transport overspend includes £0.5m for maintenance costs. Read More: The overall council budget forecasts an underspend in 2023/24. Another report element commented on is £3.7m underspend forecast on council employment costs. The report states this is due to vacancies across the council. The inadvertently published officer comment asks, “Are we sitting on vacancies to artificially reduce spend?” The other comments essentially instruct or query wording of a prior draft of the report. One such asks for context on the council’s borrowing, noting it has not borrowed for several years until this latest year. The published report states the local authority had not borrowed since 2020. North Lincolnshire Council were contacted for opportunity to comment on the accidental publishing and the comments made. A council spokesperson said: “A report was inadvertently published which showed some of the workings out, a completely normal, every day practice in relation to any and all paperwork. “It is critically important that information for decision making is accurate and properly reflects the position so that councillors are accurately sighted and residents properly informed.” In March 2023, the council announced £1.5m investment in its refuse fleet collection vehicles, ordering in seven new trucks. Two new sweeping machines also began to be used this year. When the council apologised for missed brown bin collections last month, the council leader Cllr Rob Waltham rejected Labour claims of overdue fleet investment and that had had a part to play as well as staff sickness rates. Want to sign up to the Scunthorpe newsletter, but can’t access the link below? Click here . During the council’s budget setting process for 2024/25, the Labour opposition group highlighted plans to not fill vacancies of more than three months. The council’s new chief executive, Alison Barker, attended her first full council meeting on February 22. A special appointment and employment committee meeting in late February also agreed to make permanent temporary management structure arrangements. A director of communities was appointed. It was also agreed to begin recruitment for a director of children and families, a director of adults and health, and for the legal monitoring officer position. A host of senior council officers handed in their notices over several months last year, some to pursue more significant roles elsewhere. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

The maintenance of roads on phase one of the Lakeside housing estate in Ashby has now been adopted by the council. The first residents moved into phase one of the Lakeside housing estate more than a decade ago. The development has involved two phases, hundreds of new homes, the creation of a public open space, and a new primary school, which opened in 2012. Off Lakeside Parkway, its planning history dates back to 2003 when outline permission was first sought for the residential development. North Lincolnshire Council has now adopted as part of the public highway the twelve roads that make up phase one. Read More: This means the council will be responsible for the roads, footways and drainage maintenance. Ashby Lakeside Ward councillors, both Labour, have expressed their delight at the move. “Since being elected in May, Judith and I have worked very hard to push for the adoption of key local roads, and we are delighted that progress has been made,” said Cllr Max Bell. “Residents and the local Neighbourhood Watch are very pleased – and we are looking forward to continuing working with them to help make the Lakeside estate an even better place to live.” Repair works were carried out by the developer to kerbs, paving and faulty lights in December and January at the housing development. The street lighting is currently not LED and the council intends to replace with LED to save on energy and maintenance costs in the future. Inspections of phase two of the Lakeside Parkway development, with the intention to adopt responsibility for the roads here, have also begun. The phase one roads the council is now responsible for the maintenance of, are: Whimbrel Chase Lapwing Way Kingfisher Way Grebe Mews Avocet Mews Linnet Garth Curlew Croft Garganey Walk Wigeon Walk Gadwall Way Heron Gate Pochard Drive Ward Cllr Judith Matthews expressed the view that the housing developers and council had been for too many years “too complacent” on delivering the improvements required for the community, and getting it into the council’s hands. “We are thrilled to have helped change that.” Contacted for opportunity for comment, Conservative council leader Cllr Rob Waltham said: “These things do take far too long but its clearly only right that the highways are adopted when they are to the standard originally agreed and to a level that is acceptable for local taxpayers’ to take on the responsibility for maintenance, that way developers don’t get to dump their construction failures on residents’ council tax bills. “I’d like to thank the council officers who have kept the pressure on to get these roads adopted, doing a sterling job, as they do on other sites across North Lincolnshire. I am sure Cllrs Bell and Mathews would want to join me in saying thank you to the people who have actually done the work here.” Want to sign up to the Scunthorpe newsletter, but can’t access the link below? Click here . Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

Two friends from northern Lincolnshire who tragically lost their school friend Leo to suicide have partnered with more than 25 local organisations for a huge charity ball held in his memory on the 10th anniversary of his death. Since March last year, Michael Trueman from Scunthorpe and James Smith from Grimsby have been organising the ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ charity ball, which will be held at The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe at 7pm on Saturday, March 23. After a year in the making, the ball has been sponsored by 25 local organisations, including schools, businesses, NHS healthcare providers, law firms and sports teams, all to raise money for Prevention of Young Suicide (PAPYRUS), the leading UK charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young people. READ MORE: Michael and James decided to organise the huge event to mark the 10-year anniversary of their Caistor Grammar School friend, Leo Adamson, who died in 2014, and their friend Oliver, who also took his own life. They named the ball ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ in a nod to a song by one of Leo’s favourite bands, The Libertines. All proceeds from the night will go directly to PAPYRUS. Michael said: “We’ve been organising the ball for the best part of a year, and are really grateful for the support from our friends, family and sponsors. Without all of these people we wouldn’t have been able to reduce our ticket price to £50, nor get close to organising what is lining up to be a really successful and busy event. “We were delighted to announce more than 200 confirmed attendees last week, with many more expected to buy tickets last minute.” The Baths Hall in Scunthorpe (Image: Donna Clifford) Guests at the event are asked to “dress to impress”, with a three-course meal, live music by Flat Moon and the Uptones, a charity raffle and much more entertainment promised. Michael continued: “A good event for me is for awareness to be raised, and for people to enjoy spending time with their friends and family. The better we’re able to talk about issues such as suicide, and be able to support initiatives such as Papyrus’ Hopeline, the better outcomes we can have for young people struggling with thoughts of suicide.” The deadline to buy tickets for the ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ charity ball is at midnight on Sunday, March 17. Individual tickets cost £50 each and can be purchased here. HOPELINE247 is a confidential support and advice service by PAPYRUS for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be you can contact HOPELINE247 for confidential support and practical advice. Call: 0800 068 4141, Text: 07860 039 967 or Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org. Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe