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A LAST-minute proposal to keep Hull's Springhead Golf Course open should be given serious consideration. That is the view of Lib Dem Councillor Claire Thomas.

Environmental charity Groundworks submitted the proposal on behalf of golf club members on the last day of a two-month consultation over the issue. It is believed to involve transferring the golf course to a new community group. Detailed talks over the submission are expected to take place in the next few weeks.

Cllr Thomas said: "The council's plans for Springhead are flawed. They will not achieve the savings required and there are no plans for the site should it close.

"There is no reason why the Labour admin- istration should be considering closing Springhead. They should seriously consider the business case put forward by golf club members to run the course."

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YOUNGSTERS at a west Hull youth centre are celebrating after becoming world record holders, having made the biggest ball of cling film.

About 35 members of the Hessle Road Network spent weeks building up the ball, which weighed in at 36st – smashing the previous record of 20st.

The bizarre idea came about while some of the younger children were learning about world record exploits.

Youth and community worker Sarah Bailey decided they should try to set their own world record.

She spent hours leafing through the world records to come up with one the network could tackle.

She said: "The young people thought it would be a good idea to try their own world record attempt.

"I looked for something both the younger and older kids could get involved in.

"It took a long time to come up with this but we quickly got going and received help from Arco, which provided the cling film.

"We naively set aside a day for it but we had only reached 5st by the end of the day.

"The young people were very disappointed but we kept going and, as the ball got bigger, everyone got more excited.

"It was great fun and it brought everyone together."

Jordan Worner, 12, has been involved in creating the cling film ball from the start.

He said: "We started this three months ago, so it's been a long time.

"A lot of hard work and time has gone in to beating this world record.

"It feels amazing now to have finally done it and I feel proud to have been involved."

Zoe McCann, 15, has also been heavily involved.

She said: "It has been good fun and really interesting.

"It helped us get to know each other better.

"After the first day there was disappointment but we kept going and realised we were going to do it."

Lorrimar Weighing Ltd, of Hull, agreed to verify the weight.

John Hammond, of the company, said: "We have been weighing the ball throughout to keep an eye on progress.

"It was surprising how much they beat the world record by but we had to bring in the industrial scales to weigh it at the end."

The ball has even been given a name – Bob Clingford.

Money raised from sponsorship will be put toward the cost of trips and activities for young people in the Hessle Road area.

Julie Robinson, chief officer at the Network, said: "We had a party for all the young people involved in helping to break the record as well as everyone else who has supported us in our record attempt.

"Now intend to display the cling film ball in the cloister area and hope that, in time, it will become a local tourist attraction."

Local ward councillor Daren Hale said: "It is a brilliant achievement for the Hessle Road Network.

"Breaking this world record shines a light on the good work the network does.

"This is something that now can't be taken away from them."

THE parents of a schoolboy who died after being knocked down by a car near the Humber Bridge have released a favourite picture of their aspiring radio DJ son. Koen Allwood and an unnamed girl, both aged 15, were hit by a Peugeot 306 in the Dam Road area of Barton late on Wednesday.

Yesterday, Koen's family released a picture of their boy, labelled a "lovely lad" by one well-wisher, as police revealed two men arrested in connection with the tragedy have been released.

It is understood the girl remains in Hull Royal Infirmary, with what police have described as serious injuries.

Koen, who dreamed of becoming a radio presenter, had made his debut on WildCube, an internet-based amateur station, less than an hour before he was killed.

Fans of the station are taken to a tribute, featuring a candle above Koen's name, his date of birth and the date of his death, when they visit the station's website.

Ashley Hardy, manager of the website, said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with his friends and family at this time.

"Koen always wished to try his hand at radio and we are glad we gave him the opportunity to do so before his passing.

"Koen was loved by many and will be sorely missed."

One fan of the radio station, who gave his name only as Jack, said: "Koen had a great prospect ahead of him – an aspiring radio presenter and a good one at that. It is a truly tragic loss of such a young person. My thoughts are with his family and anyone affected."

Gage Holland said: "Koen was such a great friend, he was loved by so many and his ambition was always to become a radio presenter.

"He will be dearly missed by his friends and family. May he rest in peace and never be forgotten."

Meanwhile, floral tributes continued to be laid at the scene of the tragedy, which happened at 10.50pm.

A tribute written on a card attached to a bouquet said: "You will always be remembered as such a lovely lad."

Pupils at Baysgarth School, in Barton, where Koen was preparing to sit his GCSEs, are being supported by teaching staff.

A Humberside Police spokesman confirmed one of the men has been released on police bail, pending further enquiries. The second man has been released with no further action.

Anyone who witnessed the accident or saw the Peugeot 306 shortly before the collision should call police on 101.

Former Hull KR prop Scott Taylor admits next year will be twice as hard as his first double-winning season with Wigan Warriors. As debut seasons go, Taylor couldn't have dreamed of a better one, having won the Challenge Cup and Grand Final after swapping Craven Park for the DW Stadium.

But the 22-year-old knows the hard work put in to secure the silverware was nothing compared to what it's going to take to retain them next year as every team sets their sights on toppling Shaun Wane's all-conquering side.

"My pre-season starts on Monday and I know next season is going to be twice as hard as it was last season," Taylor told the Mail.

"We have the World Club Championship against Sydney Roosters in February which is almost certainly going to be held in Australia.

"We know we will fly out there as underdogs but we know we can win it too.

"Shaun wants to win everything. He was disappointed to only win two trophies last season, whereas most teams would say winning the Challenge Cup and finishing in the top four would be a good season.

"Next season, I'm sure he will want us to win all four trophies because he is such a perfectionist and nothing else will do.

"We certainly have the squad to do it."

This time last year, the Warriors had trimmed key play-makers Brett Finch and Thomas Leuluai from their squad and only brought in two from Hull KR, Taylor and team-mate Blake Green.

Green slotted in seamlessly alongside Matty Smith at half-back, with Smith being named man-of-the-match in the Challenge Cup final and Green picking up the Harry Sunderland award for his performance in the Grand Final.

When Taylor first arrived, Wane told him he might not see much action in the first season of his three-year deal.

But that changed after the former Skirlaugh Bulls prop made an immediate impact with 95 metres from 10 carries in the season opener at Salford.

"I didn't feel any pressure because I knew my game would be good enough when I did get my chance," said Taylor.

"Shaun said he didn't expect too much from me in my first season, but injuries meant I got my chance straight away.

"I played in the 42-0 win at Salford and afterwards I couldn't believe I'd made my debut for Wigan.

"Playing in that win gave me a lot of confidence and things went on from there. I was so happy and proud, but I had my sister's wedding the very next day at 10am so I had to get straight back for that.

"On the way back, the M62 was closed and I didn't get to Hull until 3am. Luckily, I still got to the wedding in time, even though I was shattered!"

A continued spell in the first team proved to Taylor he was good enough to play for a side steeped in history and glory. But even as the Warriors progressed to the cup final, he refused to take anything for granted.

Fortunately, a 16-0 win over Hull FC left Wigan fans dancing in the rain at Wembley and had Taylor and his team-mates dreaming of a double.

And although some felt Wane's men had peaked too soon, Taylor knew there was plenty left in the tank for the remainder of the season.

"A Super League and Challenge Cup double hasn't been achieved too often," he adds, taking up the story of the season's run-in.

"After the Wembley win, our form dropped off a bit and we were written off by almost everybody.

"But we knew when it came to knock-out matches our record spoke for itself.

"We had won five from five to win the Challenge Cup and knew we could win three games in the play-offs.

"Going to Huddersfield first up was tough but we knew they didn't have a great record in the play-offs and we won that one. Then we managed to get a roll on and beat Leeds.

"Suddenly, just six weeks after winning the cup, I was playing in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.

"In the week leading up to the game, I was just trying not to get injured.

"The feeling of nerves I experienced at Wembley will never be repeated, but what I felt at Old Trafford certainly ran it close."

TOM Lineham says Hull FC's players are focused on deeds not words this pre-season as they bid to deliver on the club's potential. A year on from the pre-season hype that built the Black and Whites up as top-two contenders only for indifferent form in Super League to follow, Lineham wants the hyperbole cut and for his side's form to do the talking for them.

Although confident Hull can deliver on their potential, the 22-year-old winger says there will be no shouting from the rooftops about his side's trophy chances.

"With Hull the potential is there every year but it is about delivering on that potential on the pitch," Lineham told the Mail. "There is a lot less talk this year about what we are going to do. The focus is on knuckling down in training, nobody is shouting about what we are going to do. It's about having that focus and then at the end of the season when it is all over, hopefully we can then start talking about winning and what a good year it's been."

Last year's hype did little to aid Hull's cause, particularly after a poor start, which only served to increase the pressure on former coach Peter Gentle and his players. While previous pre-season camps have seen targets and goals set early, new coach Lee Radford is yet to discuss the matter with his squad, preferring instead to keep the focus on training and preparation for the new season.

For Lineham, the current focus remains on rehabilitation following wrist surgery and an impending return to the training pitch.

"I get the pot off on Monday and I've got four weeks of rehab to strengthen it up before I can get back to full training," adds Lineham. "I'm hoping to be fully fit for when we go on camp to St George's the week before Christmas.

"I got most of the work done at the army camp and I enjoyed it, but it's tough when you're missing out on the field sessions in pre-season."

ROBBIE Brady is on course to give Hull City a timely lift ahead of facing Crystal Palace next weekend as he nears a long-awaited return to full fitness. Brady's breathless start to the campaign has fallen badly off track in the last six weeks after he underwent a double hernia operation at the end of September.

Although the 21-year-old was deemed fit enough to return for the 2-1 defeat at Everton, the injury soon flared up to rule him out of starting the next four games. Brady did not even travel to Southampton for City's 4-1 loss last weekend, but a period of rest and rehabilitation has been designed to bring him back into contention for the visit of Palace in seven days.

The Tigers' medical team will aim to step up Brady's involvement early next week and, providing all goes to plan, City should be able to unleash their top goalscorer on the Eagles.

Brady's three Premier League goals have helped inspire three of City's four wins, and assistant boss Steve Agnew admits the winger's return would be a welcome boost.

"We've missed Robbie, like any team would," Agnew told the Mail. "He'd scored four goals for us and along with Sone Aluko, that was our creative pair.

"You're going to miss that creativity when they're out. It's important we get them back fit as soon as we can. After a good start to the season, the double hernia set him back a few weeks. Let's hope he can have a good week and be in consideration for the weekend. It would be a big lift if Robbie can be fit for the Palace game. He's a fantastic talent."

Brady's injury woes forced him to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad and miss the chance to impress new boss Martin O'Neill and his assistant Roy Keane. However, the Dubliner was granted permission from the Tigers to travel to Ireland's training base along with team-mate Stephen Quinn as a new era and regime begins planning for Euro 2016.

"Robbie's been in Ireland as they were keen for him to meet up and be part of the group," added Agnew. "He's spent a few days with them and we were happy for him to go. Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane wanted him in and around the group so he continued his rehab over there."

Alongside Brady in the treatment room is one-time partner in crime Aluko, sidelined until February with an Achilles problem.

Aluko has begun his careful rehabilitation by visiting several experts and all agree surgery can be averted.

A protective boot will be worn for at least the next month and Agnew has been pleased to see the stricken forward retaining a positive outlook.

Agnew said: "He's in good spirits. He's been away from the training ground for five or six days because there wasn't a lot he could do, but he's back in and already looking forward to getting fit as quickly as he can."

Hull City rookie Max Clark has been challenged to use his latest England call-up as another step towards senior football. Having already represented his country at under-16s and under-17s level, Clark teams up with the England under-18s squad for a two-day training camp at St George's Park today.

The 17-year-old defender, a former pupil at Malet Lambert, has already made promising strides this season, flying the nest of City's youth ranks to join Stephen Clemence's development squad on a full-time basis.

Clark's early graduation has seen him play eight times for City's reserves this season, a figure only bettered by fellow academy product Sam Topliss. Clemence is thrilled to see Clark's continued progress rewarded this weekend, but he knows the young left-back must keep on improving.

"It's a great achievement for Max to get called up to the England under-18s for the first time and it helps continue his progress," said Clemence. "We're all really pleased that he's been recognised. Max trains with me in the development squad every day now and done very well.

"He still has a lot to work on and still makes mistakes in pretty much every game he plays, but that's understandable given his age playing against older players. The important thing is that he's willing to learn and he's definitely impressed me.

"We're hoping in the next year or two he can kick on even further but to do that he knows he's got a lot of hard work ahead of him."

Clark is already well-known to England's coaching hierarchy. As well as winning 12 under-16s caps and a further three at under-17s level, he will now rub shoulders with the best of the country's under-18s following a call-up last week.

It is another feather in the cap of City's youth development team, having overseen Clark's progress since the age of nine, and it is hoped the left-back can eventually make a breakthrough into the first-team frame.

Wary of burdening Clark with unrealistic expectations ahead of his 18th birthday in January, Clemence will first allow the youngster to develop away from the spotlight.

"There's little things to work on but the attitude he's got will give him every chance to keep improving," added Clemence, himself a former England under-21s international.

"He's played a lot at centre-back in the past but I'm playing him more at left-back.

"It's a better position for him at the moment, where he gets a little bit more time to see things.

"It'll also give him time to fill out into his body and become a man.

"There's a long way to go. To play in the Premier League you've got to be one of the best players in the world these days. That's the standard you're having to produce and that's tough.

"Someone like Max, in seasons to come the next step will be to maybe go out on loan and see how he performs. When you throw them into first-team football, you soon see if they're ready for the next level."

MARK Hewitt has told his West Hull players to go out and write a new chapter in the history of the club by winning the Grand Final. Wests take on reigning National Conference League champions Wath Brow Hornets at Widnes Vikings' Select Security Stadium tomorrow (2.30pm).

For Hewitt, reaching the showpiece of the amateur game marks the culmination of five years of rebuilding at the Green and Golds.

Having spent nine years at the club, the head coach knows all too well the talk of past successes and now he's eager for the current generation of players to be held up alongside the teams of the past.

"There is always talk about what the club did 15 years ago or in the past, but this is a chance for this group of players to write their own history and have people talk about them and what they have achieved," Hewitt told the Mail.

"I've been here nine years now and this is my first taste of the Grand Final, so I'm proud to be taking this team to the final and all the coaches at the club are proud of what this young group of players have already achieved."

West Hull have reached the Grand Final the hard way.

Controversially beaten in the first round of the play-offs at home to Siddal, they received a bye through to week two when their opponents refused to play the rescheduled game after the referee wrongly changed the format of the first encounter by insisting on a golden-point finish rather than extra-time.

An 8-6 victory at Lock Lane moved them to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final, with last weekend's 14-12 victory at Minor Premiers Thatto Heath Crusaders securing their place in the National Conference League's showpiece game.

Having already beaten two of the top three on their travels in the play-offs, it's been a difficult path to Widnes for West Hull, but Hewitt says the road to the Grand Final started way before this season.

"We said four or five years ago that if we were to improve as a club then it would take time and we needed a full rebuilding process," adds Hewitt.

"It has been a long road to get here. Five years ago we were struggling for quality players and the team wasn't the best, but we've built year on year.

"The whole club has improved, not just the first team, but our A team and the full academy set-up.

"We came close last year and were top with four games to go but we fell away and lost three of those last four games.

"This year we've hit our form at just the right time, but I've known from the start of the season that with the players we brought in and the talented young kids we've got, that we could really do something."

West Hull go into the game with Dan Parker still out, while Ryan Morrow and Jack Ridsdill are back in contention.

"We've selected a 19-man squad we think can win," adds Hewitt.

"Wath Brow have a formidable pack and a really good right edge that we need to deal with.

"It's important we are aware of that, but we cannot switch off elsewhere because they've got plenty of threats and that's why they are the reigning champions."

• Follow rugby league news with the Hull Daily Mail

• Follow rugby league news with the Hull Daily Mail

A PRISONER tied up his cellmate and blindfolded him before forcibly giving him a permanent tattoo. Nicky Tyree, 19, used a makeshift implement to scar his 18-year-old cellmate for life by carving "I'm a victim" into his arm at Hull Prison.

The terrified teenager had to wait until the cell doors opened the next day in order to get help. His ordeal had lasted 40 minutes as Tyree used a doctored pen with ink in it to inflict the tattoo.

Prosecutor Jharna Jobes told Hull Crown Court: "After lights out, Tyree tied him up. He tied his hands to the top of the bed and his legs to the bottom using torn-up bed sheets.

"He started to tattoo 'I'm a victim' on his arm. It is a rough tattoo and took about 40 minutes and during that time the defendant would stop and start punching the complainant. He also blindfolded him.

"He showed him a mirror and he could see his face was swollen and bloody.

"It was not until the following morning that the complainant managed to get the attention of prison officers and was taken to the infirmary."

Tyree has now pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is serving a four-year sentence for supplying heroin and for having cocaine and heroin in his cell.

His cellmate was serving a sentence for harassment.

Recorder Anthony Hawks sentenced Tyree to 18-month imprisonment, consecutive to his drugs sentence.

He told him: "You behaved in this bullying way. You tied that man up, you punched him and there was an unpleasant point where you put a tattoo on his arm.

"It was a shocking piece of behaviour."

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RENT arrears among council housing tenants in Hull have topped the £2m mark for the first time. The recent sharp increase in arrears is being blamed on benefits changes and the introduction of the so-called "bedroom tax" in April.

It has sparked renewed fears that more people in the city are struggling with debt problems than ever before.

Latest figures reveal 9,092 council tenants were in arrears with their rent at the start of November – 2,000 more than in March.

Over the same seven-month period, the level of arrears jumped by £437,000 to £2.09m.

Councillor Julia Conner represents Orchard Park and Greenwood, one of the most deprived wards in the city.

She said: "These are really worrying figures. It's a real concern."

Andy Brown, the city council's customer services manager, said: "There has been an steady upward trend in the level of arrears for some time, but it has become more marked in recent months.

"It would appear to be long-term trend."

Under recent welfare changes, almost 4,700 council tenants in Hull are now required to pay part of their rent for the first time as they are classed as under-occupying a property because of the number of spare bedrooms.

A tenant with one spare bedroom now has to pay an average of £9 per week towards their rent.

Someone with two spare bedrooms must pay £18.

In addition, about 20,000 people previously exempt from paying any council tax now face having to pay at least 8.5 per cent of the charge.

Next year, that will rise to 20 per cent.

Mr Brown said council officials were now offering "frank" advice to people applying for a new council property.

"We are being proactive with help and advice. That involves some very frank chats with people," he said.

"We are asking 'can you afford this property?'

"We can't stop them taking it but we are doing our best to make sure they understand the financial consequences."

Some private housing landlords now ask for would-be tenants to provide personal financial information about themselves before letting a property.

But Mr Brown said the council's current policy did not allow for personal finance checks to be carried out.

The new figures show only 37.5 per cent of council tenants affected by the "bedroom tax" are currently paying their rent in full.

Just over half are paying some of their rent, but about 300 tenants have not paid anything since April.

Of those tenants in Hull now being charged council tax, about 5,000 or 25 per cent had not made any kind of payment by the end of October.

Laura Carr, the council's neighbourhoods and housing manager, said: "It is clear that for some households, the welfare benefit changes are having a serious impact on household finances and staff are dealing with some very challenging and complex cases."

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BEVERLEY will be transformed into a winter wonderland for the town's Christmas lights switch-on. An ice rink and an outdoor cinema screening of The Snowman will be among the main attractions in the town's market place.

The festivities on Friday, November 29, will also include a charity winter fair with stalls, entertainment, music and games.

Julian Minshall, chairman of the Beverley and District Chamber of Trade, expects this year's event to draw thousands of people to the town.

Mr Minshall said: "People know when they come to Beverley it's not just a mass of illuminations – it's done in a way that complements the historic centre.

"We also like to put on something different and by having an ice rink and an outdoor cinema for one night only we will, hopefully, attract a large number of people."

Local radio station KCFM, choirs and bands will provide music to entertain the crowds. There will also be a charity hog roast and barbecue.

Phil Scaife, chairman of the town's switch-on committee, said: "It gets bigger and better each year.

"This year is going to be a fantastic event where local community groups, charities, schools, businesses and the public come together and celebrate the start of the Christmas season."

Mr Scaife's business, De Lacy Spa, is sponsoring the outdoor cinema show on a 10m by 6m inflatable screen and he insisted it was not too late for other businesses to get on board and support more attractions.

He said: "There's still time for more local businesses to become involved because there are more things we would like to do."

The 12m by 12m artificial ice rink, which will be erected in a corner of the market place, will be open on the day from 3pm, to give children a chance to cut a dash on the ice on their way home from school.

Mr Scaife said: "We will be charging a small fee to go on the ice rink because it needs to raise money for the Christmas lights. It's a first for Beverley and I'm sure it will be a lot of fun."

Prue Blake, secretary of the Beverley Christmas Lights Appeal, said there would be more illuminations this year, thanks to annual fundraising efforts in the town.

She said: "I think the lights look really good. We want to make Beverley sparkle at Christmas. The lights attract people to the town and it must be good for trade.

"It brings people together in a great atmosphere so it's good for the town generally."

3pm: Opening of the ice rink in the market place.

5pm: Winter fair opens.

6.15pm: Service and lights switch-on at the Market Cross.

6.45pm: Lights switch-on, corner of Cross Street/Toll Gavel.

7pm: Lights switch-on in Angel Square.

7.15pm: Lights switch-on by Beverley author Val Wood, in Wednesday Market, and other festive attractions.

7.45pm: Outdoor cinema in Saturday Market.

Any businesses interested in sponsoring events at the Christmas lights switch-on should email Mr Scaife at phil@frame3d.co.uk or call 01482 866748.

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Hull has more than 100 traveller caravans within the city boundaries. According to official government data, the last five counts revealed there were between 96 and 143 caravans in the city. However, only 16 did not have permission to be set up where they were.

The data is based on the last five counts carried out by local authorities. Within East Riding Council's boundaries, the counts revealed there were from 81 to 119 traveller caravans, up to 46 of which did not have permission to set up where they had.

The highest concentration is in South Cambridgeshire, where there are up to 522. Thirty councils in the country did not have any traveller caravans in their area during the last five counts. Doncaster had a large number, with the counts ranging from 440 to 506.

There are thought to be 21,142 traveller caravans in the country, up from 12,810 in 1993. Out of the current population, 22 per cent live on unauthorised sites, down from 34 per cent in 1993.

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