RESPONSE times will not suffer when a civilian company takes over helicopter-borne search and rescue (SAR) operations early next year, it is claimed.

Bristow Helicopters Limited, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agenc (MCA), will take over the role performed by the Royal Air Force's E Flight, which is based in Leconfield.

Two modern Sikorsky S-92 helicopters will replace the distinctive yellow Sea King and will respond to 999 call-outs anywhere in East Yorkshire.

Although the aircraft will be based at Humberside Airport, in Kirmington, north Lincolnshire, the Mail has been given assurances that response times will not suffer.

Bristow Helicopters Ltd spokesman, Ailsa Nicol, said: "The SAR base at Humberside Airport is due to go live on April 1 next year and will have two state-of-the-art Sikorsky S-92 helicopters.

"Under the new contract, Bristow Helicopters Ltd will operate from ten strategically located bases across the UK that are positioned close to the SAR hotspots so that resources can be brought to bear as quickly and efficiently as possible."

In the case of a serious incident requiring an air evacuation north or west of Leconfield, the Sikorsky S-92 would have at least an extra 20 miles more than the Sea King to cover in order to reach the stricken casualty.

However, the new aircraft is said to be significantly faster and is more than capable of making up time, according to Bristow.

Ms Nicol said: "Given the new aircraft will be faster than the current Sea King fleet, Bristow anticipates a reduction in average response times to incidents across the UK.

"The aircraft will be airborne within 15 minutes between 8am and 10pm and within 45 minutes at all other times. Bristow will always strive to exceed this."

The Mail presented Bristow's expected 'scramble' times to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

A MoD spokesman confirmed the times are the same as the RAF's and offered assurances to the public.

She said: "We do not expect the public to notice any difference in response times."

A "topping out" ceremony was held at Humberside Airport last month to mark the construction of the new SAR base.

Speaking at the ceremony, Neil Grant, transition manager at the MCA, said: "This marks not only the successful completion of a stage of this project in Humberside, but the beginning of a new search and rescue helicopter service for the UK."

Bristow currently provides SAR services at Stornoway, in the Western Isles, and Sumburgh, in Shetland.

• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

•Emergency services updates and breaking news

VILLAGERS in Little Weighton are celebrating after plans for a wind turbine on nearby farmland were rejected by councillors.

They claimed the turbine earmarked for a site on land off Common Road, between the village and nearby Riplingham Grange, would have created a blot on the landscape.

But farmer John Clappison said the decision by East Riding Council's planning committee could hit his business.

He grows Brussels sprouts in the area and had hoped to use energy generated from the turbine to power a new cold store.

His application for the 67.8m-high turbine attracted an 81-name petition against the development, along with 12 individual letters of objection.

Mrs Ursula Clark, who spoke on behalf of the objectors at this week's planning meeting, said: "This proposal would bring a 220ft industrial- scale turbine with a blade diameter of 177ft into a designated landscape of high sensitivity, openness and attractiveness.

"It would be the same height as York Minster, but moving.

"It would be the catalyst for unacceptable change at the site, unacceptable harm to the locality, to the significance of the setting of multiple heritage assets and to the residential amenity of all the residents of Little Weighton and for what? A modest contribution to national renewable energy targets.

"The modest benefits of the proposal are insufficient to outweigh the harm."

Mrs Clark received a round of applause from people in the public gallery after her speech and they applauded again when councillors voted 7-2 to refuse the application.

In doing so, the committee rejected their own officers' recommendation for approval.

Speaking against the scheme, Councillor Tony Galbraith said the turbine would conflict with the surrounding open countryside and, in particular, the setting of St Peter's Church in nearby Rowley, where 20 families famously followed their rector Ezekiel Rogers to become some of the first American colonists in 1638.

As a result, Cllr Galbraith said the church had become a popular destination for American tourists researching their family roots in recent years.

"I believe the potential damage to the landscape and the local heritage is significant," he said.

"There will be much more traffic and I do not believe the benefits outweigh the adverse impact of having a turbine here."

Councillor Phil Davison said: "For me, it will dominate a relatively unspoilt landscape.

"It would be even more obvious if the hedgerows weren't so high, but I do feel this is the wrong place for something like this."

Councillor Charles Bayram was the only committee member to speak in favour of the proposal.

He said: "I know the area well because I used to farm near there.

"It's a quiet area but not a sensitive one, this would only be seen from a couple of roads."

Mr Clappison said installing the turbine was a way of making his business more sustainable in the long-term.

Pledging to operate just one turbine within a proposed 5km buffer zone, he said energy generated from it would have helped run a new cold store complex.

"We are operating in a very competitive and tough vegetable market.

"For us, sprouts are for life, not just Christmas."

He said his business provided employment in the area and would now face having to rethink its plans.

Both Birds Eye and Aldi had supported the application, saying it offered a more sustainable way to produce Brussels sprouts.

Farmer John Clappison said he was disappointed by the committee's decision.

"Over the past 15 years there has been a lot of pressure on the farming industry to improve sustainability and this was one way of doing that," he said.

"As a farming business, we have to keep our customers happy, keep the local community happy, look after the country- side, provide local jobs and address climate change.

"In 2007, we were flooded and in 2010, we lost half our crops through severe frost.

"I believe those events were part of climate change.

"We have currently got a carbon footprint of 713 tonnes and this was an attempt to reduce that.

"It's disappointing because two turbines in two nearby parishes are going up as we speak."

• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

•Politics news for Hull and East Riding

• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

•Emergency services updates and breaking news

Flemingate in Beverly is closed between Armstrong Way and the Leisure Centre due to a possible gas leak Log 297 #8795

— Command Centre (@HPCommandCentre) August 16, 2014

HERE'S a real life story for you. My father was found hanged almost ten years ago to the day.

He'd suffered a complete mental breakdown two years previously. He became catatonic. He occasionally reverted to a child-like state.

He spoke like a person who had lost his marbles, yet he still had the presence of mind to hide this side of his altered personality on the many occasions we did manage to prise him to the doctors. Therefore, he was able remain at home, untreated, able to turn his loved ones into shells of their former selves.

Yes, he made it into a local sanctuary for token gestures of treatment and rehabilitation, but he was able to convince staff that he had turned a corner and was allowed home.

Pretty selfish of him, wasn't it?

Happy to watch his family crumble around him, so long as he wasn't labelled "crazy" or a "lunatic".

It was also a very selfish of him to take the decision to leave his wife and son. After all, we were already broken after two years of watching a loving, funny, idiosyncratic father and husband turn into someone we'd never met before.

Now, we had to put up with breaking the news to family, funeral arrangements, banks, and all those vultures who make it so hard for relatives to claim what is lawfully theirs.

Of course, it could have been that he'd watched from a distance as he tore his family apart. Something inside of him knew what the person he'd become was doing.

In his confused state, (deemed acceptable by the professionals who were there to protect him), he believed the best thing for his family was for him to be no longer part of it.

He believed this so strongly, he was able to muster the strength to torture himself, alone, with none of his family around him.

Selfish? Or so completely selfless that he made the ultimate sacrifice?

Ten years on, the question I constantly ask myself, day after day, is not "how could he be so selfish?".

It's "why wouldn't he let himself be treated?"

In 2004, it was nigh on impossible to find someone qualified to diagnose and treat his symptoms, so why the hell didn't he grasp that help when he had the chance? My mother and I, together with his brothers, work colleagues, our close family, all tried in vain to help him, to encourage him to respond to treatment, all the time battling to find someone, anyone, qualified enough to help.

Because so many suffer in silence, authorities do not recognise just how widespread chronic depression is.

It therefore doesn't have even half of the resources needed to support those who need it. But that is another story.

The reason he took his life? As I've already alluded to, it was because he didn't want to be labelled.

He didn't want to live with the stigma of being in a "funny farm", or being "mental". In short, the lack of understanding/sheer ignorance of people and a society in which we laugh, sneer or scoff at those with mental health problems.

All of those with this ill-informed opinion are the reason millions continue to suffer in silence.

After ten years, and with the support of my mum, my wife and my kids, I am now at peace with my dad's passing.

However, whenever I hear ignorant outbursts such as yours, I'm reminded of the reason my father did not allow himself to be helped, and to a degree, the reason there isn't enough help out there.

• Visit Hull and East Yorkshire Mind.

Hull City skipper Curtis Davis and former players Nick Barmby, Dean Windass and Ian Ashbee have all failed, as have 20,000 others.

As the popularity of footgolf increases in East Yorkshire, there is one hole that has become something of a Holy Grail.

Since Footgolf Yorkshire was established in the past 18 months, many have celebrated a hole-in-one at the course in National Avenue, west Hull.

But despite 20,000 players having stepped up to the tee and booted their shot down the fairway, no one has achieved a hole-in-one on the ninth.

Now, Footgolf Yorkshire is on the search to find the player with the perfect strike and has launched a challenge to all comers.

The venue opened in March last year as the UK's first fully affiliated footgolf course, but the notorious ninth remains unconquered.

It may be just 98 yards long, but the hole demands an accurate right to left curling drive to avoid four strategically-placed trees on the fairway.

"Hole nine is the talking point of the footgolf course," said manager Ben Rozenbroek.

"It has beaten every player over an 18-month period and we want to see the hole-in-one achieved now, as we know it must be possible."

To mark the start of the new Premier League season as Hull City kick-off their campaign today, the centre is offering an initial prize of £200 for the perfect shot, with £1 added to the jackpot every time a player takes on the challenge and fails. The first player to score a hole-in-one will split the money with a charity of their choice.

"The jackpot is pretty small to start with, but had we started this challenge from day one, it would now be worth more than £20,000," Mr Rozenbroek said.

"The amazing thing about it is that the hole is not much longer than any other on the course and, when every player stands on the tee, they all think they can be the first to do it.

Mr Rozenbroek does have a couple of tips for those looking to take up the challenge.

"It's a risky approach, but I think a brave player who looks to strike his ball over the top of one of the trees, swinging round towards the hole, is a better bet than those who look to strike straight down the fairway and between the trees," he said.

Mr Rozenbroek is hoping hole nine continues to frustrate his customers for some time. He said: "Hopefully, hole nine will continue to deny players for a good while yet so we can raise some good money for a charity.

"It's a fun challenge for everybody that comes to our course and adds that extra bit of excitement. It is something that could raise a lot of money for charity in the long run."

Kieran Barmby and Alex Stockbridge completed a round of the course.

Mr Barmby, 26, of Brough, said: "I was close to a hole- in-one on a couple of pins, but the ninth is definitely the hardest.

"It will take one heck of a strike, but it is possible."

Alex, 17, of Swanland, said: "I was with a friend who got a two on the ninth and I've done it in three before, but I can't see myself getting a hole-in-one."

Footgolf is the fastest growing new sport in the UK with more than 50 courses open across the country.

Yorkshire Footgolf is part of the UK Footgolf Association, with former Hull City Premier League star Bryan Hughes now heading up the training academy.

Looking ahead of me, I shrug my shoulders, thinking 'what's the big deal?'

Through the four trees, the pin on the ninth looks pretty near.

I feel confident I can reach the green and hope Lady Luck can do the rest.

I put down the ball, measure it up and then carefully caress it towards the pin.

Well, that's the idea.

What actually happens is that the ball trickles along and barely creeps through the trees.

Most people get the one chance, but I was generously given ten.

I carried on trying to curl it round, but my attempts got steadily worse.

I decided to try a good old toey straight through the trees, but it pulled horribly to the left.

With all ideas exhausted, I chose to welly the last few balls, with most clattering the trees.

With one last chance, glory awaited. I leant back and put my foot through the ball.

It landed a whisker away from the pin – unfortunately, it was the pin on the fifth hole!

BRIMMING with enthusiasm after a tough training session, it's clear to see Fetuli Talanoa is enjoying life at the Black and Whites.

Something of a 'punt' signing by coach Lee Radford, the Tongan winger has become a firm fans' favourite since arriving at Hull FC in the off-season.

An ever-present in the side throughout 2014 – alongside Joe Westerman – the 26-year-old was taken aback at how much rugby he's played after having 12 months out of the game prior to his arrival.

"I'm actually surprised I've survived this season so far," Talanoa told the Mail.

"With the year off last year I had no pre-season, I did my own training back home.

"It was nothing compared to training with the team, though. Each week I put on that jersey, I'm actually thankful and surprised how fit I am and how happy I am here.

"Considering I had the year off, I'm very happy with my own form. There's a few goals I still want to complete but at the moment I'm happy where I'm at."

Rewarded with a one-year contract extension midway through the current campaign, Talanoa believes the new deal will give him the chance to prove with a full pre-season regime with his team-mates under his belt, he can continue to impress for next season.

"It wasn't really in the back of my mind to sign a new contract. I was just focusing on playing week in week out, getting on the field and playing some good rugby," he added.

"It'll be good to have a full off-season under my belt and I'm already looking forward to next season.

"We're still keeping our hopes up for the eight and anything can happen in rugby league right down to the death.

"We've just got to play every week and control our own destiny.

"We'll run out there and show the fans we're not going to turn over for any team. We're going to fight until the death."

Tomorrow's opponents Bradford provide tricky opposition for Hull, following the relegated Bulls' back-to-back shocks over Leeds Rhinos and reigning Super League champions Wigan Warriors.

Keen to not allow James Lowes' men a hat-trick of upsets following their relegation, Talanoa admits their recent revival is a cause for concern. However, he's confident his side can do the job.

"They've come off two good wins against two quality sides and they're under no pressure," he said.

"It's a sticky situation for both clubs. They're playing some good footy and we're just starting to get some form to try and get in that eight.

"It meant a lot to get the win last time, just to get the feeling back in the club and within the players. It brought us a lot closer together and the break did us the world of good.

"The rest of the season will come from within this team. We can't look outside the bubble at what we cannot control, we just want to focus and believe and keep that team spirit alive.

"This is a game which will pretty much set our standard for the rest of the season and our fight to get in the top eight. It's going to be a tough battle and we cannot afford to take them lightly."

HEADING into a final four games that will not only determine Hull's still-remote play-off hopes but also aid with optimism for next year, yesterday's signing news was a good fillip.

At 32-years-old, there will be some who will question the signing of Mark Minichiello from Gold Coast Titans.

Hull coach Lee Radford is building a predominantly young side, but to accompany those young players you need experienced heads.

Gareth Ellis and Leon Pryce will provide that, but you need more and Minichiello is just the type of figure to lift standards and provide a dependable presence on the field.

The second-rower has been a consistent performer in the NRL and recent form suggests he'll continue to do that in Super League.

That's for next year and attention will now turn to the present and a key game for the Black and Whites.

The play-offs look a million miles away, but all Hull can do now is focus on winning their remaining games and hope it is enough.

Heading to Bradford has been somewhat of a welcome task for teams this season, but not so in recent weeks after the Bulls responded to relegation with their best spell of form.

Wigan and Leeds have been beaten in recent weeks and the arrival of Hull will hold no fear for Jimmy Lowes' men.

Hull's last visit to Odsal in pre-season wasn't a pleasant encounter and Radford will expect better tomorrow.

If they repeat their St Helens display Hull will win, but consistency has been an issue.

Great start of the season and a big 3 points away today the lads were class, have a safe trip to our fans back home #UTT

— Ahmed Elmohamady (@Elmo_27) August 16, 2014

Great win today made even sweeter when @therealgreegsy1 saved the (soft) penalty! Chezzy was fantastic and Robbo had an immense debut #HCAFC

— Curtis Davies #6 (@TheCurtisDavies) August 16, 2014

Great three points away from home. Brilliant safe from @therealgreegsy1 never in doubt and great header from Chezy! #UTT

— DM (@DavidMeyler7) August 16, 2014

Yessss superb start for us great 3 points

— Robert snodgrass (@robsnodgrass7) August 16, 2014

Get up outta that ya good thing! First away game of the season, 3points. Not bad, onto the next one #UTT#MOTD

— Paul McShane (@pmacca15) August 16, 2014

The Freedom Festival 2014 is fast approaching, bringing with it a wide-ranging mix of music, dance and theatre. Ian Midgley meets the man behind a spectacular outdoor love story.

Imagine a cross between Romeo and Juliet and Homer's Iliad only bigger and better – and then some. Throw in a Monkey God, the King Of The Eagles, two inseparable banished lovers and an evil, kidnapping sorcerer and you have the Ramayana, the epic Hindu love story and one of the great works of eastern literature.

Then imagine it on a waterfront stage in Hull Marina, realised by a mixture of music, dance, shadow play, puppetry and fireworks and you have Spellbound, the Saturday night highlight of this year's Freedom Festival.

The story may be from a far-away country, 2,500 years ago, says show producer Nick Clarke, of Freedom organising company Walk The Plank, but its themes of love, honour and sacrifice are as recognisable now as they were back then.

"It is an absolutely epic story," says Nick.

"I think it's the reason they invented the word epic. It's the great story of the Hindu religion and, like all great stories, it has those universal themes that endure down the ages.

"It has great characters, themes of good and evil and a fantastic story. And the way we present it, it's very easy to follow in a 30-minute show and whether you've ever heard of it or not before it doesn't really matter, you'll be swept along with the story and the performance.

"We were originally commissioned to do the show for the 2011 Diwali celebrations in Manchester, but have since staged it in Edinburgh, London, Belfast and Leicester and it's gone down a treat everywhere."

The standard Ramayana text consists of 24,000 verses, telling the story of Rama – the human incarnation of the god Vishnu – and his bride Sita.

Banished to the forest by his evil stepmother Kaikeyi so her son Bharata can accede the throne, Rama retreats to the wilderness with Sita, where she is then kidnapped by the ten-headed demon king Ravana.

With the help of the Hanuman, the monkey king, and Jatayu, the king of the eagles, the couple are eventually reunited and eventually return to rule their rightful kingdom justly for centuries.

All of which is quite tricky to stage, says Nick. "It is a challenge because it's such a big story," he says. "But we've boiled it down to its essence and have some really stunning visuals to carry it along.

"It's a mixture of art forms using shadows, fire and modern and traditional Indian dance, which are all punctuated by pyrotechnics.

"We have a narrator who pulls all the elements together and moves the story along. It's very cinematic."

The actual Spellbound performance, at Humber Quays, is the climax of a evening of Freedom fire and light.

The fun will start with a lantern procession that will light up the night wending its way from Hull's High Street, across the Marina to Humber Quays.

Illuminated by locals carrying lights made in lantern-making workshops, the procession will pass through the light trail – a series of eight specially commissioned light installations – all inspired by the late Nelson Mandela.

"It will be pretty spectacular sight, ending in an impressive finale," says Nick.

Organisers are now seeking lantern bearers to take part in the procession on Saturday, September 6.

They will need to be available from 6.30pm to 9.30pm and will form part of the procession prior to the Spellbound performance.

Lantern making workshops will take place next week at venues including The Freedom Centre, Preston Road; St Michaels Youth Centre, Orchard Park; and Ainthorpe Youth Centre, Willerby Road.

Places are limited but you can register your interest at the Freedom Festival website.

Spellbound is commissioned by Hull's Roots & Wings and Freedom Festival, and supported by KC and Arts Council England Strategic Touring Fund.

IT HAS taken almost a century, but the name of a "forgotten" Hull soldier killed in the First World War will finally be added to the famous Menin Gate in Belgium.

The Mail told in 2011 how the Commonwealth War Graves Commission had no record of Gunner Albert William Venus, despite a war diary extract clearly showing he was killed in action on May 24, 1915.

Amateur historian Tony Brooks realised an error had been made after noticing Gunner Venus did not appear on the commission's website, even though his name is on a small memorial in Thorne, South Yorkshire, where he lived prior to the outbreak of hostilities in 1914.

On Thursday, Mr Brooks received confirmation from the commission that Gunner Venus will be honoured.

He died aged 22, in Ypres, Belgium – the scene of one of the war's bloodiest offensives.

Mr Brooks said: "I feel quite emotional.

"Anyone who dies for their country should be recognised properly.

"I have been informed Gunner Venus's name will be added to the Addenda Panel on Menin Gate, next to the names of 35,000 other soldiers who have no known grave, in due course.

"If you type his name in the commission's website, his details now appear, although it incorrectly states Thorne is in Hull.

"The timing could not have been better with the centenary of Britain entering the First World War."

It is thought a clerical error led to Gunner Venus's omission from official casualty lists.

Mr Brooks said: "It was war and it was before the days of computers. Bits of paper were being sent back to England from the frontline and names were missed.

"The commission told me that they needed a death certificate before they could add his name to records.

"Despite exhaustive attem- pts, I was unable to get this certificate.

"In March 2012, the commission told me the Ministry of Defence would have the final say as to whether Gunner Venus's name will be added.

"A year later, I was told responsibility had passed to the National Army Museum.

"On Thursday, I received a letter from the commission telling me that his name has been added to official casualty records."

Gunner Venus, who was born in Hull in 1893, served with the Royal Field Artillery's North Riding Battery of the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade.

Records show he sailed to Le Havre in northern France from Southampton on April 20, 1915.

On May 24, 1915, his battery was involved in a fierce battle at Bellewaarde Ridge, just outside the town of Ypres.

He died when German artillery shells hit the British guns.

The telegram bearing the bad news had been sent to his married sister, Mrs WJ Bonewell, of 33 Gee Street, Hull.

Mr Brooks discovered Gunner Venus was living in Thorne at the time of the 1901 census.

Gunner Venus's father, Alfred, worked on keel boats that operated between Hull and the South Yorkshire town. After spending time in Canada, Gunner Venus and his family returned to East Yorkshire. The 1911 census showed the family living at 29 Eastbourne Street in Hessle.

Gunner Venus was apprenticed to trawler owners Messrs Kelsall, Beeching and Co.

His death was reported in the Mail on June 21, 1915.

An entry in an official war diary records the day Gunner Venus was killed.

It states: "A shell, apparently about 4in H.E. (high explosive), burst in rear of No.1 gun, a second hit the gable of the farm, and a third, striking the right wheel of No. 1 gun (A subsection), killed No 1037 Cpl TA Carr, No. 1015 Gr JW Clarke, No 1682 Gr G Robinson, No 1308 Gr J Rowbottom and No 1817 Gr AW Venus and severely wounded No 391 Sgt GP Hill, also putting the gun effectively out of action."

Historian Tony Brooks is asking any relative of Gunner Venus to call him on 01405 814108 or 07721 834084.

He said: "I did speak, during the course of my research, with a distant relative of Gunner Venus.

"Unfortunately, due to a computer virus, I lost her contact details. I'd be grateful if this lady contacts me."

RESIDENTS living on an East Yorkshire street were left baffled when they woke up to discover their street had two names.

People living in Taillar Road, Hedon, discovered a road sign for Cromwell Road had been placed opposite the original street name on Tuesday.

Residents said the mistake left them wondering whether their street was changing names and whether the postman would get lost delivering their mail.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "It's crazy that there is a street in Hedon with two names.

"We really don't know what has happened.

"For all we know they could be changing the street name and not telling us."

Another resident said: "Cromwell Road is around the corner from here so whether the council have installed the sign here by mistake, who knows?

"Let's hope East Riding Council doesn't charge the residents two lots of council tax."

East Riding Council confirmed the Cromwell Road sign had been installed in the wrong place.

The sign was removed yesterday after the Mail contacted the authority to inform them of the blunder.

Mayor of Hedon, Councillor John Dennis, was left bemused by what had happened.

Cllr Dennis said: "It is a complete mystery why this has happened.

"We have never had any problems with the street previously so goodness knows why this has happened.

"However, I am pleased the problem seems to have been sorted out quickly by highway officers at the council."

A spokesman for East Riding Council apologised to residents for the mix-up.

He said: "The Cromwell Road sign has been erected in error at the wrong location and the council will be rectifying this as soon as possible."

• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

•Politics news for Hull and East Riding

A GANG armed with baseball bats and metal poles tried to smash their way into a woman's flat after her boyfriend allegedly attacked another woman with an axe, Hull Crown Court heard.

Jamie Southwick "terrified" Natalie Friett when he and girlfriend Kayleigh Robinson smashed up the windows of the chip shop below her flat in Holderness Road, east Hull, after a row broke out with her boyfriend Robert Cuthbertson.

Miss Friett, who has a heart condition, made frantic calls to 999 as Southwick shouted up to her boyfriend that he was "going to kill him". He was joined by Robinson, Lee Tomkins and Niki Martin.

Once they were inside the takeaway, Southwick started bashing his way through the outer glass door to Miss Friett's flat.

Prosecuting, Dale Brook told the court how Mr Cuthbertson had been out drinking with Tomkins, Southwick, Robinson and Martin when he returned to Miss Friett's flat at 10pm "in a panic" and saying it was "all kicking off".

Mr Brook said: "Not long after, she heard a glass smashing so she called the police and looked out of the window and saw Lee Tomkins and another male.

"She said Tomkins was holding a metal pole and using it to smash the window of the chip shop below.

"She could hear voices and people screaming and threats being shouted to her partner. She also saw Jamie Southwick carrying a black baseball bat with two females behind him.

"He was using his weapon to smash the window of the chip shop and she saw Kayleigh Robinson throwing an implement through her first-floor window, missing her by a matter of inches.

"Then she heard a very loud bang and realised her flat outer door had been put through. She saw Southwick putting it through. By this stage she was incredibly frightened."

Seconds later the police arrived at the flat and arrested Southwick, of 12th Avenue, north Hull, and Robinson, who told officers a row had broken out with Mr Cuthbertson at another address.

She claimed he had left but returned wearing a gas mask and holding an axe. She told the officers that, during a confrontation with Mr Cuthbertson, she had suffered a cut to her cheek.

Mr Cuthbertson has admitted causing injury to Robinson, but has yet to be sentenced.

Tomkins, of Brazil Street, east Hull, was arrested at Hull Royal Infirmary, where he was treated for severe cuts to his hands.

Mr Brook said: "Miss Friett suffers with a heart condition and found the whole episode terrifying. Whatever her partner had done, she had not been involved in anyway."

The attack also cost David Bell, the owner of the chip shop, more than £1,500.

In mitigation for Southwick, who admitted affray and criminal damage, Fiona Tannock said: "This is an incident with some degree of background to it. Mr Cutherbertson has accepted causing injury to the young lady who is my defendant's partner.

"This defendant is hardworking, he has held down a job for some time, he and his partner are expecting a child later this year."

Tomkins, 30, admitted affray.

Representing him, Paul Norton said: "He left before at least some of the worse aspects of the incident occurred. There was also a degree of provocation."

Sentencing both Southwick and Tomkins to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, Judge Simon Jack said: "This must have been terrifying, particularly for the lady who had nothing to do with the incident that happened previously.

"I accept there was a degree of provocation and the man you believed was inside the flat had acted badly a short time previously, but that is no excuse for what happened and no excuse for damaging property belonging to someone who had nothing to do with the incident."

Southwick, 27, was also ordered to carry out 110 hours' unpaid work, while Tomkins must complete an alcohol treatment activity.

Robinson and Martin were also charged with affray but were given conditional discharges at an earlier hearing.

• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

• Crime news for Hull and East Yorkshire

• See a gallery of pictures from the event

• See a gallery of pictures from the event

Also hope Robert Snodgrass is ok. He collapsed on the pitch with what seemed like a twist on his knee. Hope its good news for him.

— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) August 16, 2014