A HULL family have told how a man was left fighting for his life after a car smashed through the wall of a pub during a funeral wake.

Barry King, 48, was mourning the death of his partner's grandfather Harry Parks with friends and family when a Vauxhall Tigra crashed through the wall of The Holderness pub in Witham on Friday night.

Mr King's heart stopped and his partner Diane Green and pub regular Pete Brown had to perform CPR until paramedics arrived to rush him to Hull Royal Infirmary.

Ms Green, 42, said: "Baz and I were sitting down, about to ring for a taxi to go home, when there was a massive bang and we were both catapulted out of our seats onto the floor.

"I turned around and saw a car and then I saw Baz's lifeless body on the floor – I touched him and he was freezing.

"I put my cheek to his face and he wasn't breathing and he didn't have a pulse.

"A man, who I didn't know, came over and started giving Baz CPR and we took it in turns until he started breathing.

"I kept whispering in his ear, telling him not to die on me."

Paramedics raced to the pub and transported Mr King to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he is currently being treated for his injuries.

Ms Green, who lives with Mr King in Medina Road, east Hull, said: "He has some soft tissue damage to his right calf and we are waiting for the results of a brain scan.

"He has been ever so lucky – we all have.

"My granddad must have been watching over us that day. If the car had smashed into the wall just ten minutes earlier, all my family were sitting there including my mum.

"I dread to think what could have happened."

Ms Green's sister Amy was outside The Holderness pub, shortly before 11pm, with her husband Rich when she noticed the car hurtling towards them.

Amy, 29, said: "I heard this really loud screeching.

"I saw a car come out of a car parking space. It then hit a wall and came spinning towards us at some speed.

"I thought 'Oh my God, that's going to hit us.' All I can say was it was like the tram crash episode in Coronation Street, it was unreal.

"We quickly managed to get out of the way and that was when I heard this massive bang.

"I knew the car had hit the wall but I didn't know it had actually gone through it.

"I tried to get inside the pub but my sister's son pushed me out of the door and told me 'Don't go in there, Baz is dead'."

Dave and Linda Stark, landlord and landlady of The Holderness, said the pub is expected to be closed for at least a month after Friday night's crash.

Mr Stark said: "We feel sick to our stomachs with the whole thing. We are just relieved everyone is going to be OK."

Mr Stark said surveyors have been called out to inspect the damage.

He said: "Who knows how much damage this has actually caused."

Humberside Police confirmed a woman had been arrested on suspicion of drink driving following the crash.

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AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a pilot was injured when his light aircraft crashed near South Cave.

The fixed-wing microlight plunged into a field moments after take-off at the Mount Airey airfield just outside South Cave.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has confirmed it is looking into the cause of the crash.

A spokesman said: "The AAIB is aware and is investigating the situation."

The accident happened close to where two men were killed in another aviation crash in the same area.

The accident, involving a two-seater Cessna 310, killed Humberside Airport-based flight instructor Glen Stewart and his passenger Peter McNeil instantly in March 2004, just outside Hotham, near South Cave.

In the latest accident, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said the light aircraft crashed off Beverley Road following take-off from the Mount Airey airfield, shortly before 6pm on Friday.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called to airlift the pilot to Hull Royal Infirmary, while firefighters made the aircraft safe.

The Mail understands the injuries sustained by the victim are not life-threatening but he has undergone surgery. He remains in a comfortable condition in hospital.

The Mount Airey airfield is based just outside South Cave and is owned by farm business LE May and Son.

A spokesman for the farm said: "The first we knew about it was when we heard the sirens of the ambulance.

"Luckily, there was a pilot at the airfield who saw the aircraft come down and was able to immediately alert the emergency services.

"The pilot was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary where, we are told, he remains comfortable and his injuries aren't life-threatening."

While the cause is not yet known, the spokesman does not believe weather played a part.

He said: "It was a still and calm evening and the conditions were good for flying, but we await the outcome of the investigation to find out exactly what happened.

"The aircraft was a fixed-wing microlight and the pilot was on his own. It came down just a field away.

"The airfield is still open and operations there haven't been affected."

Those operating the Mount Airey Airfield declined to comment while the investigation takes place.

IT WAS just over ten years ago when the South Cave area was the scene of a tragic aviation crash.

The accident, involving a two-seater Cessna 310, killed Humberside Airport-based flight instructor Glen Stewart and his passenger Peter McNeil, who was also a fully qualified commercial pilot.

The plane had taken off from Humberside Airport.

Police and the Civil Aviation Authority launched an investigation, which concluded pilot error was the cause rather than any technical issue with the aircraft.

They plane was reportedly doing stunts moments before it plummeted to the ground at 200mph.

At the time, Hotham residents said it could have been a lot worse if the plane had crashed in the village just a short distance away.

Mr Stewart left behind his wife Melanie, who continued running his Soloflight training school in her husband's memory.

The couple had two adult daughters and two grandsons.

The crash happened just 12 months after Mr Stewart, 63, climbed from the wreckage of a crash at Humberside International Airport, which killed a Saudi Arabian flying instructor.

Mr McNeil, a Scottish international dinghy sailor, had a partner of three years.

An inquest later recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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A MAN and his girlfriend were punched and bitten by a drunken man as they travelled on a train, Hull Crown Court heard.

Passengers were left horrified when David Mannifield, 42, unleashed his drink-fuelled attack on Matthew Wilkinson and Lyndsay Stow.

Mr Wilkinson was left with a fractured jaw and Miss Stow a bloody lip after Mannifield, who was with ten other men, repeatedly punched them in the unprovoked assault.

Prosecuting, David Hall, told the court how the couple were on their way back to the city onboard the 19.57 train on April 19 this year, after enjoying a day out in York.

Mannifield, who knew Mr Wilkinson from school, accused him of being involved in a bar fight years ago.

Mr Hall said: "He kept harping on about an incident in a pub that happened years ago and attributing blame to the complainant.

"The defendant kept calling Miss Stow darling, it became annoying. He would go back to his group and then come back to the couple.

"He was winding the complainant up.

"For no reason, the defendant then bit hard on Mr Wilkinson's finger. His girlfriend jumped up and started arguing with the defendant, who got up off the seat and punched Mr Wilkinson in the mouth.

Miss Stow tried to get in between the men, telling Mannifield there were children on the carriage and to stop fighting, but he then launched his fists at her.

"She got punched about three times," said Mr Hall.

"As they got off the train, Mannifield, of Cheadle Close, west Hull, was saying 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry' but using inverted commas."

Three days later, Mr Wilkinson was struggling to eat as his jaw was so painful.

He went to hospital, where an X-ray confirmed he had suffered a misplaced fractured. Miss Stow suffered a swollen lip and bruising around her mouth.

In mitigation, Patricia Doherty said Mannifield was truly remorseful about the assault.

She said: "He would like to, through me, apologise to all the other rail passengers and both complainants for his behaviour.

"He accepts he had been drinking and shouldn't have reacted by using violence, even though the complainant was giving him verbal abuse."

Sentencing Mannifield to six months in prison, Judge Michael Mettyear, said: "Many of us put up with train journeys where there is some drunken idiot making a nuisance out of himself. It is an absolute pain. It is a misery for people.

"It must have been awful for the other people on the train, going about their business. There were children there as well.

"For them to see how you were behaving is absolutely disgusting, unforgivable. You turned to actual violence and you hit this man a number of times and he suffered a fractured jaw.

"The lady who was with him was terribly upset, terribly distressed at witnessing her boyfriend being treated this way and then she too suffered the indignity of being assaulted."

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A RESTAURANT in Skidby is launching a £500,000 expansion programme to lure in more corporate clients.

The Millhouse Restaurant and Bar is set to get an extended dining area to seat 100 more guests, along with a second-floor private dining room with bar and roof terrace.

It builds on a £250,000 invested by owner Mark Ciuffetelli last year for a cocktail bar.

Work is due to start next month and should be completed in time for Christmas.

Mr Ciuffetelli said: "We've invested heavily over the past several years and it's paid dividends on the business.

"It's opened a lot of new channels for us.

"We're doing a lot of weddings and corporate events. We're doing a lot of business conferences."

The development will also feature landscaped gardens and an outdoor dining area.

The owner has run his business since 1993.

He has seen bookings improve dramatically as the recession faded away.

Mr Ciuffetelli said: "In the past two or three years, we've seen a massive upturn.

"Last year was one of our best years yet and this year looks like it's even better.

"Bookings are thick and fast for the next two years."

With Hull set to become UK City of Culture in 2017, he is seeking to make sure the restaurant is ready for an influx of new customers.

High-end rural restaurants are likely to do well, Mr Ciuffetelli believes.

He said: "UK City of Culture is a big thing. When all these people come in, they're going to go to surrounding areas and villages.

"We want to be proud of what we've got round here and show it off.

"There's competition but it's healthy competition.

"It keeps you on your toes."

The restaurant already employs 37 staff.

Its latest expansion is an attempt to keep growing sustainably.

Mr Ciuffetelli said: "We know there's demand for extra seating in the existing restaurant but we also wanted to create a plush private dining area that larger parties or corporate clients can have to themselves.

"Like the main dining area, it will be a very luxurious and stylish space, where customers can dine, drink and enjoy the wonderful views in complete privacy.

"This represents a significant investment for us, which shows how committed we are to developing and enhancing the range of services that we offer our customers."

The restaurant will remain open while work is carried out.

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WITH just over a week to go to bring in new signings, Hull City know they need to add a goal-scorer to their ranks.

You cannot knock Nikica Jelavic because he worked himself into the ground in the 1-1 draw against Stoke, but he needs someone to play alongside him and quickly.

The £12m departure of Shane Long to Southampton has left a gaping hole in City's attack and manager Steve Bruce admits it needs to be addressed.

Whether they can bring in Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn remains to be seen, but that's the type of player they need, someone with good movement and a great goal ratio.

At the highest level, being a striker is all about goals. It doesn't matter how you get them, it's how regularly you get them which matters most.

Jelavic is a perfect example of that. He's ungainly, hasn't got a good touch and isn't the best at link-up play, but he sure knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.

The Croatian international showed that again yesterday when sliding in City's opener against Stoke, a goal he deserved for all his undoubted hard work. If he can carry on playing like that, he'll probably get you 15 or 18 goals this season and more than justify his place in the team.

Finding someone to share the burden is now the priority and Rhodes would be the ideal candidate if Blackburn are eventually willing to let him go.

Fortunately, it looks as though Michael Dawson may be getting nearer to coming to the KC Stadium and he would be another good addition.

You cannot have too much experience in your defence and his arrival would give the Tigers plenty of options in either a 3-5-2 or a 4-4-2 formation.

Having lost Robert Snodgrass for what looks like the entire season, City are desperate to get another midfielder in too and it will be interesting to see who that is because someone who can weigh in with the odd goal would help massively.

One way or another, it certainly looks like it's going to be an interesting few days to be a Tigers fan, especially with the small matter of KSC Lokeren's arrival for a crucial Europa League clash on Thursday.

Steve Bruce called Stoke City's equaliser an "injustice" after seeing his 10-man Hull City side denied a hard-earned Premier League victory.

The Potters rescued a controversial point at the KC Stadium, with a late leveller from Ryan Shawcross cancelling out Nikica Jelavic's first-half strike.

The 83rd-minute goal was a cruel blow for the resolute Tigers, who had overcome James Chester's early red card to produce a gritty and determined performance worthy of all three points.

With no qualms regarding Chester's dismissal, Bruce's salvo at the officials was saved for the wrongly awarding of a throw-in to Stoke in the build-up to their equaliser.

"We feel an injustice because you can see how blatant it is," said Bruce, in response to the questionable throw-in call which went the way of the Potters.

"I just cannot understand how the three officials can't get together and make that decision right.

"The whole of the crowd knew what it was, their player ran away and didn't want to even take the throw-in. Surely that's an indication to the referee or the officials to say 'hang on a minute, it must have hit him'.

"It wasn't even a slight deflection either. Everyone in the ground must have seen it except for the three officials.

"The consequence of it was, because we thought it was our throw, we weren't set up the way we should have been. It's difficult to take and it's difficult for the players because the determination was manful to say the least."

Ahead at half-time, thanks to Jelavic's tenacity at the back post following a Tom Huddlestone shot, the Tigers looked set to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season before Stoke's late goal.

The result sees Hull riding high in fifth after just two games, providing a satisfying opening to the campaign.

Frustrated at missing out on maximum points and being tied for top place in the table, Bruce admits he'd have taken a point when Chester was sent off.

He added: "Given the circumstances, I think you would accept a point given we were down to 10 men after 15 minutes."

A new father from west Hull turned to drug dealing after losing his job and falling behind with the rent.

Nathan Wardell, 20, was jailed for five months after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Prosecuting, David Hall told Hull Crown Court how police officers raided his home in Londesborough Street in May and found more than £1,000 of cannabis, which was cut into deals and £1,200 in cash.

At the time, he was serving a suspended sentence for possessing the drug with intent to supply.

In mitigation, Stephen Robinson said: "This was done due to financial difficulties he found himself in.

"He had moved to a new, rented address with his partner and child.

"He did so because it was a better area.

"He was in work but in November he lost his job.

"Unable to keep up with the rent, he returned to what he had done before.

"It was done to keep the family afloat.

"The decision is something he bitterly regrets.

"It is something he should have thought about the consequences for him and his family at the time."

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A HULL dance group impressed celebrity judges when they took part in a prime-time talent show.

The Skyline dance group, based in Grimston Street, city centre, appeared on Sky One's Got To Dance, which aired last night.

Viewers witnessed the 13 dancers battle it out against other performers to impress celebrity judges Adam Garcia, Ashley Banjo and Kimberly Wyatt.

Despite not making it through to the live shows, and narrowly missing out to another act, Hull dancer David Danville was delighted with the group's display.

Mr Danville said: "We got asked to audition for Got To Dance as we had auditioned a few years ago and, although we didn't get through, we were told we showed real promise and just needed a bit more work."

Skyline travelled to London for their first audition for the show in April.

Mr Danville, 33, said: "We impressed the judges so much that they gave us three stars, meaning we made the judges' shortlist.

"This meant we had to reaudition for the judges to decide if they wanted us on their team for the live shows."

Despite being unsuccessful on this occasion, the judges were full of praise for Skyline's routine of Beyonce's The Haunted.

"The judges absolutely loved us," Mr Danville said.

"They have been tweeting us and saying how they wanted to see so much more of us.

"They have just given us some amazing feedback but the crew that got in ahead of us were just incredible so we don't feel too disheartened.

"We are still so happy we got the three gold stars as it is very rare judges give acts a full house."

Presented by Davina McCall, the popular programme sees each judge mentoring his or her own dancers throughout the series as they battle it out to be crowned the Got To Dance Champion 2014, and walk away with £250,000.

"It has been such a fantastic opportunity for us to show people across the country what we can do," Mr Danville said.

"We hope the people of Hull are proud of our efforts.

"The whole experience was very exhausting as we had to do a lot of filming but it was definitely worth it.

"We got the opportunity to get our style out there, which a lot of groups don't get to do."

John Wilson, 38, of Alliance Avenue, west Hull, was sent to prison for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months, for stealing detergent worth £23 from Sainsbury's and receiving stolen goods. He was ordered to pay £85 costs, an £80 victim surcharge and £23 compensation.

Dominic Butler, 23, of Kimmeridge Close, Hull, was conditionally discharged for two years for assaulting Michael Danby by beating him and moving a CCTV camera. He was ordered to pay £200 compensation and pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Michael Qualter, 48, of Lee Smith Street, east Hull, was fined £18 for going through a red traffic light while on a bicycle. He was also ordered to pay £40 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Joanne Smith, 43, of Cambridge Road, Hessle, was given three points on her licence for exceeding the 40mph speed limit. She was also fined £265 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

Joseph Smith, 27, of Humber Street, Old Goole, was given three points on his driving licence for using a mobile phone while driving. He was also fined £37 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Luke Atkinson, 24, of Castle Way, Hessle, was fined £70 for causing alarm and distress through using abusive and threatening language in public, while on bail and serving a 12 month conditional discharge. He was ordered £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Lynsey Bartley, 28, of Aberford Walk, east Hull, was sent to prison for four weeks for stealing hair products worth £43.58 while serving a 12-week suspended prison sentence.

Joshua Bedford, 18, of William Booth House, Hessle Road, west Hull, was ordered to pay £10 compensation for stealing two packs of beef from Aldi.

Wayne Dockerty, 43, of Swanfield Road, east Hull, was conditionally discharged for six months for failing to attend follow-up appointments. He was ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

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It was perhaps an indication of the progress made by his Hull City side, or possibly just annoyance at the blatantly incorrect call of the officials, that Steve Bruce left the KC Stadium a frustrated figure.

Despite his side being well placed on four points and having ground out a share of the spoils with only 10 men for the majority of the game, Bruce couldn't hide his frustration.

Unbeaten after two games, the Tigers' bid for the unchartered territory of a third successive season in English football's top flight has started in the right manner.

An opening day Premier League win at QPR had set a season of hope and increasing expectation in motion and, for 83 minutes at the KC, a good start to the campaign looked set to be a perfect one.

Because despite being reduced to ten men in only the 14th minute following James Chester's dismissal, the Tigers had the better of an anaemic Stoke City side.

Nikica Jelavic's goal late in the first half had been just reward and looked to be enough to settle matters. Only for a moment of controversy and a goal typical of the Stoke of old to take the shine off what had been a hard-working performance in the face of adversity.

Incorrectly awarded a throw-in by referee Jonathan Moss, it resulted in Stoke seeing a Phil Bardsley effort on goal bundled into the net by captain Ryan Shawcross.

It was the stroke of luck the Potters needed to find their way past a resolute Allan McGregor, who bounced back from his howler in a midweek European defeat at KSC Lokeren with a typically commanding display.

Having denied Shawcross earlier and tipped substitute Charlie Adam's thunderous strike over the bar, McGregor was at his best late on when he only really needed to be.

And that summed up both how well the Tigers had played and how poor Mark Hughes' side were.

It was no doubt that assessment which left Bruce far from content.

"Given the circumstances you would accept a point because we were down to 10 men in 15 minutes. But it's difficult to take and it's difficult for the players because the determination was manful to say the least," said the City boss, reflecting on the draw.

In truth, City had earned the right to take all three points following a performance built on resilience, work ethic and sheer determination.

If that thought alone is not enough to alter Bruce's disposition this morning, perhaps a glance at the league table will do the trick.

Tougher tests lie in wait, but after a favourable start to the season in terms of league fixtures, City have quickly got points on the board.

Four is a good return, with performances offering a further suggestion the Tigers have more than enough to retain their Premier League status.

Untroubled for large parts of the game despite being a man down, Hull's start offered an indication the game could have been a comfortable one had they not been forced into a re-shuffle.

Back with a familiar three-man defence, the presence of Ahmed Elmohamady and a home debut for Andrew Robertson was too much for the Potters to live with in the opening 15 minutes.

Not so much attacking but dominating on the flanks, with Tom Ince's pace and Jelavic's guile, Stoke were being pulled apart.

The visitors were left chasing shadows in the afternoon sun as City dominated possession and carved out a number of promising openings.

Promise threatened to become despair following Chester's red card, a decision Moss had little choice but to make.

Paul McShane's pass to Jake Livermore put the midfielder under pressure and when his back-pass to Chester had to be perfect, it wasn't. When stretching out and bringing down Glenn Whelan, there was only going to be one outcome for Chester.

Save for a brief period of dominance in the following five minutes as the Tigers struggled to readjust, Stoke offered little else before half-time.

Elmohamady was well placed to clear one testing ball, while Steven N'Zonzi should have done better with his header from inside the six-yard box, but Stoke were hardly pressing their advantage.

While the zip of Hull's attack had been diluted with a man less, the hosts had lost none of their control of the game. So it was no surprise when the Tigers took an advantage into the break.

With the crowd baying for Tom Huddlestone to shoot, he dutifully complied. Asmir Begovic couldn't keep hold of the left-foot strike from the edge of the box, much to the delight of the waiting Jelavic who pounced by the far post to scramble the ball over the line.

No doubt with Hughes' half-time tirade still ringing in their ears, Stoke emerged after the break with more purpose.

What they failed to emerge with however, was any real quality.

Marko Arnautovic and Mame Diouf wasted good efforts, before Shawcross forced a fine save from McGregor.

But for all their desire, the Potters were wasteful both in possession and when making the most of the crumbs the strikers were given to feed on.

Diouf in particular failed to ignite when leading the line and it took the introduction of Adam off the bench to bring some cohesion to the visiting attack.

With tired legs understandably taking hold, City began to drop deeper, inviting Stoke on.

The breakthrough finally came, albeit controversially, with Shawcross poking the ball into the net following Bardsley's effort that cannoned off the post.

Even then Bruce's men had an opportunity to win the game in the dying seconds, but Elmohamady couldn't keep his shot down.

Having opened last season's account at home with a 1-0 win and a man sent off, in the shape of Yannick Sagbo, City will feel history should have repeated itself.

In a just world, it would have. But while for the next 24 hours or so Bruce will bemoan a refereeing decision which he feels cost his side, it shouldn't take long for the positive signs to shine through.

His lead striker is off the mark for the campaign, his side reside unbeaten in the top half of the table and a defence which at times were both miserly and rock solid last year in assuring safety, have started well again.

Expectations may have risen, but not beyond a draw with 10 men being seen as anything but a good result.

A point with ten men in a Premier League match shouldn't be seen as anything other than a good result.

There is a tinge of deflation due to the late nature of Stoke's equaliser, but after James Chester was sent off in the 14th minute Steve Bruce would have undoubtedly settled for a point and remaining unbeaten.

The poor decision by referee Jonathan Moss to gift Stoke possession which led to their goal has put a touch of controversy to the game.

The Potters were pretty much woeful at times and with a man advantage never outclassed their hosts.

The Tigers will be content with the result and especially the performance, with positives to take into Thursday against Lokeren.

Allan McGregor: There will have been a slight feeling of déjà vu after another mix-up in defence. Unlike on Thursday, McGregor wasn't the culprit and he bounced back with a good display and two quality saves. 7

Paul McShane: Solid on Thursday in Lokeren, this was vintage McShane as he stood up to the task of holding off the Stoke attack. His partnership with Davies offered reassurance all around. 8

Curtis Davies: Led as he always does, by example. Stoke's long balls were food and drink to him, with his organisational skills key to keeping City's formation. 8

James Chester: Having shone in midfield on Thursday in Lokeren it was a day to forget. An early mix-up with Davies put the Tigers under pressure. On 13 minutes he was sent off for his tackle on Glenn Whelan. 4

Ahmed Elmohamady: Almost walked away the hero but couldn't keep down his shot in the final minute. The Egyptian worked tirelessly up and down the wing. 7

Tom Huddlestone: His left-foot shot late in the first half created the opportunity for Jelavic to score, but his performance was more about being without the ball than with it. 7

Jake Livermore: His back-pass to Chester put his team-mate under pressure and led to his sending off. Not as effective as others around him, but worked hard. 6

Stephen Quinn: A terrier in the middle of the pitch for the Tigers, his work rate in the heart of the City engine room went a long way to the hosts coping with being a man down. 8

Andy Robertson: Started his home debut well, showing promise with his attacking runs, but not as effective when City went down to 10 men and was asked to focus on defensive work. 6

Tom Ince: Lasted 55 minutes before a necessary substitution for a formation change, the 22-year-old worked hard to provide an outlet and did a good job of stretching the Stoke defence. 6

Nikica Jelavic: Had a physical and sometimes thankless task when leading the line on his own, but the Croatian international did get his just rewards with his first goal at the KC. 7

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• Funeral wake car crash drama leaves man fighting for life

THEY had gathered to celebrate the life of their much-loved grandfather. Family and friends were at The Holderness Pub in Witham to raise a glass to Harry Parks, who had died at the age of 82.

However, the emotional day turned into a nightmare when a car smashed through the wall of the pub, leaving family member Barry King, 48, fighting for his life.

It was shortly before 11pm on Friday when the accident happened.

Mr King's partner Diane Green said: "We had been at my granddad's funeral and had gone out around Witham afterwards to have a drink in his memory.

"We went to The Holderness as my mum likes to sing on the karaoke.

"It was about 11pm and I was outside the pub and I was really upset about my grandad.

"Baz (Barry) was consoling me and we decided to get a taxi home as we both had work the next day.

"We went back inside to finish off our drinks and call a taxi and that's when the nightmare began."

Eye-witnesses described how a blue Vauxhall Tigra screeched towards the pub at some speed, smashing through the wall.

Diane's sister Amy was outside having a cigarette when she saw the car heading straight towards her.

"The whole thing was surreal, it was like something from a film," Amy, 29, said.

"We feared for our lives as that car came towards us.

"We were at the funeral that day and I feel like someone was watching over us."

Inside the pub, Diane and customer Pete Brown performed CPR on Mr King until paramedics arrived.

"It seemed to take ages for the ambulance to arrive, even though in reality they got to us quickly," Diane said.

"I kept whispering in Baz's ear, pleading with him not to die."

Landlord Dave Stark described how customers were in complete shock.

He said: "People were panicking and everyone was really shook up – we still are now.

He said it was fortunate more people were not in the immediate vicinity of the crash: "If this had happened just ten minutes earlier, I dread to think what could have happened."

Mr King was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where he is receiving treatment for soft tissue damage to his right calf. He is also waiting on results of a brain scan.

The Holderness pub is expected to remain closed for at least four weeks.

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AS WE make our way across the House of Lords tea room, a woman – a peer herself, I assume – calls out to us, suddenly.

"There's the other lady of the House who never seems to age!"

She is referring to my host, Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone.

True enough, Virginia Bottomley appears not to have aged since those heady days of Spitting Image.

At 66, she looks little changed from her time as a Cabinet Minister in John Major's government.

Life in the Lords appears to agree with her.

But the ermine and scarlet robes are not just confined to London.

In May last year, Baroness Bottomley was appointed to the newly resurrected role of Sheriff of Hull, alongside Lord Mandelson, one of the original architects of New Labour, who was made High Steward.

After finding a quiet table and placing an order for cucumber sandwiches, she explains how her love affair with Hull began.

She said: "I had always had a huge admiration for the north, with its magnificent cities, beautiful buildings and its urban traditions.

"As an MP, I felt I had given it all I could. I loved my south west Surrey constituency and I found all my ministerial jobs really worthwhile, but I had done it.

"I was 50 and I didn't like being in opposition, because I like being positive, and being in opposition is about being negative."

A series of what she describes as "strange connections with Hull" throughout her ministerial life eventually saw her made Chancellor of the University of Hull in 2006.

The High Sheriff post, seven years later, was the cherry on the cake.

"I've always felt that the northern cities are particularly enriched by their culture, their buildings, their art and by scholarship," she said.

"This was a time when all sorts of people seemed to go out of their way to denigrate Hull and I'm a cussed sort of person and that maddened me.

"I was asked several times, and I thought, 'yes, I would love to do that'."

Before accepting the role, however, she sought the approval of local Labour MPs, past and present, including Labour grandee John Prescott.

"I wanted them to feel comfortable with me, coming from a different political pedigree. They were very generous," she said.

Baroness Bottomley talks about the city as if she were still in the honeymoon stages of a new relationship.

"Hull is one of those places, or even secrets, where the better you get to know it, the more you admire and love it," she said.

"When I'm going away to award the degrees, I go to Kings Cross station, platform 9 3/4 and I get on what I call the Hogwarts Express, which is really just Hull Trains, that's when I know I'm off."

Being High Sheriff is in many ways an extension to her post as Chancellor, only now her ambassadorial role extends to promoting the entire city and not just its illustrious university.

She said: "I basically like being useful. I don't like hanging around with nothing to do and I like campaigns and championing a just cause and for me Hull is a just cause.

"I'm able to draw on my experience as a former national heritage secretary to help in that endeavour.

"It isn't what you do in life that you regret, it's what you don't do. And I truly believe the city is now on a cusp, it's at a tipping point and everyone really wants to make this work."

Her initial focus was to campaign for the UK City of Culture 2017.

"They said they needed a noisy person in London to speak up on their behalf," she said.

"Since then, my job has been to talk to everybody and anybody I could meet about the UK City of Culture bid.

"I made sure that every possible person who might influence the decision was aware that Hull would use this opportunity, that the time was right, that this was a springboard for the city to reposition itself in people's minds.

"When we won it was the most exhilarating, exciting thing.

"I've been touched by how many people want to go the extra mile and feel that Hull's time has come again."

Her fondness for the city does not blind her to the challenges that lie ahead, however.

"My role may be ceremonial, but my purpose is serious. I'm quite an earnest person and I need to feel I can be of help," said Baroness Bottomley.

"Hull still needs to increase the skill-base and raise the aspirations of young children at school, morale is a big part of that. The success of the football team, for instance, makes people go for gold.

"The more we can lift the spirits, I'm sure, the more we can lift aspirations and make people proud of Hull."

"I'm very tribal, when it comes to my family - and it's a huge family," says Baroness Bottomley. And one that crosses the political divide. Her niece is Kitty Ussher, a former Labour Party politician, and shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt is her second cousin.

"I come from a sort of mafia where we are all quite earnest. We like each other's company.

"In our family, you either join the Labour Party and make them economically responsible, or you join the Tory Party and make them socially enlightened.

"I like people who want to change the world. We're earnest and intense. But I've lightened up in my old age. Peter [Tory MP for Worthing West], my husband, is much more easygoing than I am."

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A GYMNASTICS club in east Hull has dedicated a dance studio to a young girl who lost her life to cancer two years ago.

Committed gymnast Jessica Gawthorpe, of east Hull, died in 2012 at the age of 17 after a nine-year battle with leukaemia.

Natalie Laws, the club development co-ordinator at Aspire Gymnastics, hopes Jessica's determination and courage in the face of adversity will be an inspiration to other gymnasts.

"A lot of the younger ones won't remember her, but we wanted to do something to honour Jess's memory," she said.

"She really would have thrived in the facilities we have now."

The official opening of Aspire Gymnastics, in St John's Grove, off Southcoates Lane, on Saturday marked the end of three years of struggle and hard work to launch Hull's first dedicated gymnastics facility.

Dedicated coaches, volunteers and gymnasts from the City of Hull Gymnastics Club and South Holderness Gymnastics Club joined forces to get the project off the ground.

The club received grants of more than £60,000 from Sport England and the Thomas Cook Children's Charity, which made the move possible.

Natalie is proud the city now boasts some of the best facilities in the region.

"It's been a whirlwind for everybody involved," she said.

"Before we moved here, the most talented gymnasts had to travel to Leeds or Halifax up to five times a week, now they can stay in Hull.

"It was a very long process of applications and planning so we're relieved that it's finally open."

The 16,000sq ft facility in St John's Business Park houses an Olympic-sized sprung floor, full Women's Artistic and General Gymnastic apparatus, two sunk trampolines, a sponge landing pit , a dance studio and a viewing area.

Natalie wants the new facilities to be accessed by as many people as possible.

She said: "We work with people from 18 months old and we've started doing sessions with adults who are well into their forties.

"We started off with around 100 members but now we have about 300.

"At first we didn't want to advertise for new members but now we are up-and- running, we want to get more people involved.

"We have a big focus on increasing the number of people over 11 who take part in gymnastics.

"There is still an elitist stereotype attached to the sport and that's something we are trying to change.

"We will work with anybody and everybody, no matter what their age or ability is."

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UEFA says it will not be investigating the trouble that broke out after Hull City's Europa League match on Thursday.

The footballing body has received a report on the match but has decided not to open a disciplinary case.

City fans were "bottle-necked" by police and pelted with glasses and bottles outside a pub, as they left Lokeren's stadium following the Europa League defeat on Thursday night.

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Supporters, including families with children, spoke of their shock at events in Belgium.

Sean Howe, who watched the match with his two nephews, 12-year-old Jacob and eight-year-old William, said: "The policing methods were like what they had in the 1980s. They had water canons, which were massive, and batons and it was really intimidating, especially for fans with young children.

"I've been a city fan for 30 years and never seen anything like it and I have been to some rough grounds in my time."

Three Hull City and two Lokeren fans were arrested for public order offences.

A spokesman for UEFA previously told the Mail any action by the governing body would depend on whether the trouble happened within the stadium or its perimeter. Away from that area, jurisdiction lies with the Lokeren police.

A spokesman said: "We have been waiting for the report before taking any decision. No disciplinary case has been opened."

He said: "After the match, they kept us outside the ground for about 15 minutes to make sure we didn't cross with the Lokeren fans, but everything was fine – both teams were applauding each other.

"We were told to stay away from the De Mierennest pub, one of their main pubs, but then the police ended up walking us past there, which was just wrong.

"It wasn't the Lokeren fans causing trouble though, it was some other football fans.

"Without a doubt, we were the victims. We were happily walking to the train station when we got ambushed by them. It was a nightmare."

Put through his paces before kick-off against KSC Lokeren at the Daknamstadion on Thursday night, Stephen Quinn came through his latest fitness test with flying colours in the draw against Stoke City.

Not registered as part of Hull City's 21-man Europa League squad, City reaped the rewards when fresh to face the Potters at the KC Stadium yesterday.

A terrier in the heart of the midfield, losing James Chester early on only served to increase the need for a player of Quinn's ability in the heart of the engine room.

A bit-part player at times last season and one linked with a possible move away from the KC in recent weeks, the Irish international will have done his cause for further call-ups no harm, especially with manager Martin O'Neill and his assistant Roy Keane watching on from the stands.

Leaving Tom Huddlestone to be the creative outlet, Quinn's performance was all about effort and determination.

That's not to take anything away from the midfielder, whose short passing game was crisp, but Quinn's presence was about disruption as much as it was about distribution.

Breaking up the play in the centre of the pitch, Quinn frustrated the Potters and hurried the likes of Glenn Whelan and Steven N'Zonzi into making mistakes.

Occasionally driving the ball forward himself, City's dwindling possession in the second half meant defensive duties were more pressing than threatening in the opposition's third.

Having impressed when coming on for Robert Snodgrass in the 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers last week, the diminutive Irishman demonstrated his value from the start against Stoke.

Unavailable for selection again on Thursday night, he is a certain starter when the Tigers return to Premier League action at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Providing manager Steve Bruce with a different option to Huddlestone or Jake Livermore, Quinn was the ideal foil for his two teammates in central midfield.

In a team that has not been blessed with goals, it is an attribute missing from Quinn's game that has perhaps stopped him from asserting his influence still further.

His only goalscoring contribution in the 2013-14 season came in City's famous FA Cup semi-final victory over Sheffield United.

Improve that facet of his play and you can be sure Quinn won't be heading anywhere in a hurry.