Rubbish dump alley now hosts bingo nights

Bingo nights are being held in an alleyway after residents removed tonnes of rubbish.

The alley off Wellington Street, Grimsby, was so full of fly-tipped waste, residents could not go near it.

Now, they have turned it into an urban oasis with a library, a wildlife pond, plants, bird and bat boxes.

Resident Jilleen Bee said: "You couldn't move for the rubbish, it was horrendous. There were beds, sofas, bikes, mattresses, white goods, you name it, it was down here."

The rubbish had prevented builders and window cleaners doing work, she said.

Residents worked with councillors from the East Marsh ward to transform the space.

"Twenty-two people came out and cleared it," Bee added. "It was a great day."

Fellow resident Jennifer Sutton said she was planning a sleep-out for children in the alleyway so they could see wildlife at night.

"We moved here from a built-up area and it was nice to come to an area where there's community," she added.

"Everybody gets together in the alley and the children have made friends."

The residents have formed a community called The Onion Collective and patrol the alleyway to make sure nobody is dumping rubbish in it.

Jamie Smith is among them. He said: "I patrol it on a night time. I come for a walk, make sure it's nice and tidy and clean."

Fellow resident Andy Dixon said: "It's something to be proud of.

"When I first moved in it looked terrible, it was embarrassing. Now the kids can come out and play.

"It's brought the community together."

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