When the derelict state of local parks came to the attention of the Grimsby Telegraph, the paper decided to do something about it.

The Telegraph believes it is time to fight back and win back pride in the green areas – with the emphasis on safety for families to be able to use and enjoy the parks.

Park Pride was prompted by the sight of vandalised amenities, broken glass and obscene graffiti, and aims to restore the parks to their former glory of 100 years ago when they were the pride of the town.

The Telegraph is confident of success – but only with the help and support of the local people, who will work in partnership with the paper.

To create publicity for the campaign, The Telegraph is co-ordinating will be a Park Pride Fun Day, on August 24 at People’s Park, Grimsby.

Editor Michelle Lalor said: “As part of Park Pride, one of the paper’s aims is to get more and more people to use the green and open spaces across Northeast Lincolnshire.

“With that use will come a greater ownership of the areas, people will want to use them and enjoy them. Therefore they will respect and look after them.

“The fun day will be a great day with a more serious, underlying message to encourage families tom look after what they have around them.”

The Telegraph has also set up a special phone line for local residents to report incidents of nuisance or vandalism.

The hotline has already sparked numerous responses from local people who are willing to help iron out the problems cause by litter, drunks and tearaway youths.

Coun Andrew De Freitas, deputy leader of Northeast Lincolnshire council, has put his firm support behind the scheme.

Ann Turner, chair of the Friends of People’s Park, was thrilled with the idea. She stated that it is only a small number of people who are ruining the parks for everyone else, and continued to commend the park wardens but admitted that the problem was just too much and needed mass public support to end the negativity.