Blimey, Buck Beck Beach Bench's blossomed! the origins behind resort's most popular 'unofficial' landmark.

Byline: PAIGE FRESHWATER paige.freshwater@reachplc.com @PaigeFreshwater

CLEETHORPES' most popular 'unofficial' landmark has cemented its place in people's hearts - and on Google Maps.

The Buck Beck Beach Bench, on the sands behind Cleethorpes Boating Lake, has grown in popularity since its creation.

So much so people have proposed to their partners there, while others have scattered pets' ashes at the 'iconic' landmark.

It made its humble beginnings in 2016 after two Cleethorpes men put together a make-shift bench using driftwood.

Nick Albion, 51, and his father-inlaw Roger Crawford, 81, simply wanted a place to rest their legs during their usual walk.

They began collecting pieces of driftwood and dug them into the ground to make a quick-and-easy bench. It wasn't long until they brought a hammer and nails out with them to improve its safety and kerb appeal.

Since then, the bench has "grown and grown" and it is now visible on Google Maps.

Nick told your Grimsby Telegraph: "We began seeing people using our bench - dog walkers, people with children - it was lovely. People began adding to it - the bench grew and grew. Somebody brought a railway sleeper and somebody else had signed their name on it."

The bench has been rebuilt about ten-times over in the past five years after being washed away by various storm surges.

"This is bench mark 10 or 11," said Nick. "We have to start building it up again when it is wiped away."

"It has gone bananas but I cannot take credit for the bench anymore as it is very much a community effort.

"It has been added to time and time again. There is a man down there who has been adding to it for a good while - I see him every now and then."

Nick, who is originally from London, has been pleasantly surprised by people's interest in the bench.

He added: "It is sometimes known as the Pirate Ship by the children down there, and the Alamo by paddleboarders. "If you add to the bench you become a Buck Beck Beach Bench Builder - and we cannot wait to have a Buck Beck Beach Bench barbecue when it is Covid safe."

Nick has set up a Facebook page for the Buck Beck Beach Bench where people can share their stories and pictures of it.

He has been touched by people who have chosen to propose or scatter their pets' ashes at the bench, saying "from the small acorns, oak trees grow".

If you add to the bench you become a Buck Beck Beach Bench Builder Nick Albion

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Incredibly, you can even see Buck Beck Beach Bench on Google Maps.

Roger Crawford at Buck Beck Beach Bench in 2016.

The bench in 2016.

Buck Beck Beach Bench in 2020.