A missing trophy found in a communal bin in Cleethorpes has been reunited with its cricket league.

Members of North East Lincolnshire Council’s waste team found The Barret Cup on the top of the bins during their rounds in June.

Realising its significance, they saved it and the council began trying find someone connected to the Grimsby and District Cricket League.

The council described the return of the trophy as “something quite special” and the cricket league said it was “immeasurable”.

The Barret Cup was donated by Alderman Frank Barrett, who had served as mayor of Grimsby in 1908 and 1924.

The trophy was a prize at the annual charity cricket match between the Grimsby and District Cricket League and Grimsby Town Football Club.

More recently, the cup was awarded to the Grimsby cricket league’s division four winners at their annual presentation, until the cup disappeared.

The trophy was eventually reunited with Mick Barton, the league’s treasurer.

“Having the trophy returned to the care of the league and its present players is immeasurable,” he said.

“On behalf of the league I would like to thank the waste team for their due diligence in the return of the trophy.”

Kate Fox, waste team manager for the council, said they had reunited many items with their owners over the years, including wedding rings and wallets.

“One person accidently put their life savings into the recycling which was eventually found, and of course returned,” she said.

“Finding and returning the Barrett Cup back to where it belongs is something quite special and demonstrates again how the waste services team go above and beyond for their community.

The cricket league said they will restore the trophy to its original condition and award it to this year’s division four winners in October.

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