Shop owners' 'thank you' for support after fire

Plus: Your full election guide as polls officially open

Good morning and welcome to your Thursday briefing of Ashfield News. In today’s newsletter, a new MRP poll shows Ashfield is still very close to call as voting opens in the general election, an open date for the Regent pub is announced, a vape starts a lorry fire and an update on food waste collections coming to the district.

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Shop owners’ thanks for support after fire

The owners of a carpentry firm destroyed in a major fire have issued a heartfelt thanks to the public for their support.

Cabourns Carpentry was among the businesses affected in the blaze at the Urban Road Business Park, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, on Friday evening, June 28.

A GoFundMe page was launched following the incident to support the team behind the business. It has now reached its target of £5,000.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Firstly and most importantly, thank you. We are completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity we have been shown by family, friends, customers and even complete strangers.

“Your donations are saving our business. The money raised will be enough to buy us some of the basic kit and stock we need to get started again. We cannot even begin to express our gratitude.

“The fire destroyed absolutely everything, nothing was salvageable and unfortunately for us our contents insurance had lapsed a few months ago and we had missed the email. So please learn from our mistakes and check your insurance.”

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Poll shows Ashfield still close to call on election day

Britain goes to the polls today and the latest MRP poll suggests both Ashfield and Sherwood Forest will welcome new MPs come the early hours of Friday, July 5.

Ashfield has been among the most hotly-contested seats in the country, with a three-way fight between Labour, Reform and the Ashfield Independents.

No single poll in the run-up to the general election has been able to agree on an expected winner for Ashfield, with the predicted new MP changing between Labour’s Rhea Keehn and Reform’s Lee Anderson.

Jason Zadrozny, the Ashfield Independents candidate, was slated to come second in a poll by Savanta.

The latest MRP poll, published by Survation, calculates that nationally, Labour is set to win more seats than in 1997, with an estimated 484 seats.

The Conservative Party would achieve around 64 seats, followed by the Lib Dems on 61, the poll shows.

Current projections suggest both Ashfield and Sherwood Forest will witness a change in their respective parliamentary representatives come Friday morning.

In the Sherwood Forest constituency, Labour is predicted to take the seat from the Conservatives.

Ashfield remains a very tight call but the Conservatives are currently not predicted to get a large proportion of the vote share.

The polls open at 7am today and will close at 10pm. You will need to bring ID to cast your ballot.

You can find your nearest polling station here.

The candidates standing in Ashfield are:

• Lee Anderson – Reform UK

• Alexander Coates – Green Party

• Daniel Holmes – Liberal Democrats

• Rhea Keehn – Labour Party

• Debbie Soloman – Conservative Party

• Jason Zadrozny – Ashfield Independents

The candidates standing in Sherwood Forest are:

• David Dobbie – Liberal Democrats

• Sheila Greatrex-White – Green Party

• Helen O’Hare – Reform UK

• Mark Spencer – Conservative Party

• Jeremy Spry – Independent

• Lee Waters – Independent

• Michelle Welsh - Labour

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CCTV released after campervan theft

Police have released images of two people they want to speak to after a couple’s £58,000 campervan was stolen.

The white Chausson 640 vehicle was taken from a secure compound on April 16, after the owners had just returned from a camping trip.

Thieves broke the lock to a gate at the compound in Hamilton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, before breaking into the campervan and driving it away.

PC Becky Crafts, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “The couple have understandably been left very upset by the theft of their campervan, which they only purchased in January.

“We are doing everything we can to find those responsible for this horrible crime and bring them to justice.

“Following inquiries, we believe the two men in the images we are sharing today may be able to help the investigation.

“If you recognise them, please contact us as soon as you can.”

If you have any information, call police on 101 and quote crime number 24*223252.

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Open date latest for Regent pub

The new owners of the Regent pub in Kirkby-in-Ashfield have announced the date they hope to re-open to the public.

The former Wetherspoon bar closed last month after being put up for sale by the pub giant.

The No 1 Pub Company, which has taken over the venue, is now in the process of getting the pub ready to welcome back customers.