An East Midlands fire service is issuing caravan safety information for those heading to the coast this easter weekend following a fatal blaze that killed a Nottinghamshire father and daughter
Firefighters in Lincolnshire tackled an accidental fatal fire at a holiday park in Ingoldmells, near Skegness which claimed the lives of Esme Baker, 10, and Lee Baker, 48, on Saturday 5 April.
Over 10 thousand pounds has now been raised collectively in honour of the father and daughter.
With a large number of static caravan sites, particularly on the East Coast, the service are reminding people to ensure there is a working smoke alarm when staying in temporary or rented accommodation.
There advice also highlights that if a fire breaks out in a caravan or mobile home it is always serious. Always get everyone away from the caravan at a safe distance and call 999 immediately.
Amanda Matson is the Department Head of Prevention at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue recognise the severity of the fire and the impact that it has had on the local, and the wider communities, as well as those travelling to the East Coast. Particularly as we’re starting to enter the holiday season, it’s important that these safety messages are shared.
“Our crews will continue to deliver these messages over the coming months and that will be along the East Coast but we will collaborate with our colleagues from cross-border, Fire and Rescue services and our other partners to cover wider safety messaging such as water safety, the deliberate and wild fire safety, along with road safety.”
Staying safe in a caravan
All caravans must be fitted with a working smoke alarm. Test the smoke alarms every week and never remove the batteries.
If you smoke, use metal ashtrays and never smoke in bed or if you are likely to fall asleep.
Don’t block air vents – if any leaking gas builds up you may fall unconscious and be unable to escape. Ensure that air vents are clear – if air vents get blocked, it could be fatal.
Turn off all appliances before you leave the caravan or go to bed.
Never use a cooker or heater whilst your caravan is moving.
When cooking don’t leave any pans unattended.
Find out the firefighting arrangements on the camp site.
Don’t dry clothes over the stove.
Keep children away from matches or lighters.
Children should never be left alone in a caravan.
Remove any litter and rubbish near the caravan to reduce the risk of fire spreading.
Gas cylinders should be kept outside the caravan. Gas cylinders should be turned off unless they are designed to run continuously and you should only change the bottle when they are completely empty.
If you suspect that there is a gas leak turn off all appliances and the main cylinder valve, open all doors and windows and do not smoke or turn on any electrical switches or appliances until you have been given the all clear.
Never use fuel-burning devices inside the caravan (e.g. disposable barbecues, camping stoves, camping heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills).
You can find out more on the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue web page.
Lincolnshire’s service also held an event in Ingoldmells on April 11 to offer support and reassurance to the local area after the fire was deemed accidental.
New stats have been released revealing how many parents and carers in Bassetlaw secured a place at their preferred school for their children.
Nottinghamshire County Council yesterday (16) contacted thousands of families on national offer day, about their child’s school place for September 2025.
More than 8,000 applications were received from parents and carers whose children will be starting school in September 2025.
This year, 96% of Nottinghamshire children were offered a reception place at their parents’ first preference school in September, with over 99% securing a place at one of their preferred schools.
1130 applications were processed from residents living in the Bassetlaw district for first admission to primary school including schools outside of Nottinghamshire
• 1081 were offered their first preference – 95.7%
• 1118 were offered one of their preferences – 98.9%
• 428 made only one preference – 37.9%
• 12 alternative offers were made where no preference could be met – 1.1%
• 11 of these only made one preference – 91.7%
Peter McConnochie, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Director of Education and Inclusion, said: “I am delighted that, once again, the vast majority of Nottinghamshire children have received an offer of a place at a preferred primary school this year. This is positive news for parents across the county who are receiving their school place offers today.”
Health bosses have confirmed that some pharmacies in Bassetlaw will be staying open this coming Easter break.
As the weekend is bookended by the Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays, most pharmacies will close at the end of the day on Thursday April 17, and not reopen until Tuesday April 21.
But NHS Nottinghamshire has confirmed six pharmacies will be opening on one of the bank holidays – or not closing at all.
Pharmacies opening over Easter
Retford
Bridgegate Chemist 54 Bridgegate Open Good Friday – 10:00am – 12:00pm
Superdrug 11-15 Carolgate Closed Good Friday and Easter Sunday Open Easter Monday – 10:00am – 12:00pm
Worksop
Boots 24-26 Bridge Street Open Good Friday – 09:00am – 17:30pm Closed Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Tesco Instore Pharmacy Gateford Road Open Good Friday 10:00am – 16:00pm Closed Easter Sunday Open Easter Monday – 10:00am – 16:00pm
Worksop Pharmacy (Prospect) Unit 4 Prospect Precinct Open Good Friday – 14:00pm – 16:00pm Closed Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
Dr Dave Briggs, Medical Director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “Pharmacists can give advice and treatment on a range of minor illnesses, and many can offer services like a repeat supply of oral contraception without the need to visit a GP.
“Most pharmacists can also offer treatment and some prescription medicines for seven common conditions under the Pharmacy First scheme.
“Of course, nobody wants to be poorly over the long bank holiday weekend, but we hope local people will be reassured that the NHS is here for them.
“If you’re unsure about which service is best for your needs, visit 111.nhs.uk or phone 111.”
Under the Pharmacy First scheme, pharmacists can help with these seven common conditions:
urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has today unveiled its first fully refurbished Class 170 train, which operate on the Robin Hood Line to Worksop.
The revamped train is the first in a £23 million programme to modernise EMR’s Class 170 regional fleet, with brand-new seats and tables, modern power and charging facilities, refurbished toilets, upgraded flooring, and a newly installed passenger information system.
It also includes a dedicated bike storage area and redesigned interiors.
The train is the first of the 44-strong Class 170 fleet to be refurbished. The next train in the programme is scheduled to enter service next month. Following that, a newly refurbished unit is expected to join the fleet each month.
EMR’s Class 170 fleet operates regional services across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, including Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield.
The upgrade of the Class 170 fleet is part of a wider £60 million programme, which will also include the refurbishment of EMR’s Class 360 and Class 158 trains.
Will Rogers, Managing Director of East Midlands Railway, said: “This refurbishment is more than just a lick of paint – it’s a complete transformation that puts our customers first.
“We’ve focused on creating an environment that is comfortable and functional – and it’s just the beginning. Over the next year, customers will start to see real, tangible improvements across our network.”
A new fundraising page has been set up to aid the Worksop community impacted when a house exploded on their road over the weekend.
The gofundme page has been created by Sophie Louise to raise cash for families who lost their homes in the blast on John Street.
An introduction on the page by Sophie reads: “In order to help the devastated families that have lost their homes due to the explosion on John Street I have started this fundraiser and hopefully as a community we can all come together to create a fund to help them purchase things that they are going to need in the meantime until their homes are rebuilt or they are able to relocate to a new property.
If you’ve ever liked the idea of becoming a pub landlord, now could be the perfect opportunity with plenty of Bassetlaw establishments currently available and waiting to be taken over. These boozers are on the hunt for someone to take the plunge on fixed term tenancies.
Most of us like the idea of spending all day in the pub. But be warned, actually running one is no walk in the park and in recent decades the industry has faced a series of unprecedented challenges.
We have listed four pubs across the county that are looking for someone to take over the lease, according to findmypub.com.
Royal Oak, Main Street, Retford
The listing for this pub reads: “The Royal Oak Retford is located in the village of North Leverton, close to the towns of Retford and Gainsborough.
“The pub is surrounded by residential housing with a shop nearby and close to West Burton power station.
“It benefits from being the only pub in an area of around 844 adults.
“The Royal Oak Retford customer base is made up of midlife and mature adults.
The listing for the pub reads: “This modern gem is in excellent condition, offering you the perfect canvas to drive wet sales and elevate its already outstanding food offerings.
“In impeccable condition, with a large open-plan trading area to cater for both drinkers and diners with adequate covers. The pub also boasts a larger modern commercial kitchen, a small patio area to the rear and ample parking, this is your canvas to achieve exceptional sales and become the heart of the community.”
The listing for the pub reads: “Now is an excellent time to take over the pub, as the council plans to build more houses and infrastructure to create a town from the village.
“The upstairs function room has an entry point and is currently underused. The pub also has a tap room with around twenty covers. It’s the cask corner where guests watch terrestrial TV sports. The main lounge has around fifty covers and open-plan trading space leading to the garden.
“The beer garden has sixteen benches and is a good space for entertainment activities and functions. It also hosts the annual village festival.”
The listing for the pub reads: “On entrance to the pub you are welcomed by a traditional bar area that is split into two areas with fixed seating for up to 30 people on one side and a drinking area in front of the bar next to the open fireplace on the other side. To the rear of the pub is a stylish restaurant area with covers for around 40 people; this space can also be used as a function room or for live entertainment.
“There is a fully equipped trade kitchen with easy access to the bar and restaurant.
“To the front of the pub there is space for guests to enjoy a drink with outdoor seating provided either side of the entrance. To the rear of the pub there is a flagged patio area and a grassed garden comprising of several picnic style benches this is a popular spot for guests during the warmer months.”
Emergency services were called to John Street at 7.39pm on April 12 after an explosion inside a house and a major incident was declared.
Despite the best efforts of the responding emergency services, 53-year-old David Howard died at the scene. His next-of-kin are continuing to be supported by specially trained officers.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear and officers are keeping an open mind at this early stage in their investigation.
Emergency services at the scene on of the explosion to John Street 53-year-old David Howard died at the scene
As part of their inquiries, a 43-year-old man was arrested and questioned on suspicion of murder. He since been bailed pending further investigation work into the cause of the explosion.
Detective Ruby Burrow, of Nottinghamshire Police and who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with David’s loved ones at this extremely difficult time.
“Whilst we have made an arrest, I want to be really clear that our investigation remains at a very early stage and we are doing everything possible to establish what caused this deeply tragic incident.
“It remains too early to say whether there is a criminal element to this case and would ask that people avoid speculation.
“Our inquiries are continuing and I would further ask anyone with information who is yet to come forward to please contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 612 of 12 April 2025.
Bassetlaw District Council’s leader Councillor Julie Leigh has praised the efforts of the emergency services following a fatal explosion at a Workop home.
Councillor Julie Leigh said: “We have all been shocked and concerned by yesterday’s incident on John Street in Worksop, which has had a huge impact on this community.
“I would like to offer my condolences to the family and friends of the man who has sadly lost his life and offer my sympathy to everyone who has been affected by this tragic incident.
PICTURED: David Howard, who lost his life in a house explosion in Worksop
“I’d like to praise the swift actions of the emergency services and other agencies whose quick response has prevented any further loss of life. The painstaking search and rescue operation also ensured that wider residents of John Street and the surrounding area are safe and accounted for.
“In the time since this incident, officers from Bassetlaw District Council have been working tirelessly with other partners to ensure that families and individuals who have been evacuated from their homes have a safe place to stay.
“Around 50 people from 35 properties were evacuated, many of whom were able to be supported by family and friends.
“Last night, we were able to secure accommodation for nine households, while others were given emergency shelter overnight at Crown Place Community Centre.
“Our officers have been working hard again today and have found hotel and temporary accommodation for all those who have requested assistance as they cannot return to their homes this evening.
“As such, we have closed the emergency shelter for tonight and over the coming days will continue to work closely with Nottinghamshire County Council to support those directly affected, in addition to vulnerable people living close by who have been affected by the current loss of power.
“Officers from our Building Control Team also continue to work closely with the Emergency Services and provide specialist advice on the structural safety of the properties that have been affected by this explosion.
“I would like to advise all residents to continue to follow the advice of the emergency services and not to approach the scene until advised that it is safe to do so by the relevant authorities.”
Bassetlaw is an area with traditionally Red political roots and has been a Labour stronghold for most of the past few decades.
But the 2019 General Election saw the district elect a Conservative MP for the first time in more than 100 years – a result reversed by Labour in last year’s General Election.
The Tories also picked up six out of the nine Nottinghamshire County Council divisions in the 2021 local election – with Labour winning the other three.
However, could this change at the upcoming county council poll on May 1?
We’ve been to the Worksop East division, which also includes large chubks of Worksop town centre – the historic market town dating back to 1103 coloured with rich heritage and identity.
It is home to the Chesterfield Canal, built in the late 18th century, which played a key role in transporting coal and other goods during England’s industrial revolution.
The previous council elections saw four candidates stand for Worksop East – and this time round there are five. It was secured by Labour’s Glynn Gilfoyle, who is standing for the division again this year, too.
Notts TV asked all candidates to meet us for an interview at the Priory Centre, and this is what they told us – alongside the full result from 2021 for context.
Worksop East division result in 2021: Labour HOLD – Glynn Gilfoyle
Turnout: 26.3 per cent
Electorate: 9,636
Ballot papers issued: 2,531
Majority: 55.4 per cent vote share and a 507-vote majority
Questioning the 2024 candidates
Leon Maurice Duveen – Liberal Democrats
Why should people vote for you?
“I’ve lived in Worksop now for more than 35 years. We’ve been run by a Labour council majority of the time. However, the county is normally run by the Conservatives, and we are often ignored.
“You can just look around where we are now. This whole precinct and shopping centre used to be thriving but now it’s just full of empty shops. Nobody seems to have any idea what to do.
“The current county and district councilors seem to be more involved in their own local party politics. And as Lib Dems, we pride ourselves to getting things done on a local level for the people.”
What are the priorities for Worksop?
“Regeneration. We need to be investing in Worksop and Bassetlaw as a whole. Potholes are a big issue. There’s no point in just throwing a bit of tarmac onto it, as the council has been doing.
“I’ve got potholes on my street that have been repaired several times, and within weeks of them repairing them, the potholes reappear.
“So instead of actually investing the public money into the right places, we’re wasting money doing the same work time and time again.
“We need to start working out what to do with the centre of our town, here in Worksop. We really need to work out how to revitalise our town centres.”
Glynn Gilfoyle – Labour Party
Why should people vote for you?
“The Labour Party is the only party that will deliver a strong education system within the county. We will get to grips with the roads within the county and also the issue of Special Educational Needs, where there are a number of backlog cases of young people not getting the education they need.”
What are the priorities for Worksop?
“There is a big issue with the roads and potholes around Worksop East, and also an issue of flooding within the town centre. We need to get a grip of that and it needs some investment.”
What has Worksop East got going for it?
“Worksop East is a beautiful place to live. The people are warm and friendly and we’ve got a lot to be proud of. It needs someone that understands the locality like myself. I’ve lived in this area for more than 60 years, and I know the district very well.”
Andy Tyler – Conservative Party
PICTURED: Andy Tyler from the Conservative Party
Why should people vote for you?
“People should vote for me to get things done. I’ll be a councillor who fights for the people of Worksop to deliver what matters. Roads repaired, more school places and fighting to tackle anti-social behaviour within Worksop.”
What are the most important issues in Worksop?
“The most important issue is the roads. And if elected, I will be fighting to ensure that road repair plans are delivered on roads such as Lincoln St, which is scheduled for a full resurface next year, and surface treatment plans on the B6079 are delivered.
“Another issue is crime and anti-social behaviour. The Conservatives have been clear in Bassetlaw that we want to see Government investment to deliver a custody suite for Bassetlaw to help tackle crime in Worksop.”
What has Worksop got going for it?
“The people. We have fantastic community groups across Worksop and a strong local identity that only wants what is best for our area.”
Margaret Hamilton – Green Party Candidate
Margaret Hamilton from the Green Party
Why should people vote for you?
“[In] this election things are different – it’s no longer a two-horse race between Labour and the Tories. A vote for the Green Party is a vote for real change in Bassetlaw. Green councillors are serious about listening to local people, fighting for fully funded, efficient community services and protecting our homes and environment.
“The Green Party doesn’t tell their councillors how to vote, which means that I will always put the interests of residents in my area ahead of party politics, no matter the issue.”
What has Worksop East got going for it?
“I’ve lived and worked in Bassetlaw all my adult life and raised my children here. The people here are what we have going for us – most people are friendly and welcoming.
“Bassetlaw has so much potential, but we need more backing from local government to unlock it. Our beautiful countryside is our most precious resource, but we need to do more to protect it.
“We should have excellent transport links thanks to our railway lines, yet the train service falls short. We have excellent opportunities for building green energy infrastructure, but we need greater investment to retrain local people and push projects forward.”
What are the priorities for Worksop East?
“The cost-of-living crisis represents a real challenge for many in Bassetlaw. Greens are clear that we need to invest more in our future – education, health, homes – by ensuring that the very richest pay their fair share. Around here, we need to provide more opportunities for our young people.
“That means better public transport to get them access to work. It also means more youth clubs, parks, and accessible green spaces in our area to support community well-being for everyone.
“In the future, climate change will get worse, and we are not ready for it. Communities in Bassetlaw have been hard-hit by flooding, and we urgently need new and natural flood defences to protect residents and businesses.”
What is the biggest issue facing the constituency?
“Living standards have been made worse for everyday people across this country. Worksop is no different. We’ve lost a lot of jobs in this area, and the local economy is struggling.
“This is all made worse by the Government’s cuts to welfare and the winter fuel allowance, and by their refusal to remove the two-child benefit cap.
“We would do this by supporting sustainable, green investment in our local economy and by making sure that the wealthiest in society pay their fair share.”
Russell Dodd for Reform UK was unable to attend an interview and did not provide a statement, or answer our direct messages asking for a comment.
