Hull caravanner denies heroin dealing charges

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by Tom Walsh

A Hull man has denied being a drug dealer in part of an ongoing trial of a heroin gang.

Edward Badago has been accused of being the ‘Mr Big’ of the gang but told Hull Crown Court that while he is “no saint” he was not selling drugs, the Hull Daily Mail reports.

Mr Badago, along with Adrian Owen and Jolene Thompson-Carney, have been charged with conspiracy to supply thousands of pounds of heroin to the streets of Hull every day.

The accused was arrested after a police raid on his caravan in Routh found £65,000 and he admitted that he was smoking up to £80 of heroin a day.

Mr Badago said: “I was smashing it every day for a year and a half. It felt brilliant at the time but, afterwards, I would need to get more and I would be heartbroken if I couldn’t get it.”

The distribution of class A drugs has been a problem in Hull for a number of years with a report by Hull Drug Action Team in 2005 estimating that there were 2,071 users in the city.

The trial continues.

Motorhome Experts gives tourers a chance to explore the Wild West

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by Ruchi Srivastava

If you’ve always wanted a chance to explore the wild landscapes of America, then we may have found something that will quench your appetite for adventure as well as enable you to provide your ever-so valuable motorhome driving services to someone who really needs it.

The motorhome rental service, Motorhome Experts, is offering travellers the chance to traverse the vast expanses of the New World.

This is because the company needs help with transporting its motorhomes to the different places for the approaching holiday season.

As a result, from February to May all the company’s motorhomes are available at one standard rate for one-way trips from Los Angeles or Las Vegas to Denver in the midst of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains.

Interested travellers will have the option to choose from four sturdy motorhomes, which include the familiar C25 to the large AS32. The AS32 also contains extra slide-out storage space that is ideal for families or large travelling groups.

If the prospect of being a motorhome mountaineer does not seem to pique your explorative spirit, then Motorhome Experts has another destination that may suit your wandering spirit better.

Other destinations include the evergreen city of New York and the wild, wind-blown terrain of Chicago, Illinois. You can also get your pick of starting locations for both of these destinations.

So, you have the luxury of starting from the beach-perfect Miami or the rich in history and art city of Orlando in April and May.

Motorhome Experts will be charging the first few travellers a bargain deal of only £22 a day, for the privilege of seeing the world and enjoying themselves in a shiney new motorhome.

These special offers currently apply to the one-way, minimum ten-day rentals in March, April and May from Chicago to locations spanning across North America.

Also, in addition to the bargain deal, Motorhome Experts provides you with a generous amount of mileage, allowing you to take plenty of interesting and scenic detours.

And of course, you are equipped with all kitchen facilities for rustling up a tasty treat.

The one thing that we would advise you to keep in mind is the large size of these motorhomes, which can sometimes make it difficult to manoeuvre.

In an otherwise ideal adventure, previous experienced travellers of Motorhome Experts have flagged this issue up.

Apart from that, we think you should have everything that you will need before you step out into the great outdoors.

Lincolnshire brewers granted permission for extra caravan pitches

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by Tom Walsh

A Lincolnshire brewery will be able to house more caravans on a piece of land near to its premises following a positive meeting with East Lindsey District Council.

Wainfleet-based company George Bateman & Son has already allowed five vehicles on the site but councillors have now approved plans to raise this figure to 19.

The East Lindsey Target reports that there had been objections due to the impact it would have on the visual aspect of the attractive rural location.

However, councillor Terry Knowles believes that having more caravans allowed on the site would make it far more accessible.

Steve O’Dare, committee vice-chairman, echoed these sentiments stating that it will help to bring in more commerce for pubs, shops and businesses around the Wainfleet area.

Due to its location, Wainfleet can provide a perfect stop-off point for people wanting to visit the Lincolnshire coast on their travels across the UK.

Caravan park workers to receive lifesaving honours after resuscitating visitor

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by Jake Polden

Two men from Normans Bay are to receive Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates after saving the life of a holidaymaker who collapsed after going into cardiac arrest.

Working in a shop within Normans Bay Caravan Park, John Thorley, who used to be a nurse, called out to neighbour Mick Mortlock for assistance after seeing visitor Jim Allwright collapse.

Using techniques learnt from an advert by the British Heart Foundation, the pair set about reviving the 71-year old who, at the time, was showing no signs of life.

Speaking to the Eastbourne Herald, the Foundation’s secretary Dick Wilkinson said: “They called for an ambulance and began to administer hands-only cardiac pulmonary resuscitation.

“When the ambulance arrived they continued to assist as the defibrillator was set up and used.”

Praising the pair for their swift action he concluded: “Both men richly deserve their awards. They literally brought Mr Allwright back from the brink of death.”

Jim Allwright, who has since recovered, also thanked the men for their life-saving actions.

The pair, who will be presented with their awards in the near future, received further praise from SE Coast ambulance service as well as the British Heart Foundation.

Ex-Blur bassist Alex James talks about his love of caravans

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by Jake Polden

Many know Alex James as being the bass player for successful 90s britpop band Blur, others know him for owning a cheese producing farm, but not even those closest to him knew of his soft spot for caravans, until now.

He initially purchased a caravan as a cross between a kitchen and a Portaloo – so that builders working on his house had an area to light-up, relax and relieve themselves on their break.

Alex told The Daily Telegraph: “It was £900 and for years the price was still written on one of the windows.”

With the caravan being promoted to an area of consultation, Alex recalls how head builder Neal opened up to him regarding his divorce, and needed a place to stay.

The rest is history as they say; Neal moved in to the on-site caravan, installed a word-burning stove and more importantly, scratched the price tag from the window to make his temporary house a home.

Since then the caravan has appeared in Italian Vogue, where the photographer refused to capture anything else except the static wonder, and has acquired another lodger in the form of Neal’s friend Garfield – a carpenter also working on the house.

Speaking about the convenience of the caravan Alex said: “Builders drove me mad for years, but now I understand construction better and have people I like working with, I love the idea of them all staying here.”

That said, Neal, who recently rediscovered love with a new partner may well be moving out sooner than Alex had hoped and intended.

So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen: Alex James’ caravan where problems are solved, broken hearts are mended and dreams become reality.

Police looking into ‘sudden’ death at Selby caravan park

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by Tom Walsh

Police in North Yorkshire are investigating a “sudden and unexplained” death at a caravan park near Selby.

Officers are looking into whether the 23-year-old man may have been assaulted hours before dying at The Ranch caravan park, near Cliffe, in the early hours of Sunday (1 December) morning.

The man was found unconscious in a caravan at 3:12am and was pronounced dead on the scene by paramedics.

Police are now looking for anyone with information to come forward. Officers were also on site at The Ranch on Sunday, handing out leaflets to residents who may have seen an assault during the evening.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police, told York Press: “One of the lines of inquiry that the investigation team is examining was that the man was possibly assaulted on Saturday night or during the early hours of Sunday prior to going to bed.”

The Ranch is situated more than five miles from Selby and provides a base for people holidaying in Yorkshire.

Airstream & Co to host Christmas open weekend in Tebay

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by Tom Walsh

‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/airstream/">Airstream & Co will be providing a post-Christmas treat for its customers as the company is set to host an open weekend.

The event will take place at the company’s production facility in Tebay, Cumbria, over the weekend of 28-29 December, giving people the opportunity to see the new models for the 2014 market.

Airstream will be showcasing unfinished trailers fresh from the US while the company’s complete ready-for-the-road and pre-owned models will also be on display.

It will also be a chance for budding entrepreneurs to purchase the 2010 Airstream 534 2.5 commercial trailer which can provide the base for a start-up business.

The model features leather seating, a flat-screen TV with integrated DVD player, interlocking floor for awning and portable Honda generator as well as all the mod cons people have come to expect from Airstream.

What’s more, caravan fans can take a look at the latest models from T@B and Eriba. It all kicks off at 10:00am on the Saturday with refreshments available for visitors.

Playmobil to mark 40th anniversary with Family Camper model

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by Ruchi Srivastava

The extremely lovable Playmobil, adored by children and parents alike will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014.

Launched in the long-begotten years of 1974, Playmobil has since made a special place for itself in the warm hearts of its customers.

In order to commemorate this remarkable achievement, Playmobil has decided to unveil a host of new toys in January (cue: time for kids to rejoice!) and the news coming just around Christmas may start to inspire a few New Year presents already.

Products that the brand plans to focus on for the next year include limited-edition anniversary compact sets of The Fire Brigade Operation, the Knight’s Tournament, the Pony Pasture and Princess Island.

The favourite storybook themes sound perfectly suited for children but there is another toy that we believe stood tall (quite literally) amongst the range of castles and fire brigades.

The toy that the brand is set on promoting helter-skelter in February, and something that we can guarantee will catch your eyes and be thoroughly enjoyed by the tiny-tots, is the Family Caravan toy.

Colourful, cute and far too endearing to give it a miss, the Playmobil Family Camper is perfect as a Christmas gift for any kid and maybe even for some highly enthusiastic parents.

The Family Camper can be bought on eBay for £34.99. There is also a further range of Playmobil Campervan products to pick from to spoil you even further.

So hurry up, wrap yourself in the upcoming festive cheer and let yourself and your loved ones be kids for a day.or maybe even longer!

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces to take on the Vintage Mobile Cinema

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by Ruchi Srivastava

The next episode of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on Channel 4 will be very interesting to any avid motorhome fan who likes a bit of history along with their vehicles.

Airing on Thursday, (5 December) at 8pm, the show will be featuring what is probably the most interesting cinema in the UK.

Intrigued yet? So in order to further entice you, let’s just say that George’s show, which is known for pushing the boundaries of innovative vehicles, will be displaying a motorhome that is also a unique and historic cinema.

The Vintage Mobile Cinema offers you the rare chance of experiencing an unforgettable movie session that can only take place within the four walls of this cinema.

Originally built as one of seven units, the Vintage Mobile Cinema was designed for the British government in the late 1960s, as a means of promoting the British industry.

Unfortunately, the six other mobile cinemas appear to have vanished into thin air, rather like something out of a movie, leaving behind this one-of-a-kind travelling vehicle, which symbolises a blend of British culture and motorhome history.

The present-day motorhome is a careful amalgamation of the original design of the Mobile Cinema along with current standards of passenger safety.

Hills Body Works has been instrumental in the present design of the motorhome, as they helped in recreating the exterior.

Appearance and description

The inside of the Mobile Cinema contains a 22-seat theatre that is fully equipped with surround-sound, classy upholstery and climate control.

Situated at the rear of the vehicle, this extraordinary theatre puts the comfort of its audience first.

This is evident from the format of the seating arrangement, which is tiered to allow each viewer to enjoy their movie watching experience.

At the same time, the audience is promised a complete cinematic experience, as films are shown in high definition (HD), ensuring that the audience gets the authentic cinema experience.

The experience is further heightened by the Dolby 7:1 sound-surround system that provides the audience with the clearest audio clarity.

The motorhome is run by two fully trained members of staff to provide complete customer satisfaction, as they take care of technical issues as well as audience management.

Although based in South-West England, the Vintage Mobile cinema is also available for hire and is more than happy to offer advice on how to utilise the motorhome to its maximum potential for different events.

So whether you think it’s odd, weird or wonderful, tune into the Amazing Spaces on Channel 4 on Thursday night to find out more.

Or if you can’t wait that long, take a look at our photo slideshow below:


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Suffolk man left homeless after theft of uninsured Bailey Retreat Willow

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by Ruchi Srivastava

Having been saving up for his new caravan for several years, Adrian Hussey was absolutely distraught when his dream was shattered.

Bought less than two months ago, Adrian’s brand new 30ft Bailey Retreat Willow was stolen, along with his valuable personal possessions inside the caravan.

Unfortunately, the caravan was uninsured, making the loss all the more devastating for Adrian.

The theft took place last month (11 November) at The Oaks Caravan Park, when Adrian was away during the night. He found out about his stolen caravan the next morning.

The loss has been doubly devastating for Adrian because the 51-year-old is now homeless and has been staying with various friends since the Bailey Willow was stolen.

Commenting about the sad state of affairs, Adrian’s son, Shaun Hussey admitted that his father should have insured the caravan immediately.

However, he also feels that it was still extremely unlucky that his father became a victim of theft just before he could arrange for the insurance cover.

A heartbroken Adrian spoke about his loss and said: “I’m a pretty easy going chap but I must say it tests your emotions when something like that happens.”

Online appeal

Hoping to get any useful leads for the case, Shaun has also launched a Facebook appeal for his father that has been shared more than 2,000 times.

It has yielded a lot of supportive message and motivation for Adrian but sadly no further information about the crime has been uncovered.

At the moment, the Suffolk Constabulary have increased their appeals regarding the Bailey Willow caravan.

They have asked for people to come forward if they saw a 7.5 tonne vehicle towing a caravan at The Oaks Caravan Park, during the suspected time of the theft.

Police believe that the most probable time for the theft would have been during the early morning hours of Monday 11 November. Anybody with information should call the police on 101.

Getting the right insurance for your caravan should definitely top your list of important things to do because sometimes leaving the important things for later can prove to be far too costly.

London Grammar release caravan-inspired music video

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by Tom Walsh

London Grammar and caravans are two things that you would not normally put together but mobile homes have become the inspiration for the band’s latest music video.

The British trip-hop trio have incorporated a mobile home into their somewhat surreal video for their latest single ‘Nightcall’ which sees them stranded in an isolated caravan park.

Over the course of the video they are joined by white horses and children stood around a fire pit while the haunting tones of lead singer Hannah Reid wail over the top.

The scenes of the caravan are interspliced with the band playing some form of gig in the middle of deserted wasteland.

It is all very surreal but does not detract from the ambience of the song which is a key pick from the band’s debut album ‘If You Wait’.

London Grammar have already been making waves across the world with the album going Gold and reaching number two in the UK and Australian charts.

To watch the video, click on the player below:

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Redbourn campsite fire claims five caravans

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by Tom Walsh

Five caravans have been destroyed in a fire on a campsite in Redbourn, Hertfordshire.

Firefighters from Redbourn, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans and Harpenden were called to the scene at 5:20pm on Wednesday (27 November) and spent three hours tackling the blaze.

Paramedics were also in attendance at Ver Meadows caravan site to help anyone that had been affected by the fire.

The blaze began in one of the static homes but then quickly spread to the surrounding mobile homes also parked on the site.

Firefighters used five hosereels and three jets along with four breathing apparatus kits to extinguish the fire and the area was marked safe by 8:40pm.

Despite the damage caused to the caravans, the incident has been recorded as accidental.

It once again acts as a warning to caravanners to be extra careful when in their mobile home to help avoid a similar incident.