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Four fire crews tackle blaze at Copdock antiques centre

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Firefighters have extinguished a fire that broke out in a storage unit at Suffolk Heritage & Antiques Centre in Copdock today, with no injuries reported.

The big picture: Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service dispatched four engines to the scene after receiving the call at 11:23 GMT, with crews from Princes Street, Ipswich East and Hadleigh attending.

Details:

  • Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used multiple hose jets to combat the blaze

  • The fire was contained to a storage unit behind the main shop

  • Some stock was damaged, along with smoke damage to the unit's walls and roof

  • No structural damage was reported

  • The incident was declared over at 13:48 GMT

What they're saying: Fire investigators have determined the cause, and the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Bottom line: While some stock was affected, the swift response from firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to the main antiques centre building, and no one was hurt in the incident.

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Has Fabio Wardley's 'dream' Portman Road fight moved one step closer?

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Proud supporters of free and independent local journalism in Ipswich

The British heavyweight champion and diehard Ipswich Town fan could see his ambition to fight at his beloved club become reality after a new licence application.

Why it matters: Ipswich Town Football Club has applied for a variation of its licence at Portman Road. The application has requested boxing or wrestling entertainment to take place between 12:00 and 22:30 on Sundays to Thursdays, as well as 12:00 to 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

West Stand at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich
West Stand at Portman Road stadium in IpswichHolly Woodard-Williams

What they're saying: Speaking with the BBC, an ITFC spokesperson said: "Following infrastructure improvements to Portman Road over the past couple of years, it will not be uncommon for the stadium to apply for various licences to host events across different sectors; this is just one of many that will start to appear."

For context: British heavyweight champion and Ipswich Town fan Fabio Wardley said it was his "dream" to fight at the ground.

In October 2024, Wardley told BBC Radio Suffolk he wanted to fight at Portman Road, saying: "It's still the dream and it's on the cards".

"If anything it's closer than ever now because being with Frank Warren my promoter, he's done stadium shows before and he knows how to put them on.

"When it happens is still a massive question but pieces are definitely falling into place for this."

Fabio Wardley at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich
Fabio Wardley at Portman Road stadium in IpswichAlamy

The bigger picture: Ipswich Town chief executive, Mark Ashton, said in November 2024 that the club had been in discussion with Wardley about appearing at the ground and that it was in the "pipeline" but not "imminent".

The details: The club has also requested to be permitted to include live music performances, playing of recorded music, dance performances as well as alcohol sales and late night refreshments.

Portman Road underwent a series of improvements last summer to prepare the ground for Premier League football, including new media facilities, more executive boxes and the introduction of safe standing areas at the ground for the first time.

What's next: Posters advertising the change have been put up in the area around the ground with people able to have their say on the change until 24 April.

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