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Large fire breaks out at Bolton Bros recycling centre in Great Blakenham

News

A major blaze erupted at Bolton Bros recycling facility near Ipswich early Tuesday morning, with firefighters battling the flames throughout the night.

The big picture: Twelve fire engines responded to tackle the fire, which started in a building containing heavy machinery at the industrial site.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that an electrical fault caused the fire.

Key details:

  • The fire began around 1:40am at the Bolton Bros recycling centre in Great Blakenham

  • Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service dispatched 12 appliances to the scene

  • The blaze broke out in a single-storey building housing three forklifts

  • Suffolk Police also attended to assist at the incident

Why it matters: The scale of the response indicates the seriousness of the fire. Smoke or disruption may continue to affect residents in the Great Blakenham area.

What's next: Further updates are expected as more information becomes available. We've reached out to the company for comment but haven't received a response yet.

Former Ipswich Town striker charged in £600k cannabis smuggling case

News

Former Ipswich Town striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged with attempting to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through a UK airport.

The big picture: The 33-year-old, who spent two seasons at Portman Road from 2011 to 2013, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in Scotland following the seizure of approximately 60kg of the drug at Stansted airport.

Jay Emmanuel Thomas playing for Ipswich Town
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas playing for TownAlamy

Key details:

  • Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 33, was arrested Wednesday in Gourock, Inverclyde.

  • He's accused of attempting to smuggle £600,000 worth of cannabis through Stansted airport.

  • Border Force officers found approximately 60kg of the drug in two suitcases from Bangkok.

  • Emmanuel-Thomas is set to appear at Carlisle magistrates court Thursday, charged with importing class B drugs.

60kg of cannabis
60kg of cannabis was seizedNCA

JET's Ipswich career: The journeyman joined Ipswich in 2011 for £1.1m from Arsenal, scoring nine goals in 75 appearances for the Tractor Boys. He left Ipswich in 2013 in a swap deal with Bristol City. He most recently played with Greenock Morton in the Scottish Championship.

The bottom line: The NCA warns that cannabis smuggling into the UK carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence, contradicting misinformation some couriers receive about facing only fines.

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