Apologies to everyone whose door I did not get to, but during the election there were 49,000 to knock on. I did my best and I want to thank you for your support.

As ever it was a pleasure to talk to so many people and a real highlight were the visits to the 6th Form Centres were the students piled in with questions.

Mistakes were made of course. Particularly embarrassing was the use of the derelict Clinton Arms in Retford as an illustration of neglect, when unbeknown to me the Brennan brothers were and are spending a lot of money investing in the site. My apologies to them. Hopefully other entrepreneurs will come forward to invest in the other empty pubs and shops. I wish the Brennan's every success in their new venture.

The highlight was of course a small increase in my majority and the huge efforts some people made to vote for me. People having major surgery, people housebound, people travelling back to Bassetlaw to vote: it was truly inspiring.

Worksop Town has a new owner and I wish him every success. I also want to record my thanks to John and Janice Hepworth for their crucial role in saving the club. They received some criticism towards the end - but which owner of a football club doesn't? There is no question in my mind that had they not stepped in then Worksop Town would have folded. History will judge their role as crucial when this Club is back where it belongs.

We will also soon see the departure of George Robinson as Editor of the Worksop Guardian. His period as editor has seen circulation rise and the paper win countless awards for its journalism. I fear for local papers when I see local councils, of all colours, printing their own free sheets and not using the local press. It is time to cut the appalling waste of Bassetlaw and County Council free sheets - something I have said for many years. Thank you George for maintaining the fine traditions of independent and fearless newspapers.