Roll On 2021 Finish

I had the great pleasure of re-visiting a story I first filmed in April about a really impressive man called Fraser Lamb from Bawtry in Doncaster. He's raised more than twenty thousand pounds for the hospital that saved his life when he was a child. Fraser, who is severely disabled and uses a wheelchair, has clocked up 2,021 miles in the year 2021 for the hospital that saved his life, Sheffield Children’s.

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Post Office Horizon Scandal

I filmed with former Post Office staff who were wrongly convicted of theft due to a faulty computer system. It's a shocking story and is considered one of the country's worst miscarriages of justice.

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Shoebox Xmas Presents

I had a really enjoyable day making a story on how students and staff from the University of Sheffield are donating 100 shoe boxes filled with Christmas presents for deprived children in the city. They're teaming up with S6 Foodbank to distribute the gifts. It says demand from families on the breadline is bigger than ever.

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Nurseries

Nurseries are facing a crisis in their funding – that’s according to the charity National Day Nurseries Association which is based in Huddersfield. They say the money nurseries receive from government is not enough to cover costs and that providers in deprived areas are particularly at risk. We filmed at the Little Ark Nursery in Sheffield.

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University Strike

This week I covered strike action by staff at universities in Yorkshire...

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Unsung Hero Betty

I had the absolute pleasure of filming and editing this story on BBC Yorkshire Sport's Unsung Hero Betty Codona. She's made a huge impact on the sport of women's basketball in Sheffield and in the country more broadly. Betty set-up the Sheffield Hatters club sixty years ago when she was a PE teacher in the city. This is her story.

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Azeem Rafiq Reaction

I put together a report about former Yorkshire cricketers coming forward to tell their stories after Azeem Rafiq gave evidence in the House of Commons about the racism he suffered at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

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Green Hydrogen

I had fascinating visit to a factory in Sheffield this week where they make the machines which produce green hydrogen as a clean energy source. ITM Power are now going to build a second bigger factory in the city. They're also working with the University of Sheffield to open a National Hydrogen Research Centre. 

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Little Amal

A giant puppet of a Syrian refugee child called Little Amal has been walking 8,000km across Europe and arrived in South Yorkshire last week. The aim of 'The Walk by Little Amal' is to highlight the needs of young refugees. I filmed at a group for refugees in Barnsley called Feels Like Home who were preparing for Little Amal's arrival.

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Rugby League Brain Injuries

Ten former rugby league players have begun legal action, claiming the sport has left them with brain damage. Former Leeds, Huddersfield and Wakefield player Bobbie Goulding is part of the test case - he was recently diagnosed with dementia aged 49. Lawyers are representing 50 players in total. The Rugby Football League says player welfare is of paramount importance.

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Harrogate Town

I had a really enjoyable evening filming at Harrogate Town this week. They're punching way above their weight. In only their second season in the Football League, promotion could be on the cards. They sit second in League Two with more than a quarter of the season gone. Like everyone at the stadium, I was made to feel welcome.

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Student Attacks

Police in Sheffield launched an investigation after a series of attacks on students in the city centre. The force says nine victims were struck on the head between the 7th and 26th of September. Some of the students who were attacked are Chinese. Two people have been arrested.

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Fuel Panic Buying

The biggest story this week has been the panic buying of fuel. It's causing problems for people who rely on it to do their job as I found out...

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Killamarsh Deaths

This week I covered the deeply disturbing story of the deaths of a woman and three children in a house in Killamarsh near Sheffield.

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Jacob Scott

There's another Yorkshire star emerging in the sport of road cycling. Holmfirth's Jacob Scott won both the Sprint and King of the Mountains jerseys at the Tour of Britain. He’s only the fourth rider to do that in the race’s history. I went to see him in training and at work.

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Youth Farm

Young volunteers from one of the most deprived areas in the country have been giving away an abundance of fresh vegetables they've grown themselves at an urban farm in the Harehills area of Leeds. The youngsters have built the farm from scratch at the charity CATCH with the help of an academic from the University of Leeds.

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Kit Out The Nation live

I reported live from Sheffield Hallam University's weightlifting gym for the launch of a new BBC campaign, Kit Out The Nation, where viewers are being asked to donate their old sports equipment for young people to use. As a big sport and exercise fan I wholeheartedly support the campaign so it was a pleasure to do this story.

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Tradeswomen

It dawned on me when I was assigned this story that in my 36 years of life, I'd never come across a tradeswoman. There are very few female electricians, plasterers and carpenters. It’s thought as few as 1% of plumbers are women. It’s led to a female plumber from Yorkshire setting up the UK’s first register of tradeswomen.  

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Tour de Yorkshire Cancelled

This week I covered the big story about the Tour de Yorkshire bike race being cancelled. As a passionate cycling fan I was keen to report on this story and used my contacts to arrange interviews with people who are involved in the race.

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Adult Education

I covered a story about a training provider which runs adult education courses in South Yorkshire which is urging the City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis to intervene and reverse a decision not to continue funding them. Last year almost two and a half thousand people in South Yorkshire attended courses run by the charity W.E.A but now its funding of £1.7 million has being cut.

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Stan Wild Investigation

After months of investigating I reported on allegations against ex-Olympic gymnast Stan Wild from York. I interviewed a woman and a girl who told me that they were sexually assaulted as children by him. Wild was expelled by the sport's governing body 12 years after a complaint was first made against him. Wild denies abusing children. It took a huge amount of work researching this story to be able to report on it.

The story was on the BBC News website homepage and on the BBC News Channel...

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Terminal Cancer

This has to be the most heart-breaking story I've ever covered. Helen Davy is a widow from Rotherham with two children. She was told on her late husband’s birthday that she has terminal cancer. 

This story was a good example of where filming it myself worked best. Helen's interview lasted nearly 50 minutes with two short breaks. Using my new iPhone kit also worked well as I think it's less intimidating for the person you're filming with than a big camera.

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Friends have raised tens of thousands of pounds for her children's future. You can donate here: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/helen-annalise-kairen-davy

Drownings live

I've been reporting again on the deaths of people swimming in open water. Several people died in Yorkshire in just a few days and I did a live update for the BBC Look North late bulletin.

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Charitable Bank

The BBC Make A Difference campaign is calling for volunteers to help charities that are in need of your help. Mum’s United in Sheffield are wanting volunteers to help with their Charitable Bank where they provide food, clothes and toys to vulnerable people.

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Self-Isolating Rules

This week I filmed with a Sheffield GP who was deeply concerned about the number of their staff having to self-isolate.

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I filmed the interview with Dr Ally Hobbs from Pitsmoor Surgery in Sheffield on new camera equipment that I've just been trained on (see picture below). It's an iPhone 12 with a rig including radio mics, a top mic, a light, a tripod and a stand. I was pleased the national BBC News at Ten used my footage with Dr Hobbs in their report on the self-isolating story.

Charity Hike

I went to beautiful Malham in North Yorkshire to report on a charity hike. Our bulletin that day was on air a lot earlier than normal, at just after midday, so we filmed an 'as live' rather than a pkg/report because it was quicker to make.

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Wheelchair rugby league & Sport live

This week I reported live on a new wheelchair rugby league club in Sheffield and also presented the sports news from there. It's the first time I've done the 'sports desk' when it's not been in the studio. Needing to wear a mask and the noisy environment presented made it more of a challenge.

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I even had a go at the sport and loved it!

Wheelchair Rugby League is seriously good fun! I loved it. Give it a go for free on Monday nights in Sheffield at @SHUActive with @Eagles_Found. Thanks for having me 👍 #rugbyleague pic.twitter.com/wGgtKv1LWl

— Mark Ansell (@MarkAnsell) June 28, 2021

Alwyn Belcher

I had the great pleasure of filming boxing coach Alwyn Belcher who is still working in the gym in Sheffield despite being 85-year-old. He's coached some of the biggest names in British boxing including Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua.

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Unlocking delay

This week we filmed at Corporation nightclub in Sheffield to find out how they - and the hospitality sector more broadly - will be affected by the four week delay until all covid restrictions are due to be eased.

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ArtWorks

I reported with my cameraman colleague Malik on an international competition for artists who have a learning disability or autism. It was won by Leeds artist Emily Uttley whose ‘Sleeping Boy’ painting beat more than a thousand entries. Her painting, along with shortlisted pieces are on display at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham. 

(Annoyingly because of copyright I had to take off the first ten seconds of audio in my report which had music from the film Amélie)

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Headingley Cricket

I went to Headingley stadium in Leeds as spectators were back there to watch men's cricket for the first time in nearly two years. Around two and a half thousand fans were watching the first day of the County Championship match against Sussex. I did a live 'top and tail' to the report to bring the viewers up to speed with the latest score and set the context for my report. I was losing my voice that day, which you'll probably be able to hear, but thankfully it held out!

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Cricket - The Hundred

I reported from Bradford on the launch of a new cricket tournament called The Hundred. The new format of the game will be the shortest; each team bowls a hundred balls to the opponents and whichever team has the most runs wins. The Northern Superchargers men’s and women’s teams will play their matches at Headingley in Leeds.

This was my lunch 'as live' report...

And my report for our main Look North programme...

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Drowned sofa live

I reported live from the sofa on the tragic death of a teenage boy who'd got into difficulty in the River Calder at Brighouse.

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House Prices

I reported on the big house price rises in recent months in the Walkley area of Sheffield, where I once lived as a student. The housing market is really booming in the city - good news for sellers but not for buyers.

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Creative Schoolchildren

We had a brilliant day filming at Byron Wood Academy in Sheffield where schoolchildren are being encouraged to be creative and use their imagination with literacy charity Grimm and Co...

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Young Golfer

I had great fun filming with an 8-year-old old boy from Barnsley who's so good at the sport that he's not only beating children double his age, he's getting the better of adults too! What's even more remarkable is that Layton Riches took up the sport less than a year and a half ago. It was a real pleasure to work with Layton, his dad Dale and uncle Ross on the golf course.

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Sheffield Sharks

I had a really enjoyable day filming with the Sheffield Sharks - they're one of the most successful teams in the history of British basketball. The Sharks have made the play-offs for a record-breaking 26th time in a row. Cameraman Ed and I filmed lots of material at their training session. I operated the GoPro camera which we used to show close ups of the ball going in the net - the first shot in my report is from the GoPro. I edited the report using music underneath the pictures that fits with the story. It's quite fiddly editing pictures over music as you want the music to compliment the images but is worth the effort on some stories as it can enhance the story.

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Scammed

I reported on a really troubling story about a retired teacher from Sheffield who was conned out thousand pounds. Janet Blakeley was called by fraudsters pretending to be from her internet provider BT. She was tricked into sending them two and a half thousand pounds. Her bank, the Halifax, has refused to refund her the money.

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Roll On 2021

I had such a good time filming this story with a really inspirational man called Fraser Lamb. He's raising money for the hospital that saved his life. Fraser was born with spina bifida and had life-saving surgery at Sheffield Children's Hospital when he was twelve years old. He's clocking up 2,021 miles around his village of Bawtry in Doncaster in the year 2021 to raise money for the hospital charity. My story was on BBC Look North and BBC Breakfast...

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Since the story was broadcast, Fraser has raised a further £8,000 for the charity. You can donate here.

Doncaster Knights

Doncaster Knights had their biggest challenge of the season when they took on the mighty Saracens and they were beaten 15-50. We filmed with them before the fixture. I'm looking forward to being able to watch them play live when covid rules allow.

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Reporting at Elland Road Protest

I reported live from outside Elland Road where fans protested against the formation of the new European Super League. One of the teams involved was Leeds United's opponents, Liverpool.

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It was a busy night for me as I was the only BBC reporter there. As well as posting videos and photos to BBC colleagues for an online article and social media video, I also did lives for BBC Radio Leeds and provided an interview with Graham Hyde from Leeds United Supporters' Trust. I then edited a report for our late bulletin on Look North which I can't post here as Sky Sports owns the copyright of the match action.

Community Grocery

A new Community Grocery has opened in Sheffield where customers pay three pounds for a full shop of surplus food. The shop is based at a church called C3 Hope in Sheffield and has been set up in response to the financial impact of covid-19. Customers are also offered support with courses on things like managing debt and parenting.

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Pubs Open

I reported from a big beer garden on Monday when pubs were allowed to re-open.

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Football Physio

I really enjoyed making a feature on Harrogate Town's head physio Rachel Davis. Professional football is undoubtedly a man's world but Rachel shows that women should be given the chance to work in the national sport. In her eight years at Harrogate, she's been a key part of their success - they've won two promotions in their last three seasons!

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Leeds Tram

It’s a century since the Leeds 345 vintage tramcar, first entered public service. The tramcar has been fully restored and is based at Crich Tramway Village. I had the job of the day reporting from a fascinating museum in the Peak District with cameraman Lee.

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Heatwave

With the easing of lockdown and lovely weather this week, it's been a great chance to meet up within the group of six or two households and enjoy the sunshine.

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Key Workers

We've all depended on key workers throughout the pandemic. Whether they're looking after us when we're ill, delivering food to our door or ensuring supermarket shelves are full, they've all played a vital role. I filmed with three key workers to give people an insight into what the last year has been like for them.

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Sports News Live

I got the chance to do the sports news again on Look North this week. It's only the second time I've done this and it's a very different experience to doing live reporting out on the road which I'm much more used to. Firstly, you have autocue to read, rather than having to come up with something to say when doing a live and also you have to make sure the transition from presenter to you and back is smooth - so it's more of a performance. I enjoyed it again and think the more I do it, the more relaxed I'll feel.

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Chris Wilder leaves Sheffield United

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder left the club this week after almost five years in charge. Wilder took them from League One to the Premier League in that time. In their first match since his departure, the Blades were hammered 5-0 away at Leicester City. I filmed and edited an on the day story about Chris Wilder's departure. I have to say from a personal level I'm sad to see him leave. He's always entertaining to interview as you never know exactly what Wilder is going to say! And he watches Look North so he's got that right : )

 

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Sports News Live

I had the opportunity to present the sports news on Monday's Look North for the first time. It meant presenting in the studio with autocue for the first time. It was a really good experience. Monday was a big day of sports news with the appointment of Doncaster Rovers Manager as the new boss at Sheffield Wednesday. I was the only person working on sport on Monday so I had to make all but one of the stories in the sports section of the programme. I very full-on day!

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Shaken Baby Syndrome

I've been working on a really important story about shaken baby syndrome. GPs, health visitors and midwives in South Yorkshire are now having conversations with new parents about the dangers of shaking their baby. The ICON Programme is in response to concerns that social isolation and increased family pressures during the pandemic may result in more parents losing control and shaking their babies with devastating consequences.

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Outdoor Education Centres

Outdoor education centres in our region say urgent action is needed to keep them open. They provide activities like canoeing, climbing and caving and have been closed for overnight visits since March last year. Without classes of schoolchildren booking in, there is no income – and the centres say they need financial help now – to make sure they can play a role in young people’s education once schools reopen.

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Brexit Small Businesses

The owners of small businesses in Yorkshire have been telling Look North that post-Brexit red tape is doing real damage to their companies. A cycling clothing business in Leeds has not received stock worth thirty thousand pounds from Europe while a Leeds brewery has had orders from Europe cancelled and found couriers are now refusing to export to EU countries because of the extra paperwork required. The government says it's helping businesses adjust to new processes.

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Hallam University

Students' experience of going to university is so drastically different from any other year because of covid. I interviewed students at Sheffield Hallam University to find out what life's been like.

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Young Sudden Cardiac Death

The mother of a teenager from South Yorkshire who died in her sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition is concerned about the future of smaller charities that are struggling to fundraise in the pandemic. Alex Reid  from Thorpe Salvin in Rotherham died out of the blue aged 16. Her mother Heather is running 624 miles to raise money for young people to have their heart screened by charity Cardiac Risk in the Young. That’s one mile for every young person who loses their life each year due to an undiagnosed heart condition.

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Snow Day!

I put this together in a few hours - filming with my mobile phone near where I live in Sheffield, sourcing material from colleagues and viewers and then writing a script and editing the report together from home. It was intense work but enjoyable and I was pleased with the end product.

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Brexit Music

There are concerns that professional musicians in our area, who regularly perform abroad, are going to struggle to be able to make a living. It’s because the EU and Britain have not agreed to continue to have visa-free access for musicians to tour in the European Union following Brexit. It means artists have to have multiple visas or work permits if they’re performing in different EU countries which is bureaucratic and expensive.

You can learn more about the brilliant violinist Lizzie Ball on her website here.

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Leeds House Fire

I filmed in terrible weather conditions, in very heavy rain, with a couple who had lost everything in a house fire. Thankfully their community in West Yorkshire is rallying round to help fundraise for them

Edyta Wlodek and partner Llowell Williams' house in Leeds where they live with their five year old daughter was ravaged by fire two weeks ago and they only just made it out in time.

I'm very pleased to say that since the story was on air they've had thousands pound more money donated to their GoFundMe page and have had offers from tradesman of voluntary help.

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Working Win

It was uplifting to film a positive story about a scheme to help people with mental and physical health problems in South Yorkshire get and stay in work. So far, one thousand five hundred people have been supported by the Working Win pilot project and it's been extended so more people can benefit.

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Horse Riding Schools Struggling

I filmed at an an equestrian centre in Bradford and enjoyed learning a lot about what it's like to run a business where you teach people to horse ride. It rained heavily throughout which, along with social distancing because of covid, made filming a particular challenge.

The owners of the equestrian centre say they and their horses are really struggling in lockdown. Lessons are forbidden under government Covid rules which means the horses are not getting enough exercise. Cliff Hollins Riding School in Bradford is also struggling to pay for feed with no money coming in from classes.

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Snow Reporting

I reported on the heavy snow in Sheffield this week for BBC Look North and 5 Live. For the Look North lunch bulletin I walked to our local park to film a short report on my phone. I also filmed some footage of children enjoying sledging on their daily exercise.

Some of the audio I filmed on my phone was used by 5 Live Drive.

markansell · Snow 5 Live

Then I headed to another park to meet cameraman Lee to record a longer, updated version for our main 6:30pm programme. A busy day!

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Knife Bins

An anti-knife crime campaigner is installing knife bins in Sheffield to try to get blades off the street. Anthony Olaseinde used to carry knives himself and says there needs to be knife bins across the city. He's calling on the police and the council to support him in his efforts.

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Scammonden Steps

I revisited a story I first did two years ago about male mental health. Manuel Benages has raised more than £18,000 for the charity Get Fit 4 Mental Wellness he set up so that they can support many more people in crisis. He took on a Herculean challenge of walking up the 548 steps up the side of Scammonden reservoir in West Yorkshire 105 times! I filmed the story and then dashed back to Sheffield to edit it in one hour which is all the time I had before it was going on air - a good test of my skills.

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Page Hall Policing

I was given exclusive access to film with the new policing team in Page Hall in Sheffield. They've seized fifty cars in the area in the last three months to try to show the community they're serious about tackling crime. I also filmed with Sheffield Roma Network which is encouraging people to stick to the covid rules.

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