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Woman found dead after urgent search by police is identified as missing 28-year-old Holly Whittaker

David Bratton
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Woman found dead after urgent search by police is identified as missing 28-year-old Holly Whittaker

A body discovered in Nottingham city centre has been confirmed as that of a Mapperley woman who had been missing for almost two weeks.

Police launched an urgent search for 28-year-old Holly Whittaker after she was last seen in the Mapperley area on September 4.

The search came to a tragic end on Tuesday afternoon (September 15) when officers found the body of a woman near Queen’s Road in Nottingham city centre.

Holly has now been formally identified by police.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire Gould, of Nottinghamshire Police, said specially-trained officers are supporting Holly’s family following the devastating discovery.

She said: “Our specially-trained officers are supporting Holly’s family at this difficult time, following yesterday’s tragic development.

“While the circumstances are still being investigated, at this time, we are not treating her death as suspicious.

“We would like to thank everyone who came forward with any information or shared our public appeals since Holly was first reported missing.

“A file will now be prepared for the coroner as our investigations continue.”

Police inquiries remain ongoing as officers work to establish the full circumstances surrounding Holly’s death.

These are the old factories that built Netherfield

Gedling Eye
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These are the old factories that built Netherfield

Today, many people know Netherfield as a residential community on the eastern edge of Nottingham. But for much of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the town was a bustling industrial centre, where the sound of factory whistles and steam locomotives shaped daily life.

The story of Netherfield is inseparable from the factories that helped turn a small rural settlement into a thriving working-class town.

Before the arrival of industry, Netherfield was little more than agricultural land known as the “Nether Field” of nearby Carlton. Development was slow until the railway age transformed the area. The construction of major railway lines and marshalling yards during the nineteenth century brought workers, housing and investment, creating ideal conditions for manufacturing businesses to establish themselves.

By the end of the Victorian era, several major factories had been built in Netherfield. Manufacturers were attracted by inexpensive land, excellent rail connections and a plentiful supply of water from the Sherwood sandstone aquifer beneath the area. These advantages allowed businesses to transport raw materials and finished goods efficiently while powering their operations.

Among the most important employers was the Britannia Cotton Mill, commonly known as Bourne’s Mill. The factory became one of the largest workplaces in the town and was particularly notable for employing large numbers of women. Local women who worked there became affectionately known as “Bourne’s Angels”, a nickname that remains part of Netherfield’s industrial folklore. The mill provided generations of families with secure employment and played a significant role in the social life of the community.

Furniture manufacturing was another key industry. Lawrence’s furniture factory helped establish Netherfield’s reputation for skilled craftsmanship, producing products that contributed to Nottinghamshire’s wider manufacturing economy. Alongside furniture making, Shaw’s Printing Works became another significant local employer, reflecting the diverse range of industries that found a home in the town.

The growth of these factories transformed Netherfield dramatically. The population increased from just a few dozen residents in the mid-nineteenth century to thousands by the early twentieth century. New schools, churches, shops and public services followed. Victoria Road developed into a busy shopping centre, serving not only local residents but visitors arriving by train from Nottingham and surrounding communities.

Industrial employment also helped foster a strong sense of community. Many families had multiple generations working in the same factories or on the railways. Shift patterns dictated the rhythm of daily life, while factory workers supported local sports clubs, social groups and community events. The prosperity generated by manufacturing helped establish Netherfield as an independent township with its own identity.

However, like many industrial towns across Britain, Netherfield faced significant challenges during the second half of the twentieth century. Changes in manufacturing, increasing competition and the decline of Britain’s traditional industries gradually eroded the town’s industrial base. The railway marshalling yard closed in 1970, and by 1985 all of Netherfield’s major factories had ceased operations.

The sites once occupied by mills, printing works and railway infrastructure have largely been redeveloped for housing and modern commercial uses. Yet the legacy of those industries remains visible in the town’s layout, its history and the memories of former workers and their families.

For many residents, Netherfield’s story is not simply about buildings that have vanished. It is about the people who earned their living there, the families they supported and the town they helped create.

These are the roadworks scheduled to take place across Gedling borough in the coming weeks

Gedling Eye Reporter
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These are the roadworks scheduled to take place across Gedling borough in the coming weeks

Motorists across Gedling Borough are being urged to plan ahead as a series of roadworks, closures and traffic restrictions are scheduled over the coming weeks.

A number of schemes affecting Gedling, Arnold, Carlton, Woodthorpe, Ravenshead, Calverton, Colwick and Lambley are due to get under way, with some roads set to close completely while improvement works are carried out.

Here’s the latest list…

15 September

Carnarvon Grove, Carlton

  • Road closure
  • Streetworks
  • Planned

Woodthorpe Drive, Woodthorpe

  • Diversion route in place
  • Streetworks
  • Planned

Woodthorpe Drive, Woodthorpe

  • Road closure
  • Streetworks
  • Planned

Wheatley Drive, Carlton

  • Road closure
  • Preventative maintenance patching repairs between Buntings Lane and Hemingway Close

16 September

Buntings Lane, Carlton

  • Road closure
  • Streetworks
  • Planned

Buntings Lane, Carlton

  • Road closure
  • Carriageway patching repairs between Carlton Hill and Wheatley Drive

Fleming Drive, Carlton

  • Diversion route
  • Streetworks
  • Planned

Waverley Avenue, Gedling

  • Road closure begins (runs until 18 September)
  • Streetworks

Main Road, Gedling

  • Diversion route for Waverley Avenue closure
  • Streetworks

Westdale Lane East, Gedling

  • Two-way traffic signals
  • Severn Trent Water works
  • Runs until 17 September

Rufford Avenue, Gedling

  • Give-and-take traffic control
  • Openreach works
  • Runs until 17 September

Dunstan Street, Netherfield

  • Give-and-take traffic control
  • Openreach works
  • Runs until 17 September

Main Road, Gedling

  • Two-way traffic signals
  • Assisting works at Waverley Avenue junction

Carlton Hill, Carlton

  • Multi-way traffic signals
  • Patch repair around a manhole
  • Runs until 17 September

17 September

Moor Road, Bestwood

  • Road closure begins (runs until 23 September)
  • Road marking and stud reinstatement works

18 September

Freda Avenue, Gedling

  • Diversion route
  • Streetworks

Freda Avenue, Gedling

  • Road closure
  • Streetworks

Freda Avenue, Gedling

  • Road closure
  • Remedial resurfacing works following earlier carriageway resurfacing

19 September

Gedling Road, Arnold

  • Multi-way traffic signals
  • Drainage CCTV investigations at Derby Street junction

Mansfield Road, Arnold

  • Two-way traffic signals
  • National Grid works

Lorimer Avenue, Gedling

  • Give-and-take traffic control
  • Severn Trent Water works

Mansfield Road, Daybrook

  • Lane closure
  • Vodafone works

20 September

Victoria Road, Netherfield

  • Temporary parking restrictions begin (runs until 26 September)

Victoria Road, Netherfield

  • Road closure begins (runs until 26 September)

Victoria Road, Netherfield

  • Diversion route in place during closure

Oxclose Lane, Arnold

  • Lane closure
  • Core sampling works

21 September

Mansfield Road, Daybrook

  • Road closure begins (runs until 26 September)
  • Carriageway resurfacing

Oxclose Lane, Arnold

  • Diversion route for Mansfield Road closure
  • Runs until 26 September

Sir John Robinson Way, Daybrook

  • Road closure begins (runs until 3 October)
  • Carriageway resurfacing

Mansfield Road, Daybrook

  • Diversion route linked to Sir John Robinson Way closure
  • Runs until 3 October

Road No. 1, Colwick

  • Multi-way traffic signals
  • Severn Trent Water works
  • Runs until 22 September

Colwick Loop Road, Colwick

  • Lane closure
  • Tree felling and pruning works
  • Runs until 25 September

Marshall Hill Drive, Mapperley

  • Multi-way traffic signals
  • Street lighting column replacement

Robinson Road, Mapperley

  • Give-and-take traffic control
  • Street lighting column replacement

Rowland Avenue, Mapperley

  • Give-and-take traffic control
  • Street lighting improvements

Ash Close, Burton Joyce

  • Give-and-take traffic control
  • Openreach works
  • Runs until 24 September

22 September

Coppice Road, Arnold

  • Multi-way traffic signals
  • Street lighting column replacement

23 September

Station Road, Carlton

  • Two-way traffic signals
  • Cadent Gas emergency repair works
  • Runs until 25 September

Longer-running schemes still affecting Gedling Borough

Waverley Avenue, Gedling – road closure until 18 September

Moor Road, Bestwood – road closure until 23 September

Victoria Road, Netherfield – closures, diversions and parking restrictions until 26 September

Mansfield Road and Sir John Robinson Way, Daybrook – major resurfacing programme with closures and diversions running until 3 October

Nottinghamshire’s pothole blitz sees roads repaired at record pace with 100,000 defects fixed

David Bratton
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Nottinghamshire’s pothole blitz sees roads repaired at record pace with 100,000 defects fixed

Drivers who were fed up with dodging potholes across the borough are now noticing a smoother ride, as Nottinghamshire County Council says it has carried out more major road improvements than any other county in England.

The authority is spending a record-breaking £182.5 million on its highways network, with around 100,000 potholes already repaired and hundreds more road schemes still to come before winter arrives.

Council bosses say the scale of work this year is unprecedented, with more than 450 road resurfacing projects planned across Nottinghamshire during 2026/27, more than double the number delivered or planned the previous year.

So far, 152 schemes have already been completed, covering everything from roads and pavements to drainage systems, bridges, street lights and traffic signals.

The county is set to see almost 638,000 square metres of resurfacing carried out this year, the equivalent of more than 56 miles of road. That’s a huge jump from last year’s programme, which resurfaced almost 20 miles.

Road resurfacing works taking place in Carlton

As well as resurfacing, a further 1.5 million square metres of road will be treated with protective surface dressing designed to help prevent future deterioration and potholes.

The work is being delivered by highways contractor Via East Midlands alongside a number of external firms, using a mix of resurfacing, patch repairs, preventative treatments and specialist pothole-repair machines.

Councillor Mick Barton, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said the authority was taking a longer-term approach rather than simply reacting when roads fail.

He said: “We are making an unprecedented investment in Nottinghamshire’s highways because we know how important good roads are to residents, businesses and everyone who travels around our county.

“The scale of this year’s programme shows that we are not simply reacting to potholes. We are taking a much more proactive approach to improving and protecting our road network for the future.

“Around 100,000 potholes have already been repaired and there is much more work to come.”

Councillor Bert Bingham, the council’s cabinet member for transport and environment, said the work goes far beyond filling potholes.

He said: “There is much more to maintaining our highways than filling potholes. Our teams are looking after 14 different types of highway assets, including drainage infrastructure, structures, street lighting and signage, as well as the roads themselves.

“We are determined to make the most of every opportunity to improve the network and ensure Nottinghamshire is better prepared for the demands of winter.”

The highways programme will continue throughout the autumn, with the majority of resurfacing schemes expected to be completed before colder weather sets in.

Knife-carrying drug dealer jailed after Carlton taxi incident and road rage threat

Gedling Eye
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Knife-carrying drug dealer jailed after Carlton taxi incident and road rage threat

A drug dealer who was caught carrying a knife twice in the space of just six days has been jailed for more than six years.

Tekla Adofo, 36, was first reported to police on January 28 after a taxi driver realised his passenger was carrying a blade while travelling through Nottingham.

Adofo had booked the cab under a false name for a journey from Radford to Gedling.

But as the taxi travelled along Gedling Road in Carlton, the driver became aware that Adofo was armed with a knife.

The pair got out of the vehicle and the driver managed to take a photograph of Adofo before he ran off.

Just six days later, Adofo was back in trouble.

Police were called to a road rage incident on Forest Road West where a PCSO on patrol saw him brandishing a knife and threatening a motorist.

Officers detained Adofo as he tried to flee and found the weapon. Searches also uncovered heroin, crack cocaine and cannabis in his pockets.

Adofo, of Matthias Road, Nottingham, denied possessing a knife during the Carlton incident, but was convicted following a trial.

He admitted a further count of possessing a knife in a public place, along with four drugs offences relating to the supply of Class A and Class B substances.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (September 11), he was sentenced to a total of six years and one month behind bars.

Detective Constable Andre Foster, of Nottinghamshire Police, said Adofo had shown himself to be a “persistent knife carrier”.

He added: “The decision to go out into the street carrying a knife puts both you and the other people you come into contact with at greater risk of harm.

“As Adofo has discovered, it’s a decision which also means you are very likely to end up in court and jail.

“CCTV is extensive in Nottingham and the county is very well policed, with a combination of high-visibility patrols and the work of our knife crime team meaning people carrying weapons will be spotted and arrested.”

Young runner loses leg after being struck by drink-driver travelling at 50mph on Colwick road

Gedling Eye
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Young runner loses leg after being struck by drink-driver travelling at 50mph on Colwick road

A drink-driver who ploughed into a young woman as she sat recovering from a run has been jailed after leaving her with life-changing injuries.

Kyle Waldram, 38, was behind the wheel of his van on Racecourse Road in Colwick on February 27, 2024, when he crossed onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into the victim.

The woman, a high-performance athlete, was sitting on the pavement after finishing her run when she was struck.

She suffered devastating injuries to both legs and later had one amputated.

Investigators found Waldram had been driving erratically and at excessive speed in the moments before the collision.

Forensic collision experts concluded he had been travelling at more than 50mph before losing control. After passing a row of parked cars, he remained on the wrong side of the road and hit the woman.

Waldram stopped at the scene but claimed he had been unable to see the victim because it was dark. He also told officers she had run into the road.

However, police established the sun was only just setting and that the stationary woman would have been clearly visible to any competent driver.

Officers also found Waldram had been drinking before getting behind the wheel. He failed a roadside breath test and later refused to provide a sample while in custody.

Waldram admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving without insurance on the day his trial was due to begin.

At Nottingham Crown Court on September 8, he was jailed for three years and 10 months and banned from driving for 47 months. He must also pass an extended driving test if he wants to get back behind the wheel legally.

Police Investigator Sarah Butler said: “The victim in this case was sat on the kerb recovering from a run when her life was changed irreversibly by the reckless and irresponsible actions of one man.

“Had he been driving responsibly, this collision would never have occurred and the young woman at the centre of this case would have gone home that day as normal.

“As Waldram starts his sentence, my thoughts today are with her. She was a high-performance athlete before this incident and has lost so much as a result of what happened to her.

“I know this sentence will provide little comfort to her, but I would like to place on record my admiration for the resilience and determination she has shown as she works to rebuild her life.”

Police release CCTV image after woman allegedly sexually assaulted on bus to Mapperley

Emily Sanchez
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Police release CCTV image after woman allegedly sexually assaulted on bus to Mapperley

Police have released CCTV footage of a man they want to trace after a woman reported being sexually assaulted on a bus in Nottingham.

The incident is said to have happened on board the 61 service as it travelled along Mansfield Road on the night of Tuesday, August 18.

Officers investigating the allegation believe the man pictured in the footage could help with their enquiries and are urging him, or anyone who recognises him, to come forward.

The man boarded the bus in Nottingham city centre shortly before 11pm and later got off in Mapperley.

PC Laura Twigger, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We take reports of this nature extremely seriously and have been working to understand what happened.

“We are now appealing for the public’s help to identify a male passenger who we believe can help with our enquiries.

“If you know this man, or if this is you, we would like to hear from you without delay.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 26000503052.

NCC Leader: ‘The Government has hit pause on LGR, but our fight isn’t over’

Gedling Eye
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NCC Leader: ‘The Government has hit pause on LGR, but our fight isn’t over’

So we have been told that LGR (Local Government Reorganisation) is going to be paused. 

Since I was elected in May 2025, one of the first things I was asked to do was to put together an option for LGR.

Within six months we constructed a solid option which met all the Government’s criteria, along with the financial position and deliverability of the new authority. 

The previous administration had 10 years to deal with LGR and came up with nothing. 

A couple of months ago, the then minister told us which option they had chosen, which was (B11, the Nottingham City option).  

Following the announcement, I wrote a letter to the minister to ask why he came to this decision which went against all his legislation.

It looked like it had been made for political gain. I had no response to my letter asking for his reasoning for their choice; that is when I chose to go forward with a judicial review. 

A few weeks ago, they asked for more time to respond, but since then, the new Secretary of State has paused the LGR process.

Fourteen Reform authorities have put judicial reviews into the government, and I believe this to be one of the main reasons why the process has been paused. 

That said, I am carrying on with my judicial review to Government based on the feeling that they have not followed the correct criteria so far.

Highways

I have some fantastic news regarding the maintenance on the roads. 

As you know, we have put record investment into the road infrastructure. 

Contrary to various statements, we put nearly half of the money in ourselves to have a big impact on improving the highways maintenance. 

We are well on the way to completing more than 550 miles of road resurfacing and surface dressing. 

We have re-built more than 60 junctions, filled in over 200,000 potholes and improved many footpaths and walkways. 

As you know, we have brought in two JCBs and, the good news is, as they are working brilliantly, we have now decided to keep them for the long term. 

Our two new Road Master mastic boilers have had a massive impact on maintaining the roads quickly and efficiently too. 

The biggest news is our new 12-month repair programme, which has never been delivered before. 

With our new winter programme, we will fix and maintain the roads, with a minimum of seven teams, rising to 10 teams if needed. 

The scale of what we are doing under our administration has never been done before in this county and we are breaking national records. 

No county council of our size in the country is achieving the results we are on the highways. 

Please be patient, because when the summer ends and we get to the autumn and winter, the programme will continue. 

If anyone has any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to get back to me by emailing  Leader2025@Nottsccgov.uk

Nottinghamshire Police seek volunteers to help crackdown on speeding in Calverton

Emily Sanchez
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Nottinghamshire Police seek volunteers to help crackdown on speeding in Calverton

Fed up of drivers speeding through Calverton? Nottinghamshire Police want your help

Residents in Calverton are being urged to join a new community scheme aimed at tackling speeding drivers on local roads.

Nottinghamshire Police is looking to set up a Community Speed Watch (CSW) team in the village and is searching for volunteers willing to give up just one hour a week to help.

The initiative allows trained volunteers aged 18 and over to use speed detection equipment to monitor traffic and record details of motorists caught travelling too fast.

While the scheme does not give volunteers enforcement powers, the information gathered is used by police to educate drivers and highlight problem areas.

Drivers identified as speeding will receive warning letters from Nottinghamshire Police, encouraging them to slow down and be more considerate of local communities.

Those who repeatedly ignore the warnings could find themselves facing targeted speed enforcement from officers.

Police say the scheme is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and the impact it can have on people living in neighbourhoods across the county.

Full training will be provided by Nottinghamshire Police, including how to safely operate a speed gun and record vehicle details.

Anyone interested in getting involved, or who would like more information, can contact Isabella Gabrielli by emailing Isabella.gabrielli@notts.police.uk.

Have you seen these people? They may hold key clues in hunt for missing Mapperley woman

David Bratton
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Have you seen these people? They may hold key clues in hunt for missing Mapperley woman

Have you seen these people? They may hold key clues in hunt for missing woman

Police searching for a missing woman have released CCTV images of people they urgently want to speak to, saying they could hold vital clues in the investigation.

Officers are trying to trace Holly, who was last seen in Mapperley at around 1.30pm on Friday, September 4. Detectives say the people pictured are not suspects, but believe they may have come across items that could help locate her.

The appeal comes as police continue to review CCTV footage as part of ongoing efforts to find Holly.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire Gould said: “We remain concerned for Holly’s welfare and believe the people shown in these images could be important witnesses.

Police say these people aren’t in any trouble but think they could help locate Holly

“They are not in any trouble, but we are keen to speak with them as they may be able to assist our enquiries and help us locate Holly.

“If you recognise yourself, or know the identities of those pictured, please get in touch as soon as possible.”

Holly is described as being 5ft 7in tall with curly blonde and pink hair worn in a ponytail. She has piercings in her cheeks and nose and tattoos on her arms and legs.

Holly has been missing since September 5

When she was last seen, Holly was wearing a black T-shirt, black leggings and carrying a black rucksack.

Police say she is known to spend time in Nottingham city centre.

Anyone who has seen Holly or has information about where she may be is urged to contact police on 101, quoting incident 509 of Saturday, September 5, 2026.

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