The summer has seen South Shropshire at its best, but also at its hottest on record. As I write we still await rain in August after a virtually dry July.

The last hot summer which comes anywhere close was 1976, which I remember as the summer of my A-Levels, attempting to revise while lying in the sun. Not a good combination.

But this summer I have enjoyed getting back out around the constituency, attending local events, visiting businesses large and small and speaking to constituents across our market towns and villages. 

After two summers with events postponed and so many business and community staples of the area forced to close, it has given us all the opportunity to appreciate what great things go on within our communities.

I have been busy during the Parliamentary Recess, not least focussing on NHS and social care pressures. 

I also arranged a Conservative Leadership candidate meeting at Ludlow Racecourse attended by 400 members.

But it has also been great to attend some favourite South Shropshire events, including the Burwarton Show, which as usual showed the best of our county’s rural economy and agricultural skills.

I co-chaired a meeting with Severn Trent Water to help progress their plans to help the River Teme achieve water bathing quality status around Ludlow within the next few years. I have campaigned strongly to improve our waterways and am encouraged by the pilot scheme launched by Severn Trent here in South Shropshire.

I have met some wonderful new charities, including the Men’s Shed in Cleobury Mortimer who support men who enjoy coming together through DIY, and Severn Valley Rescue which provides therapy through caring for rescue animals. I have also been meeting local groups hosting Ukrainian refugees around South Shropshire.

The Bishops Castle Food Bank is another excellent example of our community supporting people at what is a difficult time of rising energy costs and shopping bills.  

I have resumed my regular surgeries around the constituency during the summer and have been following up on the casework my team and I have been working on, chasing responses.  

I am pleased that my hardworking team are taking well-deserved breaks before we return to Parliament next week, where we shall be met by a new Prime Minister.

As ever, I welcome news and updates from around the constituency and try to attend local events whenever I can.  

Enjoy the sunshine if we get an Indian summer, but if not, we know we also need some decent rain!