The village of Watnall in Nottinghamshire has been home to a Hovis bakery since 1953. It is one of eight bakeries across the UK operated by the well-known bread-making business.
Located on the "busiest" route in the village, Main Road, residents often see and hear large
Hovislorries driving back and forth to the site. The bakery employs 480 people from the area and it operates around-the-clock, helping to distribute millions of loaves across the UK every week.
Residents have now spoken about what it is like to live in the "lovely" village in the shadow of the bakery. "It's been there for years so it just blends into the background," beauty therapist Sue Radford told Nottinghamshire Live.
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"My sister used to live in one of these houses and at Christmas as a nice gesture they get a hamper, with scones and crumpets. A gesture because of the lorries they have to put up with."
The bakery also often gives out samples of current products and new launches to residents. Sue, 64, added: "I've been here for 29 years and it's lovely.
"Basically we're all of likeness. There's a mix of people - young families and elders.
"There's plenty to do - walking in all the lovely fields and walking in nearby Kimberley. We've got tea rooms, the Madhatters and The Oat Shed.
"We haven't got a shop but we've got two pubs. In Kimberley, it's a bit dead really - Sainsbury's has got all the monopoly on everything. Things have come and gone."
Many jobs are carried out at the Hovis site, including engineering, warehousing, driving and, of course, baking. The bakery is very active within the village, often supporting a number of schools and charities.
Peter Crews, 70, had his say on what it is like to live near the Hovis factory. He said: "It's not an issue.
"I know some of the residents further down complain about the noise early in the morning. It depends on whether you like it - for us it's not an issue.
"I've lived here for 30 years and my wife is born and bred. Most of the time it's quiet.
"It's not a bad area to live in. The motorway is a mile away, junction 26, 20 minutes to the city centre.
"Everything is fairly close." But he added: "The bus service is terrible."
Megan Anderson, 28, added: "I do like it here. For me personally, Hovis has never really bothered me - I think it's quite cool to live near it.
"There's just lorries always going up and down. I think the people here are lovely.
"It definitely has a village feel to it. We're only a small drive away to the shops or into town.
"It's not too bad. It's just nice and quiet."
A spokesperson for Hovis said: "Hovis has been part of the local community since 1953 and is a proud local employer of 480 people. Watnall is a crucial part of Hovis and works tirelessly to distribute millions of loaves of one of the Nation’s most loved brands every week."
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