The largest UK built aircraft....
The R101 airship, built at Cardington, remains the largest aircraft ever constructed in the UK at 777ft long — longer than Canary Wharf's tallest tower stands tall.
By Trevor Monk
Community News
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Everything happening across Shortstown, Cardington, Cople & Cotton End.
New on the site: Recipes, fun things to make with the kids
We’ve added a Recipes corner to the site, simple family friendly things to make together. First up: homemade lemonade with the kids.
By Leigh
Shortstown Post Office to close on 9 August: what it means for residents, and the fight to keep a service in the village
Shortstown is set to lose its Post Office. The branch inside the Morrisons Daily store on North Drive will close on Sunday 9 August 2026, after Morrisons confirmed it is shutting the store and taking the Post Office counter down with it. It is the latest blow to a fast-growing community that has already seen
By Leigh
The Shorts Building comes home: historic landmark secured for the people of Shortstown
After more than a century in government and private hands, the building that gave our village its name now belongs to the people of Shortstown. By Leigh Coombs Some stories are a privilege to write, and this is one of them. Shortstown Parish Council has completed the purchase of the Shorts Building, the historic landmark
By Leigh
BedX launches in Bedford — and businesses across our ward are right in the middle of the opportunity
More than 400 local businesses packed King’s House for the launch of BedX — the Bedfordshire Opportunity Exchange. Cllr Leigh Coombs reports on what it means for businesses across our ward — Shortstown, Cardington, Cople and Cotton End — and the wider Bedford Borough.
By Leigh
Find a Local Service – new page now live
We’ve added a new Find a Local Service page to the Shortstown Community website. The aim is to provide a simple place for residents to find local trades, services and community contacts without having to dig through social media posts. Listings are provided for information only and are not recommendations. If you’d like to suggest
By Leigh
Welcome
Welcome to the 2026 version of the Gas Bag. This is the new online version of the historical newsletter that was distributed around Shortstown some years back. We hope to use this site to help our local community, with news, stories and contacts “Who can recommend a decent plumber?” Keep checking back as the site
By Leigh