AS an MP, Ed Vaizey is no stranger to close shaves.

But on Friday the Wantage MP got closer than usual when he visited Faringdon woodturner Michael Bradley.

Mr Bradley, who lives in the town with his wife and son, is a nationally-recognised craftsman.

One of his proudest projects is carving solid oak columns for the coronation chair enclosure at Westminster Abbey.

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On Friday Mr Vaizey helped Mr Bradley carve a decorative bollard for a Midlands shopping centre.

Mr Vaizey said: “Mike Bradley is an amazingly talented man, who has a huge passion for what he does and is very keen to share that passion with others.

“It was a real privilege to look around his workshop and see some of his work.

“Trying it out for myself was an unexpected opportunity, and while I could never be as skilled as Mike, I am delighted to have been able to have a go, and very pleased indeed that somewhere in the Midlands there will be a shopping centre bollard crafted, in a tiny part, by me.”

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