A children's author and parish councillor shot at his home has died in hospital, local leaders have confirmed.
James Nash, 42, was shot in Upper Enham, near Andover in Hampshire, on Wednesday afternoon.
The suspected attacker, a 34-year-old man, died in a police chase after trying to flee on a motorcycle.
Phil North, leader of Tees Valley Borough Council, wrote on Facebook on Friday that Mr Nash had died of his injuries.
"It has been confirmed this evening that the victim of the Upper Enham shooting on Wednesday, local resident James Nash, has now sadly died," he wrote.
"This is such devastating news, not just for his family and friends who will obviously miss him terribly, but for the whole community of Enham Alamein where he was a public representative.
"He was such a kind-hearted individual and a proactive parish councillor who cared deeply for his community."
He added: "As a talented children's author and illustrator, I was extremely touched last year when one of the dedications in his latest book was to my newborn daughter, Eleanor-Ivy Mae.
"We will always treasure our copy."
North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse described the fatal shooting in MacCallum Road as "tragic and profoundly sad news".
"James's family will be devastated and they are in all our thoughts tonight," he said in a post on Facebook.
Hampshire Police has said that while investigations are at an early stage they "do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in this investigation".
A spokeswoman said the force had made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police.
According to his website, Mr Nash was resident artist at The Hawk Conservancy Trust, and co-founder of the Society of Natural History Artists.
Firefighter crews are still fighting the smouldering fire on Chobham Common. The cooling temperatures overnight reduced the blaze. However, the fire is still spreading and the Fire Brigade have asked people to avoid the area for your own safety.
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service tweeted: "A number of roads in the area remain closed.
"Some properties were evacuated.
"Residents that were evacuated should not return to their homes."
From mid-day on Friday 10 fire engines, two water carriers and several other vehicles have been dispatched to tackle to the fire.
When the fire was reported, fire crews took 10 minutes to reach the scene.
Yesterday trains between Reading and London had been disrupted as a result of the fire.
Yesterday a spokesperson for South West Railway said: "Due to a fire next to the track between Staines and Ascot all lines are blocked.
"Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised.
"Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
"We are very sorry for any delay that this may cause to your journey."
Cabinet minister and MP for Surrey Heath Michael Gove described the fire as a “tragedy”.
He went on to thank search and rescue teams for their help in dealing with the incident.
The UK is demanding that France crack down on migrants crossing the Channel, amid government plans to make the route "unviable".
Sky News filmed on Saturday morning as another dinghy was intercepted by a Border Force patrol vessel, with there having already been record-breaking numbers of migrants arriving in the UK on small boats in the last few days.
Recent calmer weather in the Channel area has prompted a surge in people making the journey. It is understood that there were 12 individuals on board the dinghy seen on Saturday.
Schools minister Nick Gibb told Sky News the government now wants to make the route "unviable".
Image:Sky News watched as another boat was intercepted by UK authorities in the Channel on Saturday
"We're talking to French ministers about preventing people leaving France in the first place, and then finding other ways of making sure that we return boats to France when they're trying to make what is a very dangerous crossing," said Mr Gibb.
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"France is a safe country, and if people are seeking asylum, they should be seeking asylum in France in the first instance."
Britain wants Paris to intervene to stop small vessels heading to England and take them back to French ports, rather than shepherding them onward until they reach British waters.
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Immigration minister Chris Philp will meet his counterparts from France next week as he seeks to eventually shut down the Calais-to-Britain route.
He also wants migrants caught trying to cross the Channel to be fingerprinted and face "real consequences".
May 2020: Migrants rescued from dinghy in Channel
Mr Gibb's comments came after Kent County Council (KCC) said that 400 migrant children had been taken into its care this year, including 60 in the first week of August, with 23 arriving on Friday alone.
KCC leader Roger Gough discussed the issue on the BBC's Newsnight programme, saying "enormous pressure" was being put on the authority amid rising numbers of unaccompanied young migrants arriving in the UK.
"We've had so far some 400 of these young people come into our care this year and in recent weeks and months it has been particularly rapid," he said.
Mr Philp has said some of the measures he would like to see brought in include migrants being deported or being taken into custody for breaking the law.
The Home Office has said it is possible the Royal Navy might be brought in to patrol the Channel's migrant traffic - a move described as "completely potty" by a Ministry of Defence source.
The proposals reflect growing frustration in government after nearly two years of rising numbers of migrants arriving by sea from France.
Image:Nick Gibb MP told Sky News that the government wanted the route to become 'unviable'
Mr Gibb added: "It's not a simple situation, nor is there a simple solution. There are legal barriers and complexities in dealing with this with this issue, which is why the home secretary, Priti Patel, has been talking to her French counterparts, and why Chris Philp will also be doing the same next week.
"These aren't simple issues. They are complicated. We're working through them. But we're determined to address what is a complex issue. We don't want people making that very dangerous crossing across the English Channel, even in weather like we have at the moment.
"We are out of Europe, but we have friendly relations with our partners in Europe, with France and so on. And those negotiations are happening between ministers at the moment. And we want to try and deal with this issue.
"I don't think whether we're in the European Union or not will make any difference to this issue... We are determined to stop this illegal route into Britain, for humanitarian reasons as much as anything else.
"We are talking to our French counterparts... in order to find a solution using maritime assets, as they call it, to try and return boats to France."
It comes amid continued fine weather and calm waters in the English Channel as temperatures are expected to soar to 38C over the weekend. Government sources told Sky News that the boat was the first of the day to cross the channel with more expected to make the crossing throughout the day.
On Thursday, at least 235 migrants made the dangerous journey in 17 boats, setting a new single-day record whilst more than 130 made it to the UK in 13 boats yesterday, the Home Office said.
Images show 12 migrants attempting being taken aboard a Home Office dinghy and taken ashore.
At the same time, Government ministers pledged their commitment to tackle the migrant crisis this morning.
Schools minister Nick Gibb said the Government was looking at the possibility of using boats to prevent migrants crossing the Channel from Calais to Dover.
He told BBC Breakfast ministers were "looking at how we use maritime assets to prevent people from crossing the Channel because a: it's dangerous and b: it's illegal and the Government's determined that we're going to restore legality to our immigration system and to prevent people from making that dangerous crossing.
Mr Gibb, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton on the south coast, added: "We are looking at involving the use of boats in preventing boats from crossing the Channel."
Meanwhile, Former Royal Navy officer Rear Admiral Chris Parry said "innovative solutions" like using unemployed passenger liners to re-route migrants are needed.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning: "We don't have to take them back to dry land. There's any number of unemployed passenger liners on the south coast at the moment, they could actually be taken there for processing for medical assessment and then onward routing either back to France or to the United Kingdom.
"I think people need to understand that the old ways are just not cutting it at the moment and we need to apply innovative solutions."
But former Border Force director general Tony Smith said: "Once they are under our jurisdiction we will immediately face asylum claims.
"Without that agreement from the French to actually interdict people on the high seas and take them back to France the message is getting back to the migrantsand to the smugglers that this is the way in and that does create a huge pull factor.
"We could see something very similar to what we saw in the Mediterranean three or four years ago where the word will get out that all you need to do is get out on to the English Channel, you will be brought into the UK and it's very unlikely you'll be returned."
Nicola Sturgeon has said the SNP needs to "focus on what matters to people" ahead of next year's election and put aside internal disputes.
The first minister was speaking after a number of public rows about her party's policies and strategies.
The SNP leader said internal fighting would be a turn off for voters.
There has been controversy over how the SNP selects candidates as well as the prospect of a rival pro-independence party in recent weeks.
Ms Sturgeon claimed the SNP was in a "position of strength" going into the 2021 election.
But, in the first of a series of interviews BBC Scotland is conducting with Scottish party leaders, Ms Sturgeon said any trust from voters could be easily lost.
She said: "The SNP is in a position of strength and we've got as a party to recognise that we don't exist in some kind of bubble.
"Right now the majority of the people in the country we serve are worried about their health and they're worried about their ability to pay their bills.
"Opinion polls would suggest they massively trust the SNP to lead them through that crisis. If they ever thought the SNP was turning away from that priority and focusing on its own agendas and engaging in infighting I'm sure they would pass a verdict on that."
The Edinburgh South West MP said the change approved by the SNP's governing body meant she would have to resign as an MP first if she wanted to stand in Edinburgh Central.
Ms Sturgeon insisted the party needed to "focus on what matters to people out there" and move away from "internal disputes, feuds or personality clashes".
The impact of coronavirus
The first minister said the new programme for government, set to be unveiled at Holyrood in September, would be "heavily influenced by the recovery from Covid".
She added that a shake-up of how social care is delivered "will be uppermost in our minds as we come out of the immediate crisis".
Ms Sturgeon said she would serve the full term if elected first minister and said it was "bonkers" to suggest she did not want to see an independent Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon was asked about a number of other issues in a wide-ranging interview. These included:
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said a joint statement would be released pledging to work together to defeat the virus.
Ms Sturgeon revealed talks have not reached a conclusion yet but she hoped a "substantive agreement" could be reached.
She said: "For reasons I don't fully understand there seems to be, on the part of the UK government, an unwillingness to use the word elimination and I don't really know why that is the case."
Teachers were asked to estimate grades - but a quarter of these have been adjusted downwards during the SQA's moderation process.
The pass rate of pupils in the most deprived data zones was reduced by 15.2% from teacher estimates while for students in more affluent areas it was reduced by 6.9%, leading to claims that schools' past exam performance was unfairly used to adjust the results.
Ms Sturgeon said she understood the anger from pupils but said, "if we had gone for purely teacher assessment without any moderation we would have run the risk of undermining the integrity of the whole system."
She added: "When we couldn't do exams a system had to be put in place but we now have another stage in the process which is allowing young people to say this is not fair for me."
The Holyrood inquiry into the Alex Salmond complaints
It will be the first time Ms Sturgeon is quizzed by MSPs since the Scottish government conceded that an internal investigation of the complaints had been unlawful.
The SNP leader said: "There will be an element of relief for me in that because lots of things have been said about me that I've not been able to address because of other proceedings going on.
"I will set out my side of things and people can make up their own minds, I have nothing to fear from that."
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The timing of the decision to go into lockdown has been the subject of much discussion since March.
Robin McAlpine, a prominent Scottish independence campaigner and director of the Common Weal think tank, launched a vicious assault on Scottish First Minister, accusing her of “blurting out utterly ridiculous bursts of unsupportable braggadocio”. He claimed the SNP headquarters was “utterly corrupt” and “has been for years”.
Writing for his blog, Mr McApline said: “It is I think finally possible to write in public what everyone has been saying in private; SNP HQ is utterly corrupt and has been for years.
“Everyone, in my experience, has been saying that SNP HQ is an utter disgrace for five years.
“HQ routinely (and remarkably openly) smears internal critics. It rigs things to favour preferred candidates.
“It simply ignores serious complaints if they’re about ‘the wrong person’.
“It is toxic and nasty, but people have believed they have no option but to stomach it.
“The real truth is that it doesn’t pretend to act for the party as a whole, but only for the leader and a small clique organised around her. It is a stain on Scotland’s democracy.”
“This is a real and present danger to Scotland’s democracy.
“But you shouldn’t despair, because while not all of it is temporary, one of the core reasons for all of this is that Sturgeon/Murrell won’t be around forever – perhaps not much longer, by the looks of things – and at this stage, almost anything would be better for our democracy.
“And there is nothing at all in the above which cannot be fixed – and fixed quickly – by a government actually keen on democracy.”
Mr McAlpine also questioned Ms Sturgeon’s approach to the coronavirus crisis, saying he was “dubious” Scotland is tackling the pandemic “better” than the UK.
He added: “Scotland is a country in which the first minister can blurt out utterly ridiculous bursts of unsupportable braggadocio with no consequences at all.
“This is a minor matter, but it tells the story. Right now, it is my belief that the Scottish Government’s point-blank refusal to put in place the pre-symptomatic randomised test and trace system Common Weal detailed, costed and called for four months ago is going to lead to substantial new lockdowns – if not another national lockdown.
“Every day Johnson is held to account for the failures of his test and trace system, and yet I’m dubious Scotland’s is actually better from what I can see. Up here, the first minister says she’s done it, so the journalists are satisfied.”
Ms Sturgeon previously told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show she was focused "100 percent on tackling COVID” when she was quizzed over her plans to drag Scotland out of the Union.
In response for a request for comment a SNP spokesperson branded Mr McAlpine remarks “nonsense”.
THE children's author shot by a Nazi fanatic gunman has died as his mum made a heartbreaking tribute to her 'beautiful, talented son'.
James Nash, 42, died from his injuries in hospital, two days after being shot by Alex Sartain, 34, with a 'handmade gun' in the front garden of thatched cottage in the sleepy Hampshire village of Upper Enham, near Andover.
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James Nash died in hospital from his injuriesCredit: Facebook / James Nash
Alex Sartain has been named as the shooter
Mr Nash was shot at around 3pm on Wednesday and died today, his mother Gillian Nash confirmed on social media in a touching tribute.
She wrote: "Thank you very much for your comments. Very sadly I have to tell you that James Nash died of his brutal injuries today.
"His father, his sister and I are in a total state of shock and grief. We have lost a beautiful, talented son and brother."
Local Conservative Councillor Phil North wrote on his Facebook page: "This is such devastating news.
"I'm sure there will be many more tributes to James in the coming days and weeks – and in time an opportunity for the community to come together with his family to consider some form of lasting memorial to his life."
It was revealed the 34-year-old believed Mr Nash, who lived yards from the mechanic, was a "government agent" sent to spy on him.
The victim's wife Dr Sarah Nash is a scientist at the Science and Technology Facilities Council
James Nash was shot in a broad daylight horror attack
One local, who is friends with Sartain's dad John, said the gunman seemed "agitated" on Tuesday the day before the shooting.
Tony Bennett claims he pointed at parish councillor Mr Nash's home and told him: "They are trying to get me sectioned".
The resident added: "Because Mr Nash used to work in aerospace Alex got it in his head that this guy works for the government. He had it in his head that he was being spied on.
“A week ago Alex’s dad, John, had been trying to get him sectioned. Alex had been sectioned three times.
“On the day it happened John didn’t hear Alex go out or anything like that.
“His dad told me today that Alex always said he wanted to die on his motorbike."
Left to right shows Sartain's dad's motorcycle repair shop, the house he was living in and the Nash's home
Forensic officers at the scene
Police have not released a motive for the shooting
Stunned locals say Sartain, who was released from jail four years ago for stealing clothes and meat from TK Maxx and Marks and Spencer, was "troubled".
The mechanic, who works at his dad's motorcycle garage in the village, is a Nazi fanatic who has 'liked' a string of vile leaders on Facebook - including Holocaust architect Heinrich Himmler.
Sartain has also liked public profiles for leader of the Nazi Stormtroopers in Berlin, Horst Wessel, as well as other Luftwaffe fighters.
His open Facebook also links to a page called 'I Hate Police', while his profile picture uses the quote: "I came with a warning label".
His heartbroken mum Gillian Nash had previously revealed how she still has no update on her son's condition.
She told The Sun Online: "I don’t know anything about him (Sartain). The only thing I know is someone sent me a cutting of his previous crimes.
“James never mentioned him. He’s not the sort of person he would know.
“He’s helped a lot of people with a lot of difficulties so it might be someone he tried to help but he never mentioned him.
“There’s no words basically. He’s a kind, gentle person. I can’t imagine why this would happen."
The horror came after Mr Nash submitted a planning application to erect an "agricultural building" close to where Sartain lived on the same road.
The proposal was made on June 18 and would have allowed Mr Nash to "store machinery necessary for the upkeep and cultivation of the surrounding land".
Aerial shots of the quiet road where the pair lived show Sartain's home close to the proposed building.
Mr Bennett said Mr Nash had been locked in disputes with his neighbours.
Police have not yet given a motive for the shooting and it is not clear he he objected to the plans.
The proposal was for an agricultural building
The building as it stands
Some residents are stumped over why the mechanic, who works at his dad's motorcycle garage in the village, opened fire on his neighbour.
One villager said: "We don't know what caused the younger man to target James – there must have been a dispute of some sort.
"But I know that the shooter was a troubled soul."
The villager said he had heard that Mr Nash was fired at with a "homemade shotgun," adding the suspected gunman lived around 200 yards from Mr Nash and his wife.
Another local said: "Alex is the guy that crashed. My daughter knew him but I didn't think he was a bad person.
"I have heard there was some kind of issue between Alex and the Nash's but I don't know what it could be."
Armed cops had swooped on the quiet village of Upper Enham, Hants, at around 3pm yesterday.
The suspect attempted to flee on foot before jumping on a motorbike in a bid to evade capture.
He crashed on the A343 - three miles from the attack in Upper Enham, Hants, and was declared dead at the scene.
A 40-year-old woman assaulted during the attack sustained minor injuries.
SHOOTING HORROR
He has been described as a man committed to his community who last year took on the role of Father Christmas in a local village hall.
Meanwhile, his wife Sarah works as a senior space scientist at the Science and Technology Facilities Council in Oxfordshire.
The parish councillor described himself on his blog as "a naturalist, first and foremost devoted to the conservation of our wild world".
He was also a resident artist at The Hawk Conservancy Trust based in Andover, Hants, according to the site.
'LOVELY GUY'
One local said: "He is a lovely guy. He would literally do anything for anyone. He helps out with lots of things.
"He is a really nice person whenever I have spoken to him."
Local Conservative Councillor Phil North, who described the incident as “absolutely horrific” said police had confirmed to him they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the shooting.
He described Mr Nash as a "kindhearted individual" who was a "hands-on" parish councillior.
Cllr North added: "He’s also a talented children’s author and illustrator and I was extremely touched last year when one of the dedications in his latest book was to my newborn daughter.
"My thoughts remain with James, his family and the people of Enham Alamein. I hope and pray he makes a good recovery.
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"We’re all with you, James."
Hampshire Police confirmed they had referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is protocol.
They also said an address was also searched in Enham Alamein in connection with the investigation.
Mr Nash has been described as an active councillor heavily involved in the community
