New mayor ‘excited’ about year ahead despite political tension at council meeting

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

By Bruce Thain Political tension between councillors flared up last night during Harrow Borough Council's annual Mayor making ceremony. Councillor Nana Asante was sworn at a ceremony in at the civic centre yesterday evening, making her Harrow's first Ghanaian Mayor. The member of the new Independent Labour group said: "Thank you all for appointing me mayor. It is ...

Two people rushed to hospital following Swanley house fire

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

By Alan Woods TWO people were rushed to hospital after a fire broke out in the airing cupboard of a Swanley home. Firefighters were called to a house in Leechcroft Avenue at 10.27pm last night after the owners of the home escaped from the property and dialled 999. The fire started when a pillow was placed too close to a light in the airing cupboard, which overheated and caught ...

Mill Hill girl cuts lovely locks for charity

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

A girl from Mill Hill has shorn her lovely locks to raise money for children who have lost their hair. Beatrice Leviton, nine, cut off ten inches of hair at Kink Hair Salon in Daws Lane on Friday to raise money for the Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes real hair wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer. Beatrice said: "I was a little bit scared but ...

Neighbours evacuated from tower block fire

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Firefighters tackle the flames at Bonnington House Dozens of people were evacuated from a tower block in Enfield after a fire broke out last night. Firefighters were called shortly after 10.30pm to Bonnington House in Ayley Croft to reports a blaze had started in flat 98, on one of the upper floors of the building. Paramedics and police also attended the scene where neighbours were ...

Broken down bus partially blocks main road

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

By Joe Curtis A broken down bus has partially blocked a busy main road this morning. The bus broke down around 8.50am and has partly blocked Kings Road at its junction with Station Road, Chingford. Traffic delays are growing and drivers are advised to seek other ...

Groundbreaking study reveals more than half of Surreys wildlife is in decline

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

News More than half of Surrey's wildlife is in decline. That was the stark warning delivered today in a groundbreaking study by experts from leading conservation and research organisations. The State of Nature report, due to be launched by Sir David Attenborough and UK conservation charities at the Natural History Museum in London this evening, has been put together by ...

Celebrities back Princess Alice Hospices volunteers drive

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Thank you both: Jane Formby and Michael Aspel Celebrities have signed up to volunteer for Princess Alice Hospice as part of next month's National Volunteers' Week. Long term Princess Alice Hospice supporter and patron Michael Aspel is among the supporters, as are , Diana Moran and Keith Barron. The hospice will thank existing volunteers and seek more support during the ...

Wreaths to be put down today in place of those removed prematurely

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

, Reporter The Royal British Legion will lay two wreaths today to replace those that were removed prematurely by Waltham Forest Council. Stan Bonner, chairman of the Chingford branch of the Legion will lay a wreath from the citizens of the borough and another to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters raid. Residents had complained when around 25 wreaths were removed ...

Chugger charities could be fined under council strategy to protect high streets

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

By Hermione Wright Charities will be fined up to 200 if on-street fundraisers are caught flouting strict new rules set out by Enfield Borough Council. Only five charity sellers, or 'chuggers', will be allowed to work at any one time throughout the whole borough under new measures to encourage people to return to the high streets. The council signed an agreement with the ...

Pensioner in court on indecent assault charges

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

By Joe Curtis A pensioner is due in court today charged with three counts of indecent assault. Ibrahim Doldur, 70, of Hampton Road in Chingford, will appear at Thames Magistrates Court later today after three women told police they had been sexually assaulted in parks between December last year and February this year. A 50-year-old woman claimed she was assaulted in Chase Lane ...

Croydon riots victims welcome change to out-of-date law

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Croydon was badly hit by the riots Legislation set up to ensure riot victims receive compensation is to be reviewed, as some of those affected in Croydon still wait for payouts following the 2011 riots. The 127-year-old Riot Damages Act will be independently reviewed by former senior civil servant Neil Kinghan, who worked as a independent reviewer to Wandsworth Council following the ...

New Mayor elected into office

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

The new Mayor of Haringey with members of the young army, navy, marine and air force cadets The new Mayor of Haringey was formally elected into office at a ceremony in Tottenham. Councillor Sheila Peacock was welcomed into the position at the annual Mayor Making Ceremony in Tottenham Town Hall, in Town Hall Approach Road, on Monday evening. This will be her third term in the post ...

Bank stops bogus builder conning vulnerable man

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

PC Curzon from Sutton police praised staff at Lloyds TSB in Sutton Quick-thinking bank workers prevented a vulnerable man from being conned out of 16,000 by a bogus builder. The 48-year-old was at home in North Cheam when a supposed builder called at his house and told him he needed work doing on his roof on Saturday, May 18. The builder removed some tiles from the roof and told the ...

Bexley rated worst in Which food hygiene investigation

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

© Press Association and news reporter FOOD outlets in parts of Bexley have the worst hygiene standards of more than 2,000 postcodes, while those in Birmingham's B35 area offer the best, according to a Which? investigation. Bexley had six of the 10 worst postcodes studied, with the worst postcode, DA7, having nearly half of its eateries inspected (45 per cent) rated as lower ...

England swing catches Aussie Ashes eyes

SBS - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Michael Clarke doesn't want his team losing focus and getting too engaged in England's series with New Zealand, but it seems the swing and seam at Lord's was too obvious to ignore.Stuart Broad's ominous second-innings spell in the first Test against the Black Caps might have left a few of Clarke's top order allies shaking in their boots.But at least Australia's ...

Steve Bell on David Camerons message to Tory party members – cartoon

The Guardian - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

MichaelWhite: Even gentle Jim Naughtie gives D Cameron dressing down on R4's Today. A bit of " Oderint dum metuant" for Tory rebels might not go ...

IMF to give verdict on UK economy - live

Guardian - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

George Osborne, Britain's chancellor of the exchequer, could face criticism over his handling of the UK economy. Photograph: ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty ...

Big banks are still gaming the state but whos got the courage to say it | Richard Paton

Guardian - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

A demonstration by Occupy Economics in Canary Wharf, London, last week. 'Who do [banks] think we are? This is money they're only able to make at our expense.' Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty ...

The Freemasons Code Dan Brown reveals the message that told him the door to the lodge is open

The Independent - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

His best-selling novels illuminate the shadowy organisations that supposedly run the world. But Dan Brown was "honoured" to receive an invitation to join the Freemasons, the arcane fraternity whose tentacles are said to extend into the highest echelons of ...

Camerons Today interview and Cleggs speech Politics live blog

The Guardian - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Rolling coverage of all the day's political developments, including David Cameron's Today programme interview, Nick Clegg's speech and Ed Miliband's speech at a Google ...

Midge Ure playing Hampton Pools concert

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Live Aid legend and a musician with multiple bands, Midge Ure is looking forward to performing in the scenic grounds of Hampton's open air pools. The multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter will be the penultimate act of the summer series, now in their 11th season, of concerts organised by Hampton Pool Trust. The father-of-four spoke to the Richmond and Twickenham Times from ...

Vulnerable pensioner Rupert goes missing from Clapham home

This is Local London - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Rupert Bartley has been reported missing since leaving home yesterday at about 6.30pm. Police are appealing for information to trace a vulnerable man missing from his Clapham home. Rupert Bartley, 79, was last seen by his wife at his home in Santley Street at about 6.30pm yesterday (Tuesday, May 21). At around that time Mr Bartley walked out of the address without telling his wife ...