Author: Blake Foster

The Love Actually star joined a special welcoming committee at London’s Stansted Airport.   Dressed in a cosy jumper and maroon jacket, she witnessed reunions as friends and family arrived from across the globe. She handed out warm festive drinks and was flanked by a gospel choir performing uplifting carols in the arrivals hall adding to the magic. The heartwarming initiative was created by Costa Coffee to bring festive cheer to those catching up and to celebrate the moments of connection during the holiday season. The brand commissioned research of 5,000 adults who celebrate Christmas and found nearly half (47 per…

The My Heathway project headed by Be First, Barking & Dagenham Council’s regeneration arm, will go before the public in a consultation on December 6 and December 8. According to a website set up for the regeneration scheme, it will offer the community a chance to see for themselves the early plans for the first stage of My Heathway. The consultations will be the first public engagement tied to the project since the community was previously encouraged to share feedback via surveys, events and more on initial discussions between late 2022 and the end of 2023. The project promises both…

Ruben Nunes died in a fatal crash on December 3 on Chapel Close and a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Ruben’s family remembered the 34-year-old from Peterborough as a Liverpool fan with “a truly blessed soul”. They said: “Ruben was a family man – a son, a brother, an uncle, a father and a partner. “He was true to his friends and cherished the people around him. He loved football and was a big Liverpool fan. “Ruben had a light within him – he brightened the lives of everyone he touched.  “He was deeply loved by all…

On Sunday, December 7, two of the c2c lines will be undergoing planned engineering works. Services will not be running on the Rainham line on Sunday, whilst work is conducted between Barking and Grays via Rainham. Affected stations include Barking, Dagenham Dock, Rainham, Purfleet, and Grays. According to the c2c rail replacement services have been arranged for December 7 between Upminster, Rainham, Purfleet and Grays. Affected passengers for Dagenham Dock station will have their tickets accepted on the EL2 and 287 TfL bus services. READ MORE: Demolition plans submitted for ‘iconic’ Romford nightclub that is now an ‘eyesore’ On the…

Cleves Primary School, in Arragon Road, has been named as one of the top primary schools in the capital as part of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026. The guide highlights the country’s highest achieving primary and secondary state and independent schools, as well as allowing parents to compare the performance of schools in their area. Now in its 33rd year, the rankings use data from Key Stage Two results to find the top 1,000 primary schools in England. READ MORE: Warehouse ‘near empty’ as thousands of gifts needed ‘quickly’ for toy appeal Cleves Primary School – deemed ‘outstanding’…

Protective services students from Barking and Dagenham College participated in their 11th annual campaign, which involved running poppy stalls at Tesco stores in Elm Park, Hornchurch, and in the Rainham area. Level 3 student Eyshila De Carvalho-Contreirad said: “This experience was fantastic. “I really got to challenge myself because I don’t normally speak to people, but this gave me the opportunity to approach them. “Some of the customers even shared stories about the war or explained why they support the cause – for example, because a brother or grandad served. “It made me feel proud to help the charity.” The…

The incident happened in Chapel Close shortly before 12.45pm on December 3. Officers attended and a man in his 30s was found injured and was pronounced dead at the scene. He has since been named as Ruben Nunes from Peterborough. A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on December 4 and remains in custody at this stage. Ruben Nunes was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Chapel Close (Image: Metropolitan Police) A heightened police presence is to be expected in the area over coming days. Det Chf Supt Luke Williams said: “This is a distressing…

Student Josie Wright returned from a Sainsbury’s Local in London when she noticed the £2.40 bag of granola she’d purchased was moving. The 16-year-old initially believed there was a bug trapped inside the Raisin, Nut & Honey granola, before she claims she heard ‘munching and chewing’ sounds. Shocking footage shows oat clusters moving within the sealed bag, accompanied by scratching sounds seemingly coming from the item. Sainsbury’s are investigating after a family filmed the moment their sealed bag of Sainsbury’s granola began MOVING – with ‘a MOUSE inside’. (Image: Kennedy News and Media) Horrified, the teen told her mum Lindsay…

The Home Office funding has been awarded as part of the Winter of Action, a nationwide crackdown on crime and antisocial behaviour. The Council will work with the police, and partners, to introduce a range of crime prevention measures, including installing high-visibility security cameras in known hotspots and removing street furniture to deter offenders from gathering. These measures will be introduced in Croydon town centre, with a particular focus on North End and West Croydon Station – and Thornton Heath. A series of huts, called Safer Croydon Partnership Pods, will also be introduced in crime hotspots, acting as a contact…

Robertson’s Fishing Tackle, in Oxlow Lane, will close on Saturday (December 6) after “increasing pressures” on the business and a “sudden family bereavement”. The shop, which was founded in 1938 and moved to Dagenham in 2002, announced its closure “with great sadness” in a statement on Facebook. The post said: “We’ve come to the end of the line. “Please accept my apologies for the sudden closure, this is due to increasing pressures on the business and sudden family bereavement. “Robbos farewell will be on December 6 so make sure you come down for one last cuppa and chin wag.” READ…