Author: Blake Foster

Police were called soon after 3pm today (August 12) to reports of a person beside the railway line at Wandsworth Common station. Officers found the man close to Balham and are at the scene “working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion”. National Rail reported “major disruption” to Southern, Gatwick Express and Thameslink services. Trains are being cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes and are unable to run to London Victoria. Disruption is expected until 7pm. A BTP spokesperson said: “Officers were called at around 15.10pm today (12 August) to reports of a person trackside at Wandsworth…

The arts and crafts retailer, which operates 115 stores in the United Kingdom, is shutting nine locations in total. Three stores in Bromborough, Stratford upon Avon and Southport closed earlier this month on August 4, 6 and 7 respectively. Six further closures, including the Crayford store at Tower Retail Park Crayford Road Crayford , are expected in September. As part of the process, the company said it is holding individual meetings with staff and considering ways to avoid job losses. It said there are open positions available in other stores, which could offer alternative roles to some employees. The other stores…

Backed by town and parish councils, the sessions are designed to keep young ones entertained during the school holidays. Activities have already taken place in Waltham Abbey, Loughton, Willingale, Ongar, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, and North Weald, with more sessions planned throughout the summer. Two children making and colouring in masks (Image: Epping Forest District Council) Despite recent wet weather, organisers said all events have gone ahead as planned. A recent session in Ongar included mask-making, Duplo, basketball, hula hoops, and other games, along with free bike repairs from Dr Bike. Play in the Park is part of a wider programme…

Bromley Council planning officers threw out the plans earlier this year over fears the proposed helicopter lift on the Cookham Dene estate would harm green belt land. The proposals would have seen a hanger and lift built under the Grade II listed manor house’s grounds, allowing a helicopter to take off after being raised to ground level. The owner of the estate has now launched an appeal against the local authority’s decision, which will be heard by an independent Planning Inspector. Locals were divided over the plans when they were first submitted, with some neighbours fearing that there would be too…

Metropolitan Police officers are manning a cordon in Bloomsbury Way following the incident, which was first reported shortly after 2am this morning (August 12).  The cordon is expected to be lifted later today (Image: Poppy Huggett/Newsquest London) Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were dispatched to the scene alongside London’s Air Ambulance.  Two teenagers were found suffering stab wounds.  Two teenagers were found stabbed along Bloomsbury Way (Image: Poppy Huggett/Newsquest London) READ MORE: Teens rushed to hospital after middle-of-night stabbing in central London Their conditions and ages have not yet been confirmed and it is not clear at this stage whether…

The target was walking to the Elizabeth line platforms at Bond Street around 10pm on July 13. A man tried to grab her shopping bag, but she pulled it back and held on.(Image: BTP) The man then tried to take hold of her handbag before members of the public stepped in, leaving the woman to escape with all her possessions. Detectives have released a picture of a man they think could help with their investigation. Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 391 of…

Paul Dolan, of Mayeswood Road, was arrested on August 6 after being confronted by peadophile hunting group Fleetwood Enforcers. The 40-year-old has since been charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause a child aged 14 to look at an image of sexual activity. He appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (August 7) and did not enter a plea. His case has been sent to Woolwich Crown Court, here he will appear on September 4. Source link

East London as a whole saw a 4.03 per cent increase in reported crime from 14,263 offences in June to 14,839 in July. June saw Tower Hamlets register the most crime in a month so far this year with 3,352. This was the first month in 2025 that Newham had not experienced the highest crime count in the east of the capital. However in July, Newham was back to topping the list with 3,657 reported crimes. There were more than 1,000 cases of theft (1,202) and violence against the person (1,053). Vehicle offences (365) and drug offences (240) were the next top contributors and…

A hoax caller has been jailed after making bomb threats to St Pancras station, the Ritz and other London landmarks.Paul Fisher, of St Peters Path in Oadby, Leicestershire, made calls to numerous police forces on May 5, claiming that he planted bombs across England.Three calls were made to the Metropolitan Police stating that he planted bombs at Heathrow Airport, St Pancras and Scotland Yard.He also made a call to Leicestershire Police stations that there was a bomb the Ritz.Another call was made to West Midlands Police claiming there was a bomb at Birmingham Airport.Lincolnshire Police received two calls from Fisher, in…

Kerry Gray, 37, from Harlow, targeted three men with fake profiles, stolen images, and fabricated social media accounts between 2022 and 2025, building trust before convincing them to send her nearly £12,000. She told victims she was suffering from cancer and invented family illnesses and bereavements to gain sympathy. She also created fake emails from a police officer claiming she had been physically abused. One victim said: “I was targeted by someone who pretended to be someone they were not on a dating app. “At a time when I was vulnerable and seeking connection, this person gained my trust, and…