Author: Blake Foster

Junaed Dar, 47, arrived at Heathrow Airport three hours before his shift as airport security manager to meet two drug mules in 2019. Wearing his security uniform, Dar, of Randolph Road, Slough, drove an airport vehicle to Terminal 2B to meet Michael Williams, 39, and Jessica Waldron, 38.(Image: NCA) The couple had boarded a flight from Bogota, Colombia, with the blocks of the class A drug in their checked-in baggage. They did not know that Colombian police, working with the NCA, had searched their bags in Bogota Airport and replaced the blocks of cocaine with blocks of wood. Once the…

It’s been over a year since Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) announced seven new stores would be opening at Croydon’s Centrale and Whitgift shopping centres. In July 2024, URW confirmed the signing of several new leases in the town centre, including stores such as Adara Beauty, Dressmode, Maflora, Pinball Republic, Rebel Clothing, Stacks, and an expansion from local fashion entrepreneur Flora Lyimo. As of August 2025, only two of the seven stores — Adara Beauty and Stacks — have opened their doors. The other five retailers announced have yet to launch, with no confirmed opening dates. The delayed openings come after ongoing regeneration…

Earlier this year, a planning application was submitted to Sutton Council to increase the number of rooms in the HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) at 37 Longfield Avenue in Hackbridge. The HMO currently has seven residents across seven rooms, with plans to expand to nine rooms and residents. To accommodate the extra residents, the application proposes converting the ground-floor dining room and reception area into two new en-suite bedrooms. According to the planning statement, the dining room would become Room 8, while the reception would be turned into Room 9. The developers say that the overall objective of the development is…

The message will come as part of a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts system by the government and mobile network operators. Emergency alerts are a UK government service that warns people when there’s a danger to life nearby. Should you charge your phone overnight? Gov.uk says: “In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe.” Alerts will only be sent by emergency services, government departments, agencies and public bodies. They will usually alert people to things like sever flooding, fires or extreme weather. The last test of the service took place on April 23,…

Plans put forward by the council’s development company, BexleyCo, to repurpose the former Bexley maternity hospital were narrowly passed by the local authority’s planning committee last Thursday (July 31). In total, 121 new homes will be provided on the site, with the hospital building refurbished and three new blocks of flats built as well as a row of terraced houses. But opposition Labour councillors have criticised the number of affordable homes that will be built as a “derisory amount”. Most homes will be for private sale, with just 18 shared ownership flats qualifying as affordable housing. An independent viability assessment…

A new rule which came into force earlier this year requires dogs to be on leads at all times within the grounds, but Brent Council had been considering a secure space for dogs to be exercised off-lead. The council implemented a total ban of dogs off leads in Old Paddington Cemetery in Kilburn in March as part of a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The rule was brought in to tackle a number of complaints about dog behaviour on the site, including defecating on the graves of loved ones. The decision not to move ahead with the plan was…

As part of the nationwide celebration of 200 years of train travel, an exhibition space has been created on the upper level, next to the Leon restaurant. The photography exhibition, created in partnership with Landscape Photographer of the Year, features 17 images of railways from around the country. Lady Linda Reich with the Kindertransport section of the exhibition (Image: Network Rail) The display, titled Lens on the Line, is the first ever Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibition dedicated to the railway, with photographs selected from previous years of the competition. An exhibition on the history of Liverpool Street station…

Yossi Cohen who was director of the intelligence agency from 2016-2021 will be at the JW3 in Hampstead in September to publicise his memoir. In what will be his only UK event, he will be in conversation with Jake Wallis Simons to talk about The Sword Of Freedom: Israel, Mossad, and the Secret War. In it he reveals details of Israel’s response in the face of war and threats in the Middle East, and how he played a pivotal role in shaping his country’s modern defence strategy. MOST READ Sharing personal stories along with the country’s history, the book is a rare glimpse into how Israel has built a cutting-edge military and intelligence power.…

The construction of Epping’s new energy-efficient leisure centre is almost complete. Roofing is 95 per cent finished, with the green roof to go, as is 90 per cent of the external building. Progress of the health and fitness gym (Image: © Epping Forest District Council) Both pools have passed all necessary testing, and focus now shifts to connecting the main power and water. The new centre will be the district’s most energy-efficient and will feature air-sourced heat pumps and digital technology. Nearly complete squash courts (Image: © Epping Forest District Council) It will house two swimming pools, a nearly complete…

In June, Camden Council revealed its full plans for the redevelopment of West Kentish Town estate in a new planning application. The local authority plans to knock down all the buildings on the estate, which currently comprises 316 flats. These would be replaced by 11 new blocks, the tallest of which would be 15 storeys high. Some living near the estate and local community groups have raised concerns over the height of the new towers. Queen’s Crescent Neighbourhood Forum claims people are “deeply concerned” about the planning application. It said: “Tall buildings are visually-dominant and can cast a pall over the…