Author: Blake Foster

Blades, who hosted the popular BBC show for seven years before stepping back from the role in 2024, will appear in court next week, police confirmed. A spokesperson for the West Mercia Police said: “Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape.” They told The Sun: “He is due to appear at Telford magistrates’ court on 13 August 2025.” In October 2024, the former The Repair Shop star was charged with engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, after allegations came from his estranged wife, Zbozen. The charge alleges that controlling or coercive behaviour took place in…

Rice to Meet You shares space with two delivery shops in Kingsland Road and brings the East Asian skill of rice baking to the capital. The one-woman business is run by Bliss and started as a delivery-only bakery in April, with the bricks and mortar cafe opening in late July. All of the cakes and desserts are made with finely milled rice flour. (Image: Angel Sun) All her dishes are made with flour made from finely milled rice, but being gluten free is not her primary reason for avoiding wheat flour. She said: “I am not coeliac, but I never eat gluten…

The resourcing team at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) has been shortlisted in the People Team of the Year category at the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Excellence in People Awards 2025. The HPMA Awards recognise achievements in people management, organisational development, and workforce transformation across the UK healthcare sector. Jamie Coates, head of people – resourcing and retention at PAHT, said: “Being shortlisted for this award is a huge honour and a testament to the dedication of our resourcing team. “Over the past year, we’ve worked in collaboration with colleagues across the trust to reduce agency reliance,…

They went from the drawing board at Barking & Dagenham College’s East London Institute of Technology to building the machines before fine-tuning them ready to race. It was all videoed by other students on college media courses right through from the design and assembly stage to the race itself to document the process. “The whole college got involved,” head of engineering Natasha Arazi said. “This was a showcase of our students’ talent, teamwork and heart.” MORE NEWS: Students’ ideas on improving safety for young people hailed at UK finals Students on creative courses designed bodywork, while carpentry trainees made the podium. The race itself was…

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Priory Avenue includes a reception room and a converted loft, offering 1,620 sq ft of internal living space. The property includes a rear garden and is located close to Walthamstow Central and Walthamstow Queen’s Road stations, with Victoria line and Overground services offering links to Liverpool Street. Wooden flooring, cast-iron fireplace, and twin front-facing windows fitted with plantation shutters (Image: The Stow Brothers – Walthamstow) It is also near shops, cafes and parks. Inside, the house features a kitchen with central dining area, green cabinetry, white counters, a breakfast bar, and integrated appliances including a double oven. A…

The historical attraction of Hever Castle is just two hours away from London by car and offers a peaceful step back in time to the Tudor era. The site was once the childhood home to the Tudor Queen Anne Boleyn and even saw Henry VII visit the 125-acre estate. Hever Castle offers an oasis escape from the everyday busy life of London, with endless gardens to explore and even a water maze. You can find out more information via the Hever Castle website.  See if you can find your way out of the maze. (Image: Newsquest/Emilia Kettle) Visit Hever Castle…

Thames21, an environmental charity, has teamed up with partners to address issues like “urban pollution, road run-off, and misconnections” affecting the river. The London Lea Catchment Plan aims to enhance the River Lea’s ecosystem, including its tributaries, in north-east London. The plan focuses on improving water quality, boosting climate resilience, enhancing biodiversity, and “raising awareness of water challenges”. Cody Dock (Image: ©Thames21) Becca Turnpenney, Thames21’s catchment partnership development officer, said: “It is truly inspiring to see so many partners come together in the development of this new catchment plan. “With its targeted actions, this plan will directly tackle the pressing water management challenges we face…

The Met Office has forecast varying weather conditions over the next seven days, with a blend of cloud cover, showers, and sunshine. Monday will be mostly cloudy and breezy, with a few afternoon showers expected. Temperatures will reach a high of 23 °C, with lows around 13 °C. Tuesday will see a slight improvement, with partly sunny skies and less humidity. The morning will be breezy, but conditions will become more pleasant in the afternoon. The mercury will rise to about 23 °C, with lows of 12 °C. Wednesday will see increasing cloudiness, with temperatures peaking at 25 °C and dropping to 15 °C at night.…

The weekly 5k event continues to bring together runners, joggers, walkers, volunteers and supporters from across the borough. Joshua KIERAN was first across the line this week, clocking an impressive 17.33. He was followed by Jamie CUTLER, who finished in 18.55, and Narayan PANTA, who secured third place with a time of 19.14. In the women’s field, Amy CLEMENTS led the way, finishing in 18.48. Rose BAKER took second place with 22.04, while Lucy MILLER finished third in 23.01. A total of 20 participants achieved personal bests at this event. parkrun events rely on community support, and the following volunteers…

Robert Smith started selling used vinyl during the Covid pandemic and soon saw “ridiculous” growth. In a matter of months, Rob found himself on the phone to global music marketplace, Discogs, who had called to let him know he was now one of the UK’s top 30 sellers. After many long days of packing shipments in the morning and listing more vinyl in the evening, the work became more fluid. “I was like a machine,” he said. By 2023, Rob had opened up a record store, Recycle Vinyl in Elland, West Yorkshire – 15 years after he left London. The…