Author: Blake Foster

All draw game sales and prize claims will be paused in shops across the UK from 11pm on Saturday night following the Lotto and Thunderball draws until “late Monday morning”, operator Allwyn said. The National Lottery website and app will also be down over the same period. Why will National Lottery be down for 36 hours this weekend? The National Lottery will be down this weekend for 36 hours so that the biggest technology upgrade in the game’s 31-year history can take place. 📣 Important announcement 📣 pic.twitter.com/WsmGilkYpf — The National Lottery (@TNLUK) July 30, 2025 Can you still buy…

The 43-year-old was finally brought to justice on Monday, July 28, when he was jailed for a year at Bexley Magistrates’ Court.  Manton, of Samuel Street in Woolwich, is a “prolific offender” who stole to feed his substance abuse problems.  His latest spree began at Sainsbury’s on Bexleyheath Broadway on February 6 when he stole £356 from the till.  Later that week he stole £1,000 cash from M&S in Kensington and Chelsea then £600 cash from M&S in Barnet.  He went on to target M&S stores on Sutton High Street and Moorgate as well as Sainsbury’s stores in Brentwood and…

The venue, confirmed by Lewisham Council as Doki’s Lounge at 490 New Cross Road (formerly Star & Garter), was ordered to close after police and licensing officers uncovered serious safety failings. This included two reported sexual assaults inside the premises. In one case, a survivor reported being intoxicated and lost in Deptford during early hours in July. They said they were approached by someone who took them into the nightclub, where they were given alcohol and introduced to individuals who later sexually assaulted them in the toilets at around 4am. The club was only licensed to operate until 1.30am. However,…

Cineworld Harlow in Queensgate is screening a selection of films from various genres. Showings include Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Superman, The Salt Path, Sitaare Zameen Par, and Harold and the Purple Crayon. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, an action-packed thriller, is being shown on Saturday at 12pm, 3.30pm, 7pm, and 10.30pm, and on Sunday at 12pm, 3.30pm, and 7pm. The film stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell and Simon Pegg. A fresh take on the iconic superhero, Superman, is scheduled for 1pm, 4.30pm, and 8pm on both days. This action-adventure film features David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Frank…

NHS data from May has revealed the number of patients waiting for more than 28 days for an appointment in each Havering GP surgery. The NHS website said: “The aim is to inform users, who range from a healthcare professional to an inquiring citizen, about appointments within primary care.” The data presented only contains information which was captured on the GP practice and PCN appointment systems. The Upstairs Surgery in Chadwell Heath Health Centre (Image: Google) The Upstairs Surgery in Ashton Gardens, Chadwell Heath topped the list with a reported 345 patients waiting longer than 28 days for an appointment with a doctor.…

Once rated as ‘requires improvement’, Farnham Green Primary School has shown significant improvements in all areas, with the latest Ofsted inspection conducted in June 2025 suggesting it may soon achieve an ‘outstanding’ judgement. Inspectors described Farnham Green, run by Strive4 Academy Trust, as “warm and welcoming” with “high aspirations” for every pupil. They commended the school’s “exceptionally well-sequenced curriculum” and noted that behaviour is “excellent” throughout. The school joined Strive4 Academy Trust following its 2017 inspection, and the trust’s focus on high-quality teaching and leadership development has been credited as a key factor in driving improvement. Head of school John Lee, who…

It comes after footage online showed the far-right activist walking by a guy lying on the ground at the station shouting, “he come at me”. Police were called to St Pancras on Monday (July 28) just after 8.40pm to reports of an assault. A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries, which since are not thought to be life threatening. Since then, police said that a suspect, a 42-year-old from Bedfordshire, boarded a flight out of the country. Videos have been shared appearing to show Robinson boarding an airport shuttle in Tenerife. @theomzv   ♬ original sound – Rowvery…

Officers received reports shortly before July 30, detailing that a woman had given birth the same day at around 8am in the Billet Road underpass.  A witness reported she had been alerted to sounds of distress and stayed to aid with the woman with the birth.  She remained with the woman until around 4pm, when the mother and her newborn were picked-up by two people in a blue transit van.  According to the Metropolitan Police, they believe the missing woman is rough sleeping.  She is described as white, in her mid-30s, with long blonde hair.  She was seen wearing a…

Barking and Dagenham Council has approved plans to demolish Barking Football Supporters Club, in Movers Lane, and build a four-storey block of flats. The application – submitted by Stanford Eatwell Architecture on behalf of Sarah Bradley – includes nine new homes, consisting of four one-bed flats, three two-bed flats and two three-bed flats. Each flat will have its own balcony, as well as a shared outdoor space to the southeast of the site. READ MORE: Building works spotted on housing development at site of former Barking pub No car parking spaces are proposed as part of the plans, and therefore the dropped…

The body of Darren John Smyth, 47, of Martin Kinggett Gardens in Dagenham, was discovered on May 27. An inquest opening at East London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday (July 30) heard Mr Smyth, born in Rush Green, had “suffered with drug and alcohol addiction for a number of years”. But, said coroner’s officer Jean Smyth, he was believed to have “been sober for three years”. Shortly before he died, she said, Mr Smyth reported “some mental health issues and also had some chest pain”. “Sadly, Mr Smyth was found deceased at approximately 1am on the 27th of May 2025 at…