Author: Blake Foster

South Western Railway services have been majorly disrupted by a signal failure since around 7am today (July 21).  Trains running to and from the station may be delayed by up to 60 minutes or cancelled. Major disruption is expected until the end of the day. Passengers are advised by National Rail to not to travel from this station until further notice. Services in and out of London Waterloo will be subject to cancellations, platform changes and major service alteration. Any unused tickets valid for today  will be valid for travel tomorrow (July 22).  Commuters can alternatively use their tickets on the…

Laboratory confirmed measles cases in the borough have reached 24 as of the end of June, according to the latest government data. This puts Newham sixth highest out of all the upper tier local authorities in England, and second highest in London, with only Hackney recording more cases. Birmingham – which has a population of more than 1.1 million people and where a measles outbreak initially started in late 2023 – has recorded just two more cases than Newham this year. Across London, the majority of measles cases have been seen in children aged one to fou, followed by the five to 10 age…

Gascoigne, 58, was said to have been discovered by a friend at his Dorset home on Friday evening (July 18). He is reportedly recovering now and is expected to be in hospital for treatment for a few days. Steve Foster, a friend of Gascoigne’s and his driver, who found him, told The Sun newspaper: “He would like to thank everyone for the support he’s received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best.” Happy birthday to former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/O5ROmiyuVZ — England (@England) May 27, 2025 He added: “Paul…

Angela Alvarez, who studied nail art at Harlow ACL Essex, received the Progression and Achievement Award at ACL Essex’s annual awards ceremony in Chelmsford on July 10. Angela was praised for her “outstanding” work and commitment to helping others, including supporting classmates by creating group chats and helping with language transcription. She also won her class Nail Art award for producing results and using techniques beyond course requirements. Cllr Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for education excellence, lifelong learning and employability, said: “Each nominee has shown dedication, resilience, and a passion for learning that inspires. “From family learning…

Patients across the borough have helped to rank their local doctors’ as part of the annual GP Patient Survey for NHS England.  The survey asks participants for their feedback on several points, including the ease of phone contact, whether they get to see their preferred GP and more.  Rainham & Upminster Medical Centre has received the worst patient rating.  The surgery, in Upminster Road South, saw 29.49 per cent of respondents report that they have had an overall negative experience.  In particular, patient feedback highlighted that ease of contact via the website and ease of contact with the GP via the…

Regular readers of these wildlife jottings might recall how I’ve bemoaned the paucity of entries on my butterfly list this year. It rarely advances much past 20 in any year but it seemed a tad disappointing to be stuck on just 11 species as I prepared to tear off the June calendar page. Then a decision to go on a butterfly expedition paid handsome dividends. Wild Things: Can you help with this year’s Big Butterfly Count? Friday, June 27 started warm and got a whole lot hotter. My pal Jim and I headed for the RSPB nature reserve at Northward…

The authority is setting up shop in the Harringay district for those who want to talk about things that get their hackles rising — which also include housing repairs, anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, street lighting and pot-holes in the road. Police and council enforcement officers are out on street patrol all week Monday to Friday, from July 21 to 25. An ‘engagement hub’ is being set up in Hermitage Gardens for two hours each day to talk about issues with council staff. The council’s homelessness and waste enforcement teams are at the arena in Finsbury Park Avenue on Monday, from 2pm…

Commissioner of TfL, Andy Lord, admitted that graffiti has increased on the Central and Bakerloo lines in recent months in a report due to be presented to the transport body’s board next week. He said that every week TfL was currently removing more than 1,000 pieces of graffiti on the Bakerloo line and more than 2,000 tags on the Central line. Across the Tube network, one act of graffiti is removed every 11 minutes on average. “We always remove graffiti from our network as quickly as we can, with offensive graffiti removed as a matter of urgency,” he said. “Our approach…

Commissioner of TfL, Andy Lord, admitted that graffiti has increased on the Central and Bakerloo lines in recent months in a report due to be presented to the transport body’s board next week. He said that every week TfL was currently removing more than 1,000 pieces of graffiti on the Bakerloo line and more than 2,000 tags on the Central line. Across the Tube network, one act of graffiti is removed every 11 minutes on average. “We always remove graffiti from our network as quickly as we can, with offensive graffiti removed as a matter of urgency,” he said. “Our approach…

The Grade II-listed building, which dates back to the 1700s, has served various roles over the centuries, including as a manor house and a military fort. It is a striking a building set within the leafy surrounds of Sidcup Place with grand staircases, high ceilings, and large sash windows. The building offers a sense of scale and presence rarely found in local pubs. Following a major refurbishment, The Star is positioning itself as a food-led pub and events venue, while keeping one foot firmly planted in its heritage. Pete, who also runs the Kings Arms in Bexleyheath, told the News…