Author: Blake Foster

Under HMRC rules, most cold food, including sandwiches, is zero rated for VAT, but many sweet treats are counted as luxuries, and the 20 per cent levy is added – and must be paid to HMRC by businesses. The £2.80 “game-changing” limited edition Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich is filled with the fruit and light whipped cream cheese on fluffy sweetened bread, the retailer said. And that’s where the issue gets tricky, says Rachel Harris, on her Instagram account accountant_she: “Most food, including sandwiches, is zero rated for VAT, meaning that we as customers don’t pay VAT, and the businesses…

A 15-year-old girl was reportedly raped in St Edwards Way near Cotleigh Road just after 11.35pm on June 21.  An investigation was launched into the incident and a crime scene was put in place. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police told Romford Recorder today (July 1) that they have since conducted a thorough and detailed investigation, including examining CCTV, forensic analysis and witness enquiries. It found that all lines of enquiry have been explored and there is no evidence of a wider risk to the community.  It also added that at this stage they are not seeking to arrest anyone in connection…

The fire broke out in Marinefield Road, Sands End, a residential area next to the Thames just after 9am on June 27. The woman escaped the flat before two fire engines and around 10 firefighters arrived. She was treated by the London Ambulance Service but later died in hospital. An hour later the fire was under control, having damaged part of the three-roomed home. The cause of the fire under investigation by the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police Service. An LFB spokesperson said: “Sadly, a woman has died following a fire in Sands End, Fulham. “Two fire engines and…

Health experts have revealed beers like Guinness, Stella Artois Unfiltered, and London Porter Dark Ale could all have benefits when it comes to your gut health. Researchers have been accumulating evidence to suggest that certain beers could help improve the diversity of species in the gut microbiome. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, from 2022, followed 22 men who drank a little more than half a pint of beer every day for four weeks and found as a result, they had better intestinal health, The Telegraph reported. Health experts have now conducted a review of experiments in Frontiers in Nutrition and…

Zack Hudson and Whitney Dean were a prominent couple on the show who planned to get married before Whitney discovered her partner’s unfaithfulness. Things famously came to a head at their wedding ceremony when Britney revealed Zack had cheated on Whitney. A furious Whitney then attacked Lauren and Zack before storming out of the registry office, according to Digital Spy. EastEnders fans slam ‘jarring’ former couple who ‘weren’t a match’ on the BBC show Taking on the EastEnders official Reddit page, the original poster asked: “Did anyone actually like Zack and Whitney being together?” Fans of the BBC soap opera were quick to…

The authority is being urged to retract its submission of interest for a new town with 10,000 homes around West Horndon and the edges of Basildon, Thurrock, and Brentwood. The council’s submission of interest in the project comes just as Rochford Borough Council pulled its support for a similar project for a new town between Southend-on-Sea and Shoeburyness. Both plans follow a call for locations by the government’s New Towns Taskforce, which was set up to find and advise ministers on appropriate locations for large-scale housing projects. Brentwood Borough Council has already given the go-ahead to another project — the Dunton Hills Garden Village — which is…

The market, on Francis Road, launches on July 5 and will be open every Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. The council has chosen KERB, which runs food markets in London and beyond, to operate the market. This will be KERB’s first venture to offer fresh fruits, vegetables, and other produce. The market will feature 10 produce stalls, with half of them belonging to Waltham Forest businesses. MORE NEWS: London mayor chooses Leyton as new ‘al fresco dining hotspot’ The stalls will offer a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheese and meats, baked goods, and more. There will…

Bernie Taylor and her cousin Felix Baker will be leaving Albert Square nearly a decade on from their “controversial” debut. It was revealed earlier this year that actors Clair Norris and Matthew James Morrison would be leaving the programme because of major changes being made by new boss Ben Wadey. According to The Metro, Claire said of the pair’s exit: “It’s exciting. It’s an exciting time. Also very dramatic. You’ll have to stay tuned.” EastEnders stars axed from the BBC show after eight years BBC viewers recently discovered that Bernie has been stealing from the Panesar family after being left in control of their business by Nish. After…

The Vestry House Museum, in Walthamstow, is undergoing improvement work to make it more accessible and sustainable. The site will feature a café, gardens, workspaces, and a refurbished museum area. Waltham Forest Council is working on the project and aims to make this a “welcoming destination” for the community. The council also hopes the improvements will make the “well-loved cultural and heritage site” a “crucial part of local infrastructure” that is “powered by community decision-making”. The work will also remove gas boilers and replace them with air-source heat pumps, improving the environmental performance of the site. More improvements like window glazing,…

Hundreds of people in the crowds are often spotted nibbling on the delicious, bright red, juicy fruits when watching the likes of icons Emma Raducanu in action. For years, Wimbledon strawberries have been provided by Hugh Lowe Farms, farmed approximately over 500 hectares just 31 miles away in Mereworth. The family business delivers the strawberries fresh each morning of the championship over the two weeks. @wimbledon just gonna leave this here 🍓 #wimbledon #strawberry #random #tennis ♬ original sound – 𝐎𝐑𝐀 How many strawberries are eaten at Wimbledon? The Wimbledon website reveals: “On average there are 200,000 portions of strawberries and cream…