Author: Blake Foster

The teenager and a 54-year-old man were arrested on today (August 24) on suspicion of arson with intent to danger life and remain in police custody. Officers were called to Indian Aroma restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill around 9pm on Friday (August 22). Of the five injured, two – a man and a woman – remain in a life-threatening condition. Officers are also seeking two other victims they think left the scene before they arrived. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met’s Central Specialist Crime North unit said: “While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues…

Drivers, engineers and controllers at London United and London Transit will walk out on Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1 in a dispute over back pay. Unite the union says members are angry that parts of a new pay deal are not being backdated to December, leaving drivers hundreds of pounds out of pocket. The row follows First Bus buying the companies earlier this year from RATP. Unite also claims London United is trying to change the pay anniversary for some staff and refusing to reinstate shift work premiums. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is underhand and…

Three people are in a life-threatening condition after the suspected arson attack at Indian Aroma in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, at about 9pm on Friday (August 22). CCTV footage seen by the PA news agency appears to show a group of people with their faces covered walk into the restaurant before pouring liquid onto the floor. Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames. Part of the ground floor was damaged by fire, and crews rescued five people from the restaurant. Nine others got out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said. Sayed Bokhari, 39, said he had spoken…

A restaurant in Thornton Heath has applied to serve alcohol into the early hours. Yahso Restaurant, located at 444 Whitehorse Road, has submitted an application to Croydon Council for a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. The application includes permission to serve alcohol, provide late-night refreshment, and play recorded music. If granted, the licence would allow the restaurant to operate from midday to 11.59pm, Monday to Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant would be able to remain open until 2am, and on Sundays until 1am. The full application is available for public inspection at Access Croydon Reception, Bernard…

South London Speaks, written by Stephen P Daly, is an anecdotal record of everyday language between 1950 and 1980. It draws on Stephen’s own memories as well as contributions from long-time residents, family members and friends who recalled the phrases they grew up with. Stephen said: “This book is my love letter to the south London I grew up in. “It’s a tribute to the wit, warmth and rhythm of the people who shaped my early years. “I wanted to preserve the voice of a generation before it disappears.” The book contains a wide variety of expressions, from sharp insults…

Officers were called to King Street, W6, at around 5.40pm on Friday (August 22) after a crash involving a moped and a bicycle. The cyclist, a woman in her 40s, was found with critical injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The moped rider left the area on foot and officers are making enquiries to trace them.  London Ambulance Service said it sent an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer, a clinical team manager and London’s Air Ambulance. The first paramedic arrived in under four minutes. Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with…

With bottles starting from just £5.99, the budget supermarket has a decent range of wine dupes for those seeking top-shelf taste without the top-shelf price.  But, many are special buys, so be quick, and get the last of the summer wine while it’s still in stock.  Like Whispering Angel? Try Chassaux et Fils Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé (£11.99) At around half the price of Whispering Angel (currently £22.50 in Waitrose) this classic rosé is bursting with red berry, watermelon, citrus, raspberry and pear flavours. Fresh, dry and perfectly balanced, the rosé delivers both elegance and flavour, and saves £10.51 (47%) on the…

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a number of recalls, on items sold at some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets and retailers. We have rounded up the recalls you should be aware of. If you have purchased any of the products below, please stop using them immediately, and contact your retailer, or see the full recall notices for more information.  Tesco recall Supermarket brand Tesco has issued an urgent product recall for one of its most popular beauty products. Tesco has told shoppers to “not use” the product after finding that it could pose a serious…

At the end of July, Croydon Council received a planning application which proposed turning the house on 60 Oakfield Road into a house of multiple occupation (HMO). If approved, the house will be converted into an HMO suitable for nine people. The existing basement will be converted into a plant room and used for storage. There will be three single-person rooms on the ground floor, as well as an open-plan kitchen and dining room. The first floor will have a small kitchen of its own and an additional three single-person rooms. All the bedrooms will feature en-suite bathrooms. The application also…

South east London as a whole saw a 2.6 per cent increase in reported crime from 11,752 offences in June to 12,166 in July. Southwark had the highest number of reported offences, with a total of 3,493, which was down slightly from 3,528 in June. Violence against the person accounted for most cases with 1,325 reports, while theft was the next most common with 830 reports. Drug offences saw an increase of 25, rising from 146 to 171, and both public order offences and sexual offences also increased. Burglary, vehicle offences, and robbery all saw a decrease. Lewisham, the smallest borough…