Author: Blake Foster

The incident happened at the Blackheath Easter funfair in Prince Charles Road just before 3.50pm yesterday (April 8). Officers and London Ambulance Service crews attended and treated one person for minor injuries. It is unknown how they sustained their injuries, however, they were discharged at the scene shortly after. Police believe that the majority of those involved had already left the scene before their arrival. There have been several arrests for separate offences, but that the exact arrest figure is unknown at this stage.  Officers arrested multiple people, including on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.…

Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust has submitted plans for an £18 million transformation of the graveyard, where figures including Karl Marx and George Michael are buried, with new visitor facilities and refurbishment of listed buildings. The first phase includes a new gardeners’ building with a staff and public toilet near a raised area called the Mound in the East Cemetery. But Esther Oxford says the two-storey “brutalist-style cement block” should not be built 20 feet from plots sold to mourning families as a private woodland burial spot. The Highgate resident claims the first she knew of the plans was in late March – three months after…

The Channel 4 show is now entering its 25th series, with previous episodes seeing everything from giant curved glass homes to mansions built out of clay and former water towers. Now, more keen builders are ready to take on the task, not for the faint-hearted, as Kevin travels around the UK to see the new builds in Grand Designs. The new series kicked off with Sarah and Howard in Worthing, who built their dream “floating home”.  The idea of leaving her beloved street in Barnet behind left 82-year-old Kathryn desolate.So, she’s come up with an audacious plan to build her new home right next door…

Make It London is a business that takes disused buildings and turns them into spaces for small businesses and local communities. Factory 15 in Linton Road, Barking was set up by Make It in 2022 and is an events venue. Head of marketing at Make It, Bobby Hayward, said that rapper J Hus has used the space as well as Nigerian musician DJ Cuppy. He added Sky Sports has used the venue for filming and most recently, Danny Dyer’s latest film Marching Powder had scenes shot there. Bobby said: “It was a bit slow for the first year in terms of drawing people in and making it a…

Around half of the MV Royal Iris moored near Harrington Way was burning when the fire service was sent around 4.15pm yesterday (April 8). The boat is “arguably the most famous, and loved of all the ferries that have crossed the Mersey over the centuries”, according to local history site ianVisits.(Image: LFB) The boat not only carried thousands of people across the Mersey, but also hosted famous bands like The Searchers, Elvis Costello and Gerry & The Pacemakers. The last band was inspired by the boat to write the song and film Ferry Cross the Mersey. After becoming run-down, the…

The incident happened in Copers Cope Road at the junction of Parkwood just after 5.30pm on April 7. London Ambulance Service crews were called to the scene and found a child injured. They were taken to hospital for treatment where their condition is unknown at this stage. We have contacted Metropolitan Police for further information. A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said: “We were called 5.32pm on Monday 7 April to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Parkwood and Copers Cope Road, Beckenham. “We sent an ambulance crew to the scene. “Our crews treated a child…

The charity PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) claims it “unfairly discriminates” against customers with dairy intolerances or those trying to make more ethical choices. Gail’s, a chain that is expanding rapidly in Britain, charges 40p to 60p extra if customers want oat or soya milk in their coffee or tea. The chain has cafes all over London. With about one in three people in the UK now drinking plant-based milks, other high-street coffee chains tend to offer one – soya – for free, though other dairy-free alternatives such as oat, almond and coconut milk often still come at a cost. Peta has…

In the run up to Easter I tried hot cross buns made by four of the borough’s independent bakeries. With their mix of flour, yeast, dried fruit and spices, they celebrate tradition, creativity and often social responsibility. But which was the best? Best Value: Spence Bakery If you are looking for a traditional spongy hot cross bun that’s great value then Stoke Newington’s Spence Bakery is for you. While most indie bakeries are selling their buns for north of £3, the Spence comes in at just £1.95 without losing any quality. Bigger than an adult’s palm, it is packed with juicy raisins and crunchy orange zests. The cinnamon gives a…

Spring is here and it’s a key time for getting down to some DIY.   Decorating becomes particularly popular in spring and while a new lick of paint may seem a simple DIY task, don’t be complacent when it comes to painting. Decorating disasters can be rife at this time of year and not only add time to your project but can also cost more to put right. Brewers Decorator Centres have some top tips to ensure your next decorating job doesn’t end in disaster…and there’s some savings to be had too with a Brewers DIY or Pro Trade Card Mistake…

The two-week Easter holidays are upon us, which means lots of time to fill if you have children.  Luckily, there are a huge variety of events and activities planned in Havering, many of which are free or less than £5 to take part in. We have rounded up just four of these Easter activities. Things to do in Havering during Easter holidays 2025 Football and basketball in Havering Parks Havering Active, alongside the Metropolitan Police and other local organisations, are running United in Football and Basketball sessions at various parks across the Easter break. This includes sessions at Central Park on April 9, Bosworth…