Author: Blake Foster

Officers were alerted to a large group of youths on Blackheath Common at around 3.30pm today (April 8).  A road closure was put in place between Shooters Hill Road and Montpelier Road along Prince Charles Road.  Police remain at the scene dispersing youths but believe the majority of those involved have already been cleared earlier in the afternoon.  There have been several arrests for separate offences, but that the exact arrest figure is unknown at this stage.  Arrests on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a public space are among those that were made, and the situation continues…

The company confirmed that it is offloading 108 crown branches, which are currently directly owned and run by the company, including 36 in London. The process could see the sites taken over by other businesses, while others could face closure as franchises are moved to different premises. It is understood the Post Office expects the majority of these branches to continue running at their current sites, but that some of these could face closure as franchises are moved to different premises, affecting staff. Hundreds of people are opposed to the closure of  the branch in Hampstead High Street. Customers described the plans…

The East London Tabernacle Baptist Church (ELT) in Mile End was at risk of closure due to the state of the building, according to the National Churches Trust. It added the church, which is used by around 550 people regularly and visited by 4,500 people each year, had concrete lintels in such poor condition that they had fractured. A spokesperson said this posed a risk of falling onto users of the building, which hosts a homeless night shelter, youth clubs, and a parent and toddler group. Cracked concrete lintels at East London Tabernacle reportedly posed a risk to visitors  (Image: W.A.Mattis) The fractures…

The decision was approved on March 31 by Councillor Ahsan Khan, deputy leader for housing and regeneration. The council will use Right to Buy receipts to fully fund the purchase of the homes at Fellowship Square in Walthamstow. A report said that this is thanks to temporary rule changes, allowing councils to cover costs with these funds until March 2026. The 53 homes in Block C include seven one-bedroom homes, 14 two-bedroom homes for three people, 26 two-bedroom homes for four people, and six three-bedroom homes for five people. MORE NEWS: Controversial crematorium plan backed again A valuation found the units’…

The AA conducted a survey amongst its members, allowing the motoring experts to come up with a list of the top 10 worst motorways from across the country. As part of the survey, respondents were asked to rate motorway congestion and the condition of the roads. The survey results have seen the M25 hold the crown for the worst motorway in the UK for another year. M25 named worst motorway in the UK The M25 first opened to the public in 1986, is 117 miles long, and carries around 200,000 vehicles every day, making it the UK’s busiest motorway. Describing the M25,…

The Good Food Guide is compiling thousands of votes for its list of the UK’s top 100 independent neighbourhood eateries in partnership with Square. It has released the 13 restaurants in the mix to take the title of Britain’s Best Local Restaurant 2025 – with Cinder in St John’s Wood in strong contention. The Guide urges diners to give their favourite dining spot the recognition it deserves, saying “A best local restaurant is likely to be a casual kind of place, with excellent cooking using local suppliers and a brilliantly warm welcome for whoever walks through the door.” “It’s the kind of restaurant that draws you back time and…

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were alerted to a large group of youths on Blackheath Common at around 3.30pm today (April 8).  A road closure was put in place between Shooters Hill Road and Montpelier Road along Prince Charles Road.  Police remain at the scene dispersing youths but believe the majority of those involved have already been cleared earlier in the afternoon.  A spokesperson for the Met has confirmed that there have been several arrests for separate offences, but that the exact arrest figure is unknown at this stage.  Arrests on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a…

You can see what he means when you visit the Highgate restaurant, which opened in the High Street last August on the former site of Cote Brasserie. Spread around upmarket dormitory towns in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, Lussmanns serves British and European classics like shepherd’s pie, fishcake, and onglet steak in relaxed but stylish surroundings. Lussmans took over the former site of Cote Brasserie in Highgate last August. (Image: Lussmans) Think old-fashioned attentive service and white napkins, but no dress code and kids are welcome. There are more adventurous dishes on the fish-forward menu, with sustainability high on the agenda. Indeed Lussmann’s styles itself a “sustainable kitchen” and thought and care goes…

The theme park is marking the milestone by giving away 100 fast track passes to the best-dressed little vampires and their families on Friday, April 11. The passes, worth £60 each, will allow the winners to skip the queues for the park’s top rides, including Croc Drop, Mandrill Mayhem, and the Vampire itself. The Vampire, which first opened in 1990, was Europe’s first suspended roller coaster and has thrilled millions of visitors with its daring drops and swooping turns. Howard Ebison, divisional director at Chessington World of Adventures, said: “Vampire is one of those roller coasters that everyone knows and…

Elaine Peat, from Welling, had been friends with Carol Cue for over 50 years and said she treated her “like a sister”.  Elaine said she felt “numb” when she discovered that Cue had been stealing priceless keepsakes from her jewellery box including a ring which had belonged to her dead brother.  Cue then revealed she had pawned many of the items and had spent the money whilst staying at Elaine’s holiday home in France.  Cue, 75, of Rochester Way, pleaded guilty to theft and narrowly avoided being sent to prison by a judge who described her actions as “mean and despicable”. …