Author: Blake Foster

Aalia Mahomed has been described as a “ray of sunshine” by her family following her death near the King’s College campus just after 11.40pm on March 18. The 20-year-old was among three people injured when a van hit into a group of people. According to her Linkedin, she previously attended Wallington High School for Girls in Sutton before studying at King’s College. Professor Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor and President of King’s College, has shared a heart-breaking tribute to the second-year student in BSc in Physics & Philosophy in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences and Faculty of Arts & Humanities…

The closures, which began yesterday (March 19), are part of essential highway maintenance works carried out by the council. The roads affected are: Albany Road in Chislehurst Chelsfield Road in Orpington Court Downs Road in Beckenham East Street in Bromley Elmfield Road in Bromley High Street in Bromley Market Square in Bromley Prestons Road in Hayes Station Road in Orpington West Common Road in Hayes Widmore Road in Bromley Woodland Way in West Wickham The London Borough of Bromley announced the closures, stating that the order has a maximum duration of 18 months. Until the works are completed, vehicles will…

Louis Wayne Martin, 36, of Baron Road, died on February 7, East London Coroner’s Court heard. An inquest was opened into his death by coroner Nadia Persaud on Thursday (March 20). Coroner’s officer Jean Smyth said Mr Martin “was on holiday in Marbella” when he was “involved in a road traffic collision”. “He was the driver of the car,” said Mrs Smyth. “It appears from the scene that he clipped a roundabout.” She described Mr Martin as a single man, born in Barking, whose occupation was “business owner”. Companies House lists him as the former director of towing company LVM 24/7 Recovery Ltd.…

The festival, which began in 2023, saw an additional day of films, musical performances, and stylised photoshoots for attendees. Filmmakers from the US, Spain, and Denmark flew in to represent their films at the event, held on March 15 and 16. It took place at the new Lumiere cinema in the Mercury Shopping Centre, which has replaced Premiere Cinemas. Festival director Carrie Kendall said: “It’s amazing to see people from all over the world creating such bold queer art. “I feel incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to share it on the big screen in Romford. MORE NEWS: ‘Long overdue’ plan for Romford town…

Fire crews were called to the incident near junction 5 for the A21 near Sevenoaks around 7am today (March 20). Four fire engines attended and crews fought to put out the fire in the large vehicle. The fire was only in the front part of the cab and crews “worked hard” to stop it from spreading to the tanker. The fire resulted in huge delays on the anticlockwise M25 as the link roads to the A21 were closed. The video taken from a car travelling in the opposite direction shows a tower of flame and a thick plume of smoke…

The family of a woman who died after being hit by a van in central London have described her as a “bright, kind and beautiful soul”. Aalia Mahomed, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene at the Strand, near the King’s College London campus, on Tuesday. A 27-year-old woman remains in hospital in a serious condition and a 23-year-old man, who was also injured, has been discharged, the Metropolitan Police said. In a statement, Aalia’s family said: “Aalia was a bright, kind and beautiful soul, who brought joy and laughter to everyone. “She was a ray of sunshine in our…

A group of around half a dozen people in the public gallery threw leaflets, shouted and sang during the demonstration at noon on Thursday. The House was adjourned for a short time as the demonstrators were escorted out. Protester Lucy Porter, 50, a primary school teacher from Leeds, told the PA news agency she was “campaigning for a house of the people”. Lucy Porter, 50, a primary school teacher from Leeds, poses for a photo outside the House of Lords, where she disrupted proceedings to demand its abolition. (Image: Nicholas Lester/PA) On the Lords, she said: “It’s a symbol of everything that’s outdated. “We don’t have a functioning democracy in…

Police were called to reports of an altercation in Church Road at around 9.30pm yesterday (March 19). Officers attended and a man was found with a head injury and taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition. Two men, 25 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. Church Road remained closed until around 9am the next morning (March 20) with many residents unsure of the reason. The London Ambulance Service was also contacted for details. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday, 19 March police were called to reports of an altercation on Church Road, E10 at…

Asda Express, in South Street, previously applied to deliver alcohol until 3am – despite the shop closing at 11pm. Havering Council’s licensing sub-committee was set to discuss the application at a meeting next Monday (March 24). However, the meeting has now been cancelled and a spokesperson for the council told the Recorder this is because “Asda withdrew the application”. Asda confirmed that this is the case, but have not commented further on the reasons behind this withdrawal. READ MORE: Upminster chippy restaurant applies for music and alcohol licence The express store was hoping to vary its current premises licence to allow alcohol to be…

FixMyStreet is a website where the public can submit complaints about problems in their neighbourhood. The site then sends these to the appropriate local authority. Here are some of the most regularly reported issues in Dagenham since the turn of the year. A total of five separate reports were made on potholes across Dagenham from January to March so far. These came in Chequers Lane, Ballards Lane, Oval Road and Ripple Road. The most recent report came on March 10, where someone noted a “big pothole” in Ripple Road and pleaded for it to be fixed. They added: “I was riding my motorcycle at 50 mph when I met that pothole – my bike and I…