Archive

  • Looter's mum wins battle to keep her home

    Wandsworth Council has backed down over its plans to evict the mother of jailed looter Daniel Sartain-Clarke. Maite de la Calva, from Chichester Way, Battersea, has been facing the threat of eviction from her council flat after her son was

  • Palace skipper has final goal

    Paddy McCarthy has been through a lot at Crystal Palace, but victory in Cardiff on Tuesday will be the sweetest moment of it all. The Eagles go to Wales for the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final holding a 1-0 advantage and in pole

  • Freedman wants to keep Martin at Palace

    Crystal Palace's manager Dougie Freedman hopes to keep hold of on-loan Norwich City striker Chris Martin after a star performance against Leeds United on Saturday. The 23-year-old put Palace ahead early on in the game before the Eagles were forced to

  • So close for Sutton & Epsom

    Sutton and Epsom were made to pay for five missed kicks as they fell agonisingly short of the first win of the London Division One South season on Saturday. Sutton dominated the home game against second-bottom Thanet Wanderers and scored two tries to

  • Williams waiting on appeal after losing British title

    Leon Williams's camp are waiting to hear if the British Boxing Board of Control will grant their appeal into the Streatham fighter's loss of his British Cruiserweight title last Friday. The 28-year-old was well on the way to success against Shane McPhilbin

  • Big Chill festival cancelled due to Olympics

    The Big Chill festival has been cancelled after organisers blamed a lack of available artists on a clash with the London 2012 Olympics. The cancellation of the Herefordshire event, traditionally held in early August, was announced by Festival

  • Police chase armed robbery suspects on train lines

    Police have been searching for armed robbery suspects on railway lines around New Malden this morning. A Met Police spokesman said a pawnbrokers in the Tooting, Colliers Wood area had been robbed this morning by two men in balaclavas.

  • Croydon fish and chippy named best in the UK

    A father and son-run restaurant has been named the best fish and chippy in the UK. McDermott’s on Featherbed Lane, Croydon, picked up the prize of best restaurant at the Seafish National Fish and Chip Awards 2012 at Riverbank Park Plaza Hotel

  • Free Cakes for Kids

    A new community group has started up in the Sutton area. Free Cakes for Kids UK is a community service to families who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for their child. The cakes are baked and donated by volunteers in the local community with

  • Kingston artist unveils giant doves Olympic design

    Giant doves will soar around the globe when a Kingston lecturer paints on the canvas of British Airway planes to celebrate the Olympics. Pascal Anson’s bird design will decorate the planes after he beat hundreds of entries in the company’s

  • Jimmy Saville's Carowagon up for auction in Weybridge

    Eccentric and charismatic are just two of the adjectives used to describe the late Jimmy Saville. So what better mode of transport to suit the TV personality than his very own customised Carowagon. The bizarre vehicle goes up for auction at Mercedes-Benz

  • History of Esher commons explored at Royston Pike lectures

    Explore the history of Esher Commons at a Royston Pike lecture run by Elmbridge’s countryside estates officer. Dave Page will draw from 20 years’ experience working on the commons to present a talk covering aspects of the natural and social history of

  • 500 sign petition calling for reinstatement of war memorial

    A total of 488 people have signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of a war memorial removed from Epsom Methodist Church in Ashley Road in 2006. Clive Gilbert, a local historian, started the petition last year after discovering the

  • Health workers facing double recommended workload

    Health visitors in Croydon are facing nearly double the number of cases they should. A report by NHS South West London has revealed the huge pressure being put on the service. Health visitors are qualified registered nurse, midwives,

  • Living a sustainable life in old wash house

    A woman from Hackbridge has begun a journey to sustainable living in an 18th century wash house. In August 2011, Georgina Dawkins, 34, moved into a cottage believed to be the washhouse of the grand building known as Hackbridge house.

  • Female priest hangs up her vestments

    One of the UK’s first female priests has hung up her vestments. Reverend Gill Reeves, a campaigner for female equality in the church, held her final service at St Luke’s Church, Whyteleafe on Sunday after 15 years in charge of the parish, as

  • Woman's suicide caused by "gross failures"

    A 50-year-old woman's suicide could have been prevented if mental health nurses had not committed "gross failures", an inquest heard. Julia O' Connor, of Mortlake, hanged herself while she was a patient in Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton

  • Vines gives Robins famous trophy win

    Carshalton Athletic shocked Blue Square Premier Lincoln City 3-1 in their FA Trophy replay on Tuesday night to leave manager Paul Dipre smiling, writes James Barrett. Paul Vines scored a hat-trick to ensure progression after the Robins had drawn 0-0

  • 'We’ll save High Road', say community heads

    Community leaders have dismissed suggestions that Streatham High Road is rapidly deteriorating and have pledged to secure its survival. Politicians, council workers and campaigners have reiterated their support for Streatham High Road after

  • Man taken to hospital after punch up outside pub

    A man was taken to hospital with head injuries on Tuesday after being attacked by a group of five men outside a pub. The incident happened shortly after 10pm at the Holland Tringham pub on Streatham High Road. A spokesman for the London

  • Town hall fraud is 'endemic', say councillors

    Tax evasion, benefit fraud, false accounting and theft – just some of the things Lambeth Council employees and contractors were investigated for in the past two years. Opposition councillors said fraud was “endemic” within the council, while

  • Hundreds back plea to reinstate jailed art student

    A jailed fine arts student expelled for smashing a window during student protests has won backing from his peers to continue his degree. Demonstrators stormed Conservative Party headquarters in Westminster back in 2010, smashing windows and

  • Quartet jailed after riots jewellery theft

    Four men arrested for looting during August's riots have been jailed for a total of 15 years for stealing more than £10,000 worth of jewellery. Azariah Jones, 35, from Wandsworth, Nourdine Erreg, 38, from Mitcham, Lincoln Ebanks, 38, from Lambeth

  • Firefighters called to fight a fire in Mexican restaurant

    Forty firefighters were called to fight a fire which devastated the ground floor of a Mexican restaurant this morning. They were called at 12.30am to the blaze in Cucarachas, Battersea Rise, at the junction of Leathwaite Road. It was

  • Police in stand off with woman claiming to have explosives

    Police engaged in a five-and-a-half hour stand off with a woman claiming to have explosives yesterday. The officers were called to an address in Warham Road, South Croydon, at 4.30pm, and a cordon was put around the building involved.

  • "Lebanese loop" scammers jailed

    Two scam artists who used a Lebanese loop to capture bank cards at an ATM at Putney Bridge station have been jailed for 27 months. Ovidiu Ciobanu,30, from Wood Green, was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting possessing

  • Bank staff foil suspected £4k building con

    A bank clerk helped stop a rogue builder suspected of trying to scam a 94-year-old woman. Lloyds TSB in Central Road, Worcester Park, became suspicious when the elderly woman told a cashier she wanted to withdraw £4,000 cash to pay for wall

  • Police hunt East Croydon cycle thief

    Police are appealing for help in identifying a prolific bike thief. The man has struck five times at East Croydon rail station and detectives have released CCTV images of a man they want to question in connection with the thefts from the racks

  • Is the Beddington Lane incinerator safe?

    A number of studies have linked particles created in incineration to health risks, including cancer and infant mortalities. Among those to oppose it are Friends of the Earth, and the British Society for Ecological Medicine. Companies

  • Secret documents reveal alternative to incinerator

    Secret documents reveal plans to transport household waste outside of south London for disposal were rejected in favour of burning hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish on your doorstep. Confidential papers leaked to the Croydon Guardian

  • What happens now for the Beddington Lane incinerator?

    Viridor is preparing its planning application for the facility, which is expected to be submitted in May. It is hoped public consultation on the proposals could begin as early as mid-February. The leaked document reveals achieving planning

  • Armed robber jailed for cash raids

    A self proclaimed 'role model' who ran a clothing line popular with urban music stars has been jailed for 11 years for a series of armed robberies in south London. Ismail Farouk Abbas, 26, of Danbrook Road, liked to pose with his celebrity

  • Concordia survivor faces uncertain future

    When she was studying musical theatre in Epsom last year Phoebe Jones must have dreamed of being famous one day. But she could not have imagined that six months later she would be headline news around the world after escaping from a box on

  • Quins must tighten up for European quarter final bid

    Accuracy will be the watch word when Quins travel to Connacht on Friday in search of a place in the Heineken Cup quarter finals. A bonus-point win in Ireland - if everything goes according to script elsewhere - should secure a place in the last eight

  • Woman speaks out over eight-year 'living hell'

    A woman has spoken out about her eight years of 'living hell' after being subjected to a torrent of abuse. Maria Lomelimo, 40, has lived at her home in Way Court, Epsom, for eight years and during that time has been burgled, had faeces and

  • Cheers as Surbiton flat plan rejected

    Residents cheered as councillors unanimously rejected plans to demolish garages and build flats in Berrylands. Developers Gillenden Development were thwarted in their plans to build 16 two bedroom flats on South Terrace, Surbiton, at a planning

  • Cyclist knocked down by hit and run driver

    A cyclist who broke six ribs after being knocked down in a hit and run is appealling for information to trace the driver. Craig Hughes, 24, who works at a pharmaceutical company in Epsom, was cycling along Kiln Lane, Epsom on Wednesday, January

  • Last post for Wimbledon sorting office?

    Plans to sell a sorting office have put 200 jobs at risk. Council officers have revealed Royal Mail plans to sell its Wimbledon delivery office – which handles mail for the SW19 and SW20 postcodes – within the next decade. A union spokesman

  • Burglars trick themselves to £20,000 haul

    Burglars stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery from a couple in Sutton. Unknown callers gained entry to a house on Stonecot Close on Tuesday, January 17, between 2.15pm and 2.30pm. A man insisted the residents, who were both in

  • Wizard gets Olympic backing

    There has been a late clamour for the Wizard man of Sutton to be an Olympic torch bearer. A Facebook group has been set up calling for the authorities to consider pagan high priest Conrad Pugsley for the honour. The page, which has been

  • Double blow for Battersea Park Adventure Playground

    Battersea Park Adventure Playground is facing a double blow after Wandsworth Council announced plans to axe staff and replace existing equipment with "bland, risk-free" alternatives. On Friday, the council announced it had found £200,000 to

  • Help available ahead of digital switchover

    Help is at hand for the digital TV switchover in April. Everyone in Sutton will soon receive an information booklet explaining what will happen and when. Between 10am and 4pm the Switchover Scheme information unit will appear outside

  • Performer goes Gaga for Gaga

    A retail manager who is gaga for Lady Gaga is to embark on a new career as her impersonator. Louise Birchmore, 23, won Sky Living's Bigger than Lady Gaga, a show which puts Gaga fans on a strict fitness and weight loss regime for eight weeks

  • Teens help repair iconic mosaic

    Teenagers have thrown themselves into a project to help repair an iconic mosaic inspired by the work of photographic pioneer Eadweard Muybridge. The 15 youngsters, from The Challenge Society, visited the Kingston Environment Centre to bring

  • Quiet night's sleep for Walton at last

    People can enjoy undisturbed sleep once again, now Network Rail has finished overnight works at Walton station. Those living nearby complained of being woken up by loud and continuous bangs on Sunday, January 15. A Gainsborough Court

  • Waitrose records 7% sales increase

    Total sales at Waitrose last week rose by 7.1 per cent on last year. The mixed weather made for a week of polarised shopping trends, with both warm and cold weather products selling well. The milder temperatures in the early part of

  • Social care funding boost

    Thousands of pounds will be spent on social care in Sutton and Merton. The total of £931,110 will allow people to leave hospital earlier and receive better care at home. The money comes from an extra £150m announced by the Coalition