By community correspondent Gaby Mills Over the past few weeks, thousands of secondary school students have travelled to various rural locations in order to complete weekends of walking, camping and training for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh
The family of two Tooting sisters who were murdered in an arson attack on their home have described the horror of the fire and the devastating impact the double murder has had on their family. Maleha Masud, 15, and Nabiha, 21 were killed
A council officer dogged by controversy in his last job has been appointed as Reigate and Banstead Council’s new chief executive. John Jory resigned from his post as chief executive of Mid Sussex District Council after he was crticised for
Peterborough United’s Toumani Diagouraga will not be heading back to Griffin Park unless Posh drop their asking price, says boss Andy Scott. The 22-year-old starred for the Bees on-loan from London Road last season and was a large reason behind
The businessman who resigned today from the board of NHS London after health secretary Andrew Lansley fulfilled promises to “rip up” plans to re-organise hospitals and build polyclinics, has denied falling out with politicians. Gerry Acher, who lives
Smoke rolled down the Thames last night when a houseboat caught fire just off the Battersea Park bank. Firefighters from Battersea station rushed to the scene at around 8pm when passers by reported flames ripping through the vessel.
The businessman who resigned today from the board of NHS London after health secretary Andrew Lansley fulfilled promises to "rip up" plans to re-organise hospitals and build polyclinics, has denied falling out with politicians. Gerry Acher, who lives
Disillusioned with jazz singing, Gill Manly packed up and left the circuit in 1999, writes Catherine Shannon. During eight years away from the industry she went on a pilgrimage to India, sang to the Dalai Lama, ran a vegetarian kitchen for refugees
A motorcylist was injured after colliding with a car in Clapham last night. The crash happened at about midnight at the junction of Clarence Avenue and Clapham Common South Side. The driver of the car, described as a young man, suffered
So the close season is in full swing, giving Brentford’s hardworking players the chance to recharge their batteries, either by putting up their weary feet or by chasing totty in Magaluf. You would think that, like the Bees players, I too am deserving
Balham laundrette owner, Lucinda Belle is saying farewell to dirty undies and hello to stardom as she prepares for an appearance at Hampton Court Palace Festival. Belle was spotted by Fearne Cotton playing the harp and singing backing vocals for Robbie
As regular readers of my bar room dispatches will know the Kingston riverside is not my favourite place, but Pubspy is an intrepid old soak. Yes, that’s right, I girded my liver once again and found another of the royal borough’s hostelries on the banks
A Chessington children's charity has launched a recycling appeal to turn old mobile phones and printer cartridges into funds. Jigsaw4u is calling for items headed for the bin, instead of money donations. Rob Morton from the Recycling
The Kew Bridge eco-village is no more. Bailiffs today descended on the former Scottish Widows site, in Brentford, at about 7.45am to boot out squatters – but one eco-warrior was clearly not ready to leave. In a final act of defiance,
Drama students at ACS Cobham took part in a festival on Wednesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 13, where they performed pieces focusing on the United Nations Millennium Goals. The performances, highlighting issues such as gender equality, the
Boasting grand properties of the rich and famous, surrounded by expanses of green open spaces, Elmbridge appears an idyllic place to live. However, this week the borough has been ranked third worst place in the UK for energy efficiency.
An amateur band who split up 23 years ago have been given a second shot at stardom after making to the final three of a national competition. The Touch, who describe their music as ‘Frankie Goes to Hollywood meets Squeeze’, believe their biggest
A mouse-infested supermarket and the restaurant next door have been fined more than £10,000 following raids by council environmental health investigators. Sapna Cash and Carry and the neighbouring Swad Restaurant in London Road, Thornton Heath
Newly elected Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell has been voted in to one of the Conservative party’s most powerful backbench positions. The 38-year-old was among five new MPs to oust more experienced Tories from the executive of the 1922 Committee
A jilted 15-year-old has been found guilty of the double murder of his girlfriend and her sister. Akmol Miah, from Thornton Heath, torched the Tooting home of Maleha Masud, killing her and elder sister Nabiha, 21, who was engaged to be married
A long-serving star of musical theatre in Wimbledon is preparing to for her grand finale. Dianne Norton, who is stepping down as chairwoman of the Wimbledon Light Opera Society, is hoping to leave on a high as she oversees one of the society
A Polish-born Kingston schoolgirl has been praised for overcoming her language difficulties to win a national fashion award. Fourteen-year-old Julia Zajac, who goes to Teddington School, has won the London College of Fashion’s annual jewellery
A pair of Vietnamese immigrants have appeared in court charged with running a cannabis factory in New Malden, with one demanding to be sent back to his homeland. Kingston police raided a three bedroom house in Barnsbury Close on the morning
A great-great-grandmother from Sutton will be celebrating her 100th birthday tomorrow. Daisy Ridge, from Belsize Court, Burnell Road, was born on May 28, 1910. One of 12 children born to George and Elizabeth Mew, she is the only surviving sibling
A second defendant has been found guilty of murdering two sisters who died in a fire at their Tooting home. Shihabuddin Choudhury, 20, was found guilty of murder and attempted murder alongside his friend Akmol Miah, a jilted 15-year-old from
A man stabbed to death in a home for vulnerable people has been described as a shy and quiet father of two. Robert Lewis, 49, was murdered at a property in Cheam Road on May 4. His killer, Adrian Johnson, 27, was a schizophrenic living at the
A Lambeth councillor has resigned after he was arrested on suspicion of downloading indecent images from the internet. Former Tulse Hill ward councillor Toren Smith's home in Lilford Road, Camberwell, was raided on Friday by officers from the
Mums and their children descended on Streatham Common on Friday for a protest picnic against plans to house a temporary ice rink there. Some 200 parents and children, linked to the Hands Off Our Common campaign, visited the proposed site for
A beauty salon with branches in Balham and Tooting has scooped a top prize at a business awards ceremony. Independent mindbodysoul won in the Best Business for Marketing category the annual South London Business awards last week. Helen
Nick Carle has left Crystal Palace and joined Sydney FC on a free transfer. The midfielder was former manager Neil Warnock's biggest signing having cost £1m from Bristol City two years ago but never reached the heights expected of him at Palace. Despite
Brentford maybe in League One, but they have shown they have eyes for the Premier League when it comes to investing in the community. The Bees were unveiled as one of five companies - including Anglo American, Heineken UK, Lend Lease and LSI
Electronic warning devices allowing shop vendors and traders to instantly communicate with each other are being installed in shopping areas across Surrey. Alertbox networks aim to help reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour, theft, or potential
Produced in 1971, The Anderson Tapes is a somewhat quirky offering that fell into place when lead Sean Connery was undergoing his James Bond 'haggling' phase. Having ensured he picked up a hefty pay-packet for the gloriously over-the-top Diamonds Are
By Community Correspondent Richard Sharp “The latest craze sweeping the country is ethical, eco-fabulous, social and fun. Welcome to the future of fashion." (Jess Cartner-Morley, Marie Claire Magazine). Swishing is a relatively new idea
By Community Correspondent Richard Sharp “The latest craze sweeping the country is ethical, eco-fabulous, social and fun. Welcome to the future of fashion." (Jess Cartner-Morley, Marie Claire Magazine). Swishing is a relatively new idea
By Community Correspondent Richard Sharp “The latest craze sweeping the country is ethical, eco-fabulous, social and fun. Welcome to the future of fashion." (Jess Cartner-Morley, Marie Claire Magazine). Swishing is a relatively new idea
By Community Correspondent Richard Sharp “It's the latest craze sweeping the country is ethical, eco-fabulous, social and fun. Welcome to the future of fashion." (Jess Cartner-Morley, Marie Claire Magazine). Swishing is a relatively
Bees boss Andy Scott is expecting a bidding war over left-back Ryan Dickson within the next fortnight. The 23-year-old, reported to be a summer transfer target for Southampton, has been offered a deal to remain at Griffin Park, but it remains unsigned
A man who had just attended the funeral of his mother was seriously assaulted at her wake. Police were called around 7:45pm on Thursday, May 20, by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to reports of a man assaulted in Crispin Crescent, Croydon
England and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care says he is heading to Australia to enjoy himself - but only on the rugby pitch. Team boss Martin Johnson’s men take on the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday before heading to the southern hemisphere for a
Five players are tied for the lead at four under par after the opening round of The Pandora 2010 Open on the PGA EuroPro Tour at Burhill Golf Club in Surrey. Shaun McAllister, Graham Benson, Sean Doherty, Martin Sell and Tim Dykes all recorded rounds
Controversy over a £6.2m transport deal linked to a former Sutton Council employee has forced a neighbouring council to retender its contracts. In September last year Croydon Council awarded a contract to Olympic South to ferry vulnerable
Friends and family members of a murdered father of three gathered for a vigil to celebrate his life in the road where he was shot. Wesley Blake was just 27 when he was gunned down as he sat in a car in St Saviours Road in May last year.
An enthusiastic sportswoman has been nominated as Croydon Champions’ teacher of the year for changing her pupils’ lives through her passion for PE. Maureen Chitty, 62, of Woodcote High School, was an Olympic long jumper who became a PE teacher
Budding Bee keepers and honey lovers are excited about Honey Bee Day at Battersea Park Children's Zoo. The day will focus on the importance of bees with live demonstrations, beeswax candle rolling and the opportunity to make a bee stick puppet
A mother was stabbed in the neck by “scumbag” robbers in a horrifying daylight attack while at home with her 18-month-old child. Two robbers are thought to have knocked on the 31-year-old’s door before barging their way into her Morden house
Embattled traders in St George’s Walk who took Croydon Council to the Lands Tribunal have settled their dispute for an undisclosed sum. Surrey Goldsmiths, Masquerade, Sergios and the Madeira Delicatessen served legal notices on the council
Dozens of Lambeth children aged as young as 12 are being treated for addiction to drugs, including cocaine. Statistics released under the Freedom of Information act show rising numbers of young people aged 12 to 15 are being treated for alcohol
Dozens of street parties are expected this summer after the council backtracked over its “profiteering” road closure fees. The price for holding this year's Big Lunch event is expected to be just £75 per road, compared to the hefty £208 last
An 86-year-old man was pushed around inside his house by two burglars pretending to be police officers. The incident occurred at a house off Leatherhead Road, in Bookham, at 10.30am, last Thursday (May 20), when two men claiming to be police
More than 25 tiny toddlers waddled across Malden Manor School playground on Wednesday, May 19 to raise more than £200 for the Meningitis Trust. The sponsored tots, from the Old Malden Children’s Centre Stay and Play group, prepared for their
The widow of a man who died after swallowing his wedding ring at Queen Mary's Hospital has been assured that changes have been made to the way patients are treated. Iris Lopez, 75, of Lainson Street, Southfields, met with nursing managers on
The hunt is on for a heroic hound to fill the paws of legendary pooch Pickles, who found the stolen World Cup trophy while trotting through South Norwood in 1966. Legend has it the black and white mongrel was invited to help the victorious
The number of useful calls received by Surrey Crimestoppers went up by 16 per in the past year, figures show. The role of Surrey Crimestoppers, a regional volunteer committee, is to encourage members of the public to contact the national independent
New support for carers working in Wandsworth is now available with the the launch of the Carers Emergency Support Team. The service is available for carers looking after an adult living in Wandsworth. It means that the person cared for
