Archive

  • Food store fined over 'severe' mouse infestation

    A food store has been fined £1,500 after a "severe" mouse infestation was uncovered by health inspectors. Merton’s environmental health officers visited Morden Food Store in London Road on April 4 last year after a member of the public complained

  • LETTER: Labour let us down on leisure centre promises

    Lambeth Labour leader Councillor Steve Reed is putting it about that I and the Liberal Democrats in Streatham are against our new leisure centre. Which is odd, to say the least, given that I was chairman of the planning committee that approved

  • Dutch coach driver jailed for £165k cocaine bust

    A Dutch coach driver who smuggled 3kg of cocaine into the country has been jailed for almost five years. Jerone Eggermont, 43, was caught trying to selling the drug, with a street value of £165,000, to Jonathon Vallejo-Penna, 28, from Enfield. The pair

  • Thousands enjoy fair on Wimbledon Common

    Thousands descended on Wimbledon Common last weekend to enjoy a free day of music, food and fun at the Wimbledon Village Fair. The annual event, organised by charity The Wimbledon Guild, featured over 200 craft stalls, two food villages and

  • Charity dog hides £1k for quarter of a century

    A loyal charity collection dog has waited patiently for more than 25 years before finally being opened up to reveal donations of more than £1,000. The ornamental pooch belongs to the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity but had been left unchecked at Neal's

  • Puppetry, dance and drama in store as IYA festival kicks off

    The fourth International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) is set to kick-off this week. The three-week long festival celebrating all forms of art from dance, drama, graffiti, puppetry to music, mosaic-making, storytelling and comedy will begin today.

  • Dons boss prepared to wait for right men

    Terry Brown says he needs two defenders to complete his squad, but the Dons boss is happy to wait a few weeks for the right signing as out-of-contract players get twitchy. Brown, whose team reports back for pre-season training on Sunday, said

  • Children's services adequate

    Croydon Council has been commended for its work protecting young people in its children’s services. Ofsted inspectors declared the local authority adequate overall for its children’s services while declaring its capacity to improve as good. Reduction

  • Tindall: We're in it together

    Team GB hockey star James Tindall has insisted axed team-mates Richard Alexander Ken Forbes still have a part to play in the squad’s success at the Olympics. Surbiton Hockey Club’s Tindall, Rob Moore and Matt Daly were unveiled in the 16-man squad for

  • Irish signs for Scottish

    Bristol prop Mark Irish has confirmed his switch to Championship rivals London Scottish. The 30-year-old is regarded as one of the best front row forwards in the Championship and was named in the 2011/12 Championship Dream XV in the same front

  • Chessington youngster seals Palace deal

    Crystal Palace youngster Ross Fitzsimons said it was the longest 10 minutes of his life as he waited for news of his new contract, writes Andy Bloss. The 18-year-old goalkeeper has penned his first professional contract with the Eagles, which will run

  • Cracknell: Searle can cap career in style

    Double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell has backed Greg Searle to complete a remarkable comeback and medal at next month’s Olympic Games. Searle has returned to Team GB’s rowing squad at 40 years of age, two decades after he won gold in the coxed

  • Jonathan Edwards visits Earlsfield school

    Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards paid a visit to a school on Monday to celebrate World Sport Day. Pupils in Burntwood School, in Burntwood Lane, were also greeted by soul singer Lemar and Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington.

  • NHS transport changes save £620k

    NHS patients are set to get a better transport service under a new deal that will save taxpayers more than £620,000-a-year. As part of a joint procurement, NHS Surrey and Surrey County Council have awarded a new three-year contract to South

  • Torch bearer describes proudest moment

    An Olympic torch bearer said it was one of the proudest moments of his life when he carried the torch last week. Gaurav Brahmbhatt, 31, of Mitcham Road, carried the Olympic flame for 100 metres through the streets of Morecombe on June 22.

  • Ex-Dons midfielder pitches up at Robins

    Carshalton Athletic new boy Lewis Taylor is delighted the club’s ambitions match his own after switching to Colston Avenue at the weekend. The 25-year-old former AFC Wimbledon midfielder met up with his new team-mates at a squad meeting on Saturday.

  • Housing almo blamed for high levels of Ombudsman complaints

    A third of the complaints investigated by a town hall watchdog last year were about a notorious housing management company which oversees the maintenance of the council’s homes. Lambeth Living (LL) has been blamed for the high level of complaints

  • Cope nears run milestone for Wanderers

    Malden Wanderers batsman Alan Cope needs just two runs to pass the 500-run mark in league and cup cricket this summer. Cope hit 84 in the Surrey Championship Premier Division at Camberley on Saturday, as Wanderers posted 191 all out before Giles Puckle

  • Battle of the sexes charity boot camp

    A battle of the sexes boot camp will be held to raise money for playground equipment for children with profound autism. The event, which will take place on July 7 at the Redhouse Recreation Ground in Leatherhead from 9.30am, aims to raise money

  • Daniels has much to learn at Esher

    Esher fullback Luke Daniels may have made 10 appearances in the first team last season and made his England Counties debut, but he has not yet cracked the nut of professional sport, writes Muhammed Sher. The 20-year-old penned a new one-year deal with

  • Twickenham still top dogs - just

    Twickenham held on to their position at the top of Middlesex County League Division Two on Saturday – but only just. Skipper Carlos Nunes’ men host third-placed Shepherd’s Bush tomorrow, having been forced to bat out for a losing draw on the Green by

  • Sally Bercow speaks out about St Helier Hospital

    The outspoken wife of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sally Bercow, has expressed her concerns for St Helier Hospital’s future. Mrs Bercow’s father, Ronald Illman, died when she was 16 years old in 1986 after he was diagnosed with kidney

  • More primary school places for Sutton

    Sutton Council has agreed to add 210 primary school places to its capacity as demand continues to soar across the Borough. Councillors at the Children, Family and Education Committee on June 21 voted to admit more pupils at four schools from

  • Broncos pair delighted to stay with Super League strugglers

    London Broncos forward Michael Robertson insists he is enjoying life at the Stoop despite the team having won only three games all season. Robertson and Scott Wheeldon both signed new two year deals this week after Sunday’s 46-10 defeat at Huddersfield

  • Palace crowd control methods to be used again

    Controversial crowd control methods will be used again when Crystal Palace play fierce rivals Brighton this season, police have warned. Police caused uproar among fans in January after erecting a steel wall at the top of Holmesdale Road, Selhurst

  • Athletes urge families to sign up for charity triathlon

    Two paratriathlon champions are encouraging families to sign up for a charity sports event in Crystal Palace. Athletes Jane Egan and Steve Judge will be taking part in Tri Together at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on August 19.

  • Keyte: Welsh move was too good to miss

    Bath scrum half Matt Keyte reckoned the chance to work with London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones was too good an opportunity to turn down after signing for the Exiles this week, writes Damian Dolan. The 21-year-old, a former member of the England U18 squad

  • Work on new hospital ward begins

    Construction of a new medical unit at Croydon University Hospital has begun. Bosses at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, which run the hospital, hope the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) will take pressure off the hospital’s Accident and Emergency department

  • Olympic scam warning as lottery ploy hits Surrey

    Olympic lottery scammers are impersonating the Church of England’s London 2012 representative to swindle personal details out of unsuspecting victims. The scam, which has hit Surrey, sparked a warning from Surrey County Council’s trading standards

  • Awards ceremony celebrates Croydon heroes

    The work of some of the community's most caring and inspiring volunteers were celebrated at an awards ceremony. Croydon Council introduced the borough's first Community Civic Awards in recognition of the borough's unsung heroes who give their

  • Golding: Wimbledon exit was devastating

    Twickenham’s Oliver Golding labelled his first round exit at Wimbledon as devastating, but is determined to bounce back. The 18-year-old lost 1-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-5 to Russian I Andreev on his SW19 senior debut. “I left everything out on the court. I couldn

  • Beavers keeper: Missing promotion would be failure

    Hampton & Richmond Borough goalkeeper Craig Ross has said anything less than promotion from the Ryman Premier League next season would be deemed a failure, writes Stuart Amos. Ross is the third player from boss Mark Harper’s Blue Square South squad to

  • New website for people with disabilities launches

    A new website for people with learning disabilities and carers has been launched. The Wandsworth Mencap website is the first of it's kind, acting as an online hub for service users. It's launch coincided with the Wandsworth Carers' Week

  • Sound engineer lands spot in feature film

    A sound engineer has landed a spot in a sporting feature film after its director overheard him recording his latest track. Fast Girls, written and starring Noel Clarke who also penned Kidulthood, follows the story of a young street runner and

  • Ducks flying off the shelves for charity

    The knitted ducks at the heart of a yarnbombing stunt in Carshalton are flying off the shelves. Already 13 ducks have been sold after the Sutton Guardian teamed up with the elusive Woolly Coven of Carshalton to raise money for Headley Court

  • Quins stars will be fit for season

    Director of rugby Conor O’Shea has assured Quins fans the club’s injured England contingent will be fit for the start of the new season. Mike Brown (thumb), Chris Robshaw (thumb), Ugo Monye (concussion) and George Lowe (ankle) all returned from South

  • Mum’s the Word with Angellica Bell

    Where has the time gone? It only seems like yesterday I was wolfing down vindaloos and guzzling raspberry leaf tea in order to start my labour. I can’t believe it, Elijah is now six months old. Wow. Not only does it mean time is flying faster

  • Primary school intruder let off with warning

    A man who broke into the grounds of two primary schools has been let off with a warning. The man, who was said to be under the influence of alcohol, first gained entry at Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, in Effra Road, on Friday, June 22,

  • Council tax increase on way for some?

    Landlords, second home owners and more than 400 residents of working age could be forced to cough up more council tax under new proposals. Kingston Council’s new council tax benefit scheme aims to charge higher rates to those who can afford

  • Cancer sufferer accidentally crushed wife to death

    An elderly cancer sufferer accidentally crushed his wife to death when he ran over her trying to park his car. Grief-stricken Malcolm Gittins’ car ran over his Swedish-born wife Vivien when his car slipped into reverse as she tried to guide

  • Parking boss would prefer ticket income to be zero

    The man in charge of Merton’s parking enforcement regime has praised traffic wardens and insisted they were not under pressure to catch out motorists in a bid to rake in millions of pounds of cash. We challenged Chris Lee, director of environment

  • Financial abuses by council staff revealed

    Merton has been branded a “fraudster’s paradise” after a range of measures to stop council employees abusing the system were found to be inadequate. Auditors highlighted 10 cases of “fraud or irregularities” in 2011-12, with three members of

  • Community rallies round to bring bloom back

    The Surrey Comet is proud to announce this year’s Kingston in Bloom is back on after community groups rallied to save the popular gardening competition. Kingston Council was forced to cancel the competition, which cost £5,000, due to “unprecedented

  • Sutton bike shop officially oldest in the world

    Sutton is now the official home of the oldest bike shop in the world. Pearson's Cycles, on Sutton High Street, at the grand old age of 152, was recognised by Guinness World Records this week. Representatives from Guinness presented Will

  • Prepare to party ahead of Olympic torch relay

    Merton is getting ready for the official Olympic torch, which will pass through Merton four days before the start of the Olympic Games. The flame is expected to reach Merton on July 23 at 3.30pm following a route starting in Bishopsford Road

  • Woman slams school allocation system

    A woman refused a primary school place for her daughter at a school 270m from her doorstep has said the council’s allocation system is "fundamentally flawed". Despite living just minutes from Bishops Gilpin School and Dundonald Primary, Umbar

  • Encourage children to play in the road? What rubbish!

    By S. Davies, Murray Road North, Wimbledon Village I am a resident of Murray Road North and we have not been consulted about recent proposed road restrictions in Wimbledon Village.   This scheme will restrict our movements and drive

  • Soldiers to be given housing priority

    Soldiers returning from war will be given housing priority under new council plans. An agreement has been struck between Sutton Council, the police and voluntary groups as part of Armed Forces Day. The Armed Forces Community Covenant was

  • Pupils learn to fence with Olympic expert

    Pupils at St Martin's Infant School in Epsom were treated to a fencing skills lesson by Olympic fencing referee Nick Payne to mark World Sport Day on Monday. Epsom-based Payne, an ex-pupil of the school, gave a brief history and overview of

  • Sutton criminals pay society back

    Criminals have been picking up litter to payback the community. Police and Sutton Council have arranged Community Payback initiatives which involves low-level offenders carrying out community-based tasks in the area as part of their sentences