In a nation of hyperbolised propaganda, a totalitarian regime and deprivation at every corner, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has become a beacon of hope for the districts. After winning the 74th annual Hunger Games and defying the Capitol, Peeta
A mother was arrested on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant after police stopped her car to carry out routine checks. Officers taking part in a day-long car insurance clampdown pulled over the BMW at Thornton Heath Roundabout just after 12pm
Hilda Elsie Marguerite Patten, or just Marguerite Patten was born on the 4th of November 1915, and although retired, she still inspires young people today. Ms Patten was born in Bath, Somerset, and grew up in Barnet, Hertfordshire. When she was thirteen
Prison staff have been severely criticised for not carrying out proper mental health checks on a schizophrenic murder suspect who hanged himself in jail. Father-of-two Adrian Johnson, 27, was found hanged in his cell on Thursday, May 13, 2010,
These photos reveal the injuries a 12-year-old boy sustained in a school playground attack - just days after his mother warned the school he was being bullied. The boy was attacked in a playground at Overton Grange School, in Sutton, on Monday,
This was the sky over Sutton this evening as the sun was setting. The photos were taken from the tenth floor of the Quadrant House tower block, next to Sutton Station. Pic by Susannah Wheeler Did you see the sunset? Send
A 78-year-old man has died after being hit by a car in South Norwood. He was struck crossing Portland Road at around 5pm on Sunday. Police today confirmed the man, who was hit by a Volkswagen Golf, has now died. The collision occured
A worker who claims he was sacked for smoking an electronic cigarette has been given legal aid from one of the industry’s top manufacturers in his landmark case for wrongful dismissal. Paul Scott, of Carshalton, was fired from Viridor, the waste
Plans to extend the Northern Line to Battersea were backed by the Government today after a billion-pound funding package was approved. The Department of Transport's decision means construction could begin as early as 2015. The extension will
I am trying to locate my step-cousin James S. Youngs. The only information I have is that James was the youngest child of my step-aunt (Margaret I Youngs formerly Mugridge and her husband was Albert William Youngs). James married in Hull, Yorkshire
If you were out and about in the town centre yesterday you may have seen some giant yellow statues dotted around. The statues, part of a NHS campaign, were placed at the Council’s Bernard Weatherill House and in the Whitgift Centre. One of
A lost library book has been returned after being found more than 6,000 miles away in Mauritius. The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchett, went missing after it was borrowed five years ago from the free book shelf, run by Cheam Library, at Cheam
A bus driver has laid his claim to have Croydon's most festive house after decking it in more than 6,000 Christmas lights in memory of his dad. Alex Hopkinson, 33, of New Addington, gave hundreds of onlookers a bright start to the Christmas season
A woman could have could have been killed up to two weeks before she was found dead at her Richmond flat, it was revealed in court today. Bernadeta Nawracaj, 43, was found dead on Saturday at about 2pm at her home in The Towers in Lower Mortlake
A charity set up to help people in need is preparing for its first official campaign. The Admiral Trust, based in Wimbledon, was set up in January 2012 by three business leaders with the aim of providing resources, encouragement to anyone in need
A legal challenge to controversial plans to change a town centre car park into an office block means it will remain fenced off at the taxpayer's expense for longer. Sutton Council agreed the sale of the Brighton Road car park to engineering firm
Plans for 60 student flats in Old London Road have been given the thumbs-up by Kingston Council officers. Officers have recommended councillors approve the scheme at a meeting next week. The five-storey building would stand at the end of Kingston
A community group has launched an online appeal to continue the fight against an access road running through Putney Common to the former Putney Hospital. The Friends of Putney Common (FofPC) took legal action over an easement agreement, or payment
Bookmakers - including a serving councillor who was held up at gun point - have backed our Safe Bet campaign for safer conditions for betting shop workers. The Sutton Guardian launched the Safe Bet campaign last week following the conviction of
A code of conduct for use of Epsom and Walton Downs has been issued after clashes between users of the famous green space. Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators have produced guidelines for use of the land, which is privately owned, to prevent horses
A community food store was raided on the day it opened for business - just 24 hours before its ribbon was officially cut by Banstead’s MP. Budgens, on Walton Street, in Walton-on-the-Hill, Tadworth, was targeted on Thursday, November 28, between
A dozy Battersea resident caught fly-tipping in Croydon has been fined over £500 - after leaving her address among the waste. Iesha Price of Shelgate Road dumped rubbish, including a prescription bearing her name and house number, on land opposite
Part of a school had to be closed after a fox got in and died there over the weekend. Teachers and pupils arrived to Cheam High School on Monday morning to be greeted by a terrible smell from where the sick fox had got in, died, and began to decompose
More than half the patients who have reviewed Epsom Hospital on an NHS ‘Tripadvisor’ style website have awarded it the highest rating. The Care Connect website was set up in August to allow patients to review the care and service provided
A dispute has broken out between an acclaimed homelessness charity, the police and the council over proposals to take legal action to shut down a town-centre soup kitchen. Croydon Council had threatened to use "all available byelaws" to prevent
New Malden High Street couldn’t survive without the support of the community. Lying directly in the hub of our town, in the centre of all activity, our High Street has been on a roller-coaster journey ever since the recession hit in 2008. I am sure
The A310 Twickenham Road is blocked after an accident this morning. Traffic is slow and drivers face delays between Twickenham and Isleworth after the accident at Mogden Lane just before 7.30am. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson: “We
Customers at Tesco pitched in to help families in need this Christmas by donating to a food bank. A collection at the Raynes Park store over the weekend, saw customers given a special shopping list when they entered the store. They were asked
Steve Parish wants Crystal Palace to be “in touch” with Premier League survival come the new year. The Eagles lifted themselves off the foot of the table last night thanks to Marouane Chamakh’s winner over fellow strugglers West Ham United.
The Purley Business Association (PBA) have announced plans for the town to get a Business Improvement District (BID) status. At an open meeting next week, the PBA will discuss their aims to get BID status within the next 18 months. Simon Cripps
An £800,000 plan to regenerate the Wandle Valley will be made public at an exhibition next week. The Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust has been spearheading a project which will see vast improvements made to green space across the area by March
Click your heels and be transported to a faraway land – full of Munchkins and flying monkeys. The St Paul’s Players have brought Oz to life in their annual Christmas panto and are hoping to fill out the parish hall. Follow Dorothy and her rag-tag
Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell has chosen the winner of his Christmas card design competition. The competition was launched a few weeks ago when Mr Barwell wrote to primary schools in his constituency inviting pupils to draw a Christmas picture
A chef and former I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant will be popping into the borough to meet Surbiton Probus members and give a speech. Television personality Rosemary Shrager who rose to fame in the ITV series Ladette to Lady where
A Kingston borough resident has won an award for bravery after becoming the first person to give evidence in an open court for an “honour killing” trial. Sarbjit Kaur Athwal won the Best magazine Bravest Woman Award last month. She played an
A house in Cobham will be boarded up and its residents evicted after persistent anti-social behaviour. Surrey Police, Elmbridge Housing Trust, Paragon Housing and Elmbridge Council obtained a closure order for 46 Queens Court Ride at a hearing
A homeless man who started a camp-fire in a graveyard was told to visit the Salvation Army by firefighters. Firefighters were called to St Nicholas Church's graveyard in Sutton town centre after reports of someone starting a fire there at 11.51pm
Dance students at The Brit School have joined forces with The Royal Ballet School in a special educational collaboration. As part of The Royal Ballet School's aDvANCE initiative, 25 students from The Brit School visited the school in Covent Garden
Cyclists will be able to take a new route through Twickenham after plans for a contraflow were approved. The contraflow will allow cyclists who want to travel north through Holly Road to avoid the busy town centre's high street. Richmond
Grocery shoppers have another outlet to retrieve food from after another supermarket popped up in Teddington. Morrisons M local, opened in Teddington on Monday, November 25, which the company said would create 20 new jobs. Store manager Amir
CCTV is now installed in all First Capital Connect (FCC) stations after a £700,000 investment to improve security. All 73 stations, including those on the Wimbledon loop via Balham, Streatham, Tooting, Morden, and Sutton, can now be observed from
Painted figures of Mary and Joseph are calling a Hinchley Wood church home this week. The figures, which are on loan from Teddington Baptist Church, are making their way around the county as part of an Advent pilgrimage created by BBC Surrey.
Croydon Council has been awarded the Energy Saving Trust's Business Mileage Management Fleet Hero award after reducing employee business mileage saving taxpayers over £500,000. The council were also awarded second place in the innovation
Students at Trinity school are preparing to slick back their hair and grab their leather jackets for a school production of Grease. The much-loved musical, which begins today, is being performed on stage in the concert hall of the Shirley Park
Shoppers have the chance to discover more of what Richmond has to offer and win prizes in a scheme launched by female business owners. Five of Richmond’s businesses have joined forces to help customers discover more of what is on their doorstep
Following the release of their first Christmas album, the 4 Girls 4 Harps will perform a concert of Christmas carols like you have never heard them before. The harp quartet, made up of Harriet Adie, Keziah Thomas, Eleanor Turner and Elizabeth Scorah
As cold weather arrives, vulnerable people are being offered free warm clothing by the Council. Sutton Council has launched the Sutton Warm Scheme to offer support, including free warm clothes and bedding, for anyone who is at risk of getting ill
Parking spaces are one of the most prized possessions of the average home owner. The memories hours spent driving around a neighbourhood in desperate search of a place to park, are familiar to us all. Therefore, when a sign appeared on Riverview Grove
