Archive

  The stage is minimal, with some chairs and lights toppled over; it's one of those theatres, where the audience is both in the normal place, and also behind the stage. When the lights go out, the white light above the stage starts flickering,

Firefighters are tackling a fire at a Korean restaurant in Burlington Rd. A witness said You Me Korean Restaurant, near the junction with George Road, was on fire. London Fire Brigade tweeted: "Part of a restaurant on Burlington Rd in New Malden

Merton Council is spending £163,000 this year on NHS Stop Smoking Services while holding investments worth more than £5m in tobacco companies. A Freedom of Information request revealed £5,584,843 was invested in the British American Tobacco Company

A man has denied sexually assaulted two women who were queuing for their coats at a nightclub. Mihaulas-Codrut Lacatus, 28, from East Ham, who worked in Epsom until last week, pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the women at Elements nightclub

A alleged gunman, accused of murder by his best friend, has told a court he is the victim of a "horrendous" betrayal. Kyrone Daley, 19, claims Sanchez Thomas, also 19, shot South Norwood rapper Umar Tufail in the head on July 15 last year.

A predatory paedophile who fantasised about having a baby he could sexually abuse has been jailed for four years. Robin Malka, 38, from Clapham, concocted a vile plan with other paedophiles to "breed" a daughter which he could abuse at will.

To mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April a private hospital is holding a free information evening. St Anthony's Hospital in North Cheam will hold the evening on Thursday, April 11 at 7pm. There will also be a guest speaker, Professor

A former private-school headgirl with anorexia died from a overdose of laxatives, an inquest heard today. Georgia Willson-Pemberton, 26, of Howards Lane, Putney, was the "life and soul of everyone's parties" but developed anorexia in 2007.

I was delighted to read that my local councillors are working (Councillors work tirelessly to improve the high street, March 14). I would expect nothing less, in fact. My concern is that it has taken them nearly three decades to achieve so

Shoppers can add extra items to their baskets this Saturday and donate them to Wandsworth's first foodbank. Giving out food supplies to people in crisis, the foodbank needs to collect three tonnes of food before opening in May. At Sainsbury's

A Carshalton man is sick of constant fly-tipping outside his home. Graham Waters, 49, has lived in Papermill Close for nearly 13 years however he said fly-tipping happens every week – despite a sign warning against it. He said: “This has been

A gas leak causing traffic chaos in Kingston has been fixed – but repair workers have found another in the same area. An Southern Gas Networks spokeswoman said the leaks in Queen Elizabeth Road were caused by faulty joints in the gas mains.

A black German Shepherd is looking for a new home after being nursed back to health. The Riverside Animal Centre in Beddington has been looking after Wellard since he was found dumped on the St Helier estate last month. He was very underweight

Police seized a number of cannabis plants and arrested two people in a raid this morning following a tip-off from the public. A man and woman were arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis when officers searched a house in the Greenway, Epsom

A man has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a disabled man. Police were called to North End, Croydon, at about 8.30am to reports that a man in a wheelchair had £50 cash stolen from him from a cashpoint. Officers spoke with the woman who

Cheam village celebrated Easter in style. Cheam parish churches held an Easter shop window competition challenging traders to come up with the best display in order to win a bottle of champagne. Father Darren Miller from St Dunstan’s Church

A collision between a tram and a car caused traffic and travel delays this afternoon. The incident took place just before 1pm at Oaks Road at the junction of Coombe Lane, near Shirley Hills. A person from the car suffered minor injuries. Oaks

I write in response to the letter from the three councillors representing Carshalton Central (Councillors work tirelessly to improve the high street, March 14). Like most people I am sure, I am very pleased to hear that we may be getting at least

A wildlife rescue expert is distraught that his TV series is being axed after almost 18 years. Wildlife SOS will screen its last episode on May 12 on Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet. Simon Cowell, the programme's presenter and founder of

I would appreciate it if you could print this letter as a thank you both to the very honest man (who I believe was a prison officer) who found my 15 year old son’s wallet (with £25 cash and oyster card still intact) in Stoneleigh Park Road last week

An MP has spoken out in defence of the greenbelt after the Prime Minister told him the need to build homes does not ‘trump’ greenbelt protection. Banstead’s MP Crispin Blunt updated worried residents in Kingswood at the Kingswood Residents’ Association

Sutton Housing Partnership has awarded a major contract for repairs and maintenance. The contract with Rydon will begin on July 1, 2013, and will help to provide day to day repairs and maintenance services to 8,000 properties across Sutton.

A chef will be standing alongside celebrity cooks such as Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood at this year’s Cake International Show. Hannah Collison, who founded Inspired Creations, a baking course in Caterham, will be sharing her expertise on cake

Among the bizarre stories and photos on April Fool's Day was this peculiar shot of a man walking of all things, a sheep. The solitary shepherd was spotted taking a breather in the sunshine outside Starbucks near Raynes Park station on Monday morning

A singing group for the retired is celebrating its first anniversary. In the Mix group were launched in March 2012 by two musicians – swing singer Sheila Daniels and jazz pianist Eugene Portman. The group get together weekly at the Parochial

A diamond couple have celebrated a very special milestone after clocking up six decades of marriage. George and Doreen Brice, of Shirley Road, Croydon, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday. They wed on March 28, 1953 at Morden

Cuddington Golf Club in Banstead have raised £10,750 for the Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton. Each year the club selects a different charity and throughout 2012 they held various functions including a charity golf match and auction in May last

A crooked airport official jailed for a £1 million immigration scam faces another stint behind bars. Corrupt immigration officer Guy Emmett of Furze Lane, Purley, was jailed for eight years in 2000, after he was convicted of allowing hundreds of

Surbiton Telephone Exchange was to blame for Surbiton health centre patients being forced to wait yet more hours on the phone. The problems were the latest in the phone fiasco which began the day the centre in Ewell Road opened on March 4.

A brand new children’s show is based on a best-selling book about the Mona Lisa writes Andy Bloss. The new show, called Katie and the Mona Lisa, is based on the best-selling picture book by artist James Mayhew and adapted for the stage by Mike

Dub step, reggae, electronic, folk and rock music will be on display as Dreadzone comes to town, writes Andy Bloss. Electro-dub pioneers Dreadzone formed in 1993 and soon became festival favourites as they opened the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury

Prepare for an evening of dance and music to transport you the fields of Russia, writes Andy Bloss. The Russian State Dance Ensemble of Astrakhan are performing their show Russina Cossacks at the Fairfield Halls later this month. Organisers

Double MOBO award-winner YolanDa Brown will be bringing some soul and sass to her latest performance, the acclaimed jazz saxophonist will be performing at Streatham’s Hideaway next month. YolanDa, from Barking in East London, is considered one

There is a special birthday party taking place this month as Spot the popular children’s book and TV character comes to Fairfield Halls, writes Andy Bloss. For the first time in eight years the highly acclaimed children’s musical show Spot’s Birthday

Rural Gloucestershire is being brought to urban Croydon this month in an adaptation of the popular novel Cider With Rosie, writes Andy Bloss. The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham is staging a new version of Laurie Lee’s famous novel at Fairfield Halls

A paramedic is swapping 999 calls for 999 km after embarking upon an epic charity trek. Lysa Walder, an emergency care practitioner at Croydon University Hospital's urgent care centre, is to walk from the Italian town of Aosta to Rome to raise

This crafty fox was caught trying to drag a severed head from a South Croydon garden. The head belongs to Croydon playwright David Trotter of Birdhurst Avenue, who is using the prop that is modelled on himself, in new play The Bloody Bride.

Businesses are proving the community spirit is alive and well by helping each other decorate. As part of a handy-man scheme to give local businesses a boost, The Big Fix in Hackbridge has seen businesses redecorate and repair their premises.

Sutton's deputy mayor will saddle up to launch a cycle club's annual season of rides this weekend. Councillor Joyce Mellican will be starting the Cyclists' Touring Club's summer rides season from the Nonsuch Mansion Café from 2pm on Saturday, April

A fundraiser walked more than 80 miles in a day to provide his football club with medical equipment. Lee Atkinson, manger of the under-16 girls and the disabled teams at Carshalton Athletic, walked all the way from Colston Avenue in Carshalton

Faithless and Crystal Palace FC are joining forces to put on a one off concert next month. The football club have linked up with the Electric in Brixton to present Faithless Sound System featuring Maxi Jazz and Sister Bliss amongst other guests

Julian Speroni has urged Crystal Palace to forget about their disastrous fortnight and concentrate simply on getting their promotion push back on track against Barnsley this Saturday. The Eagles slumped to defeats against Birmingham and Blackpool

The council has come under fire for refusing to turn its back on profitable ties with the tobacco industry despite taking on new public health responsibilities this week. Anti-smoking campaigners, a cancer charity and opposition councillors condemned

I would just like to say what a farce the Morrisons recruitment helpline was. Earlier in the year I saw a advert in your paper regarding the new Morrisons supermarket store opening in the summer which said vacancies would be online April 1, 2013

Maps have revealed the entire borough could be subjected to aircraft noise if Heathrow develops a four runway hub. Wandsworth Council and campaign group 2M have created noise contour maps, highlighting areas in London which could overflow by planes

A newly launched independent health watchdog has won a contract from Sutton Council. Healthwatch Sutton replaces the former Local Involvement Network and will continue to offer advice to patients, carers and other service users to help shape the

If you are unhappy with the size of your energy bills you should take advantage of a new scheme, according to Carshalton and Wallington's MP. Tom Brake is urging his constituents to get involved in the Big London Energy Switch - a scheme which

Residents braved the cold weather to take part in an Easter Carnival event on Saturday. The event took place in Central Parade in New Addington with residents getting into the Easter spirit. Money raised from the event will go towards the New

Fire tore through rubbish in a bin storage last night. Firefighters from Purley fire station were called to the blaze behind a block of flats on Grove Lane, Purley, at 9.45pm. The crew spent an hour down at the scene extinguishing the fire

A family fun and craft fair is being held at Wallington Hall in aid of the Children’s Trust. The event on Sunday, April 7, will feature a selection of crafts, gifts and activities. It will last from 10am to 2pm. For more information visit pink-diamondevents.co.uk

A series of self-portraits by people suffering from mental health illnesses have gone on display at a Croydon bar. The 'Just Look at Me' exhibition was created by 25 patients from mental health groups Coast, Hear Us, Imagine, Mind and Elmwood.

Phil Simpson has labelled this Saturday’s match at home to Walton & Hersham a must-win game if Tooting & Mitcham are to avoid an end of season relegation struggle. The Terrors endured a pointless Easter with a 2-0 defeat at home to promotion-chasing

A new supermarket has created eight jobs for the community and will celebrate its launch with a £500 charity donation. A Tesco Express will open in Lower Road next week staffed by nine workers from the One Stop it is replacing and a further eight

Children visiting Kingston Hospital are now greeted by whales and waves, rather than dreary beige walls, thanks to Kingston charity Momentum and comic Jo Brand. The former nurse, who reprised that role for TV in Getting On, performed for one night

The Croydon Guardian hit the airwaves last week as it launched a new radio show. Reporters Andy Bloss and Hannah Williamson were joined by MPs Gavin Barwell and Steve Reed for The Croydon Guardian Show, which aired on Croydon Radio on Thursday.

Thousands of ducks took to the water on Saturday to raise more than £1,000 for charity. About 2,000 people turned up to the "biggest and best yet" annual charity duck race on the Hogsmill River, organised by the Ewell Court Residents’ Association

A woman told she would not be able to run the London marathon wants people to sign up as organ donors. Lucy Fenner, 26, of Littleworth Road, was told on March 12 she would be unable to run the marathon due to heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy

The Netherlands is considering moving its embassy to Nine Elms, with other governments expected to follow. The Dutch government's property advisers, Cushman & Wakefield, confirmed the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands (RKN) plans to relocate

Patients were forced to endure yet more hours hanging on the telephone line unable to reach their GP as problems continued at the new £9m Surbiton Health Centre. Staff at the health centre apologised last week, and assured patients that the phone

A magician, Easter egg hunt and tombola were all part of the fun hosted by Sunrise of Weybridge at its annual spring fair. The afternoon, at the residential home in Ellesmere Road, treated people to a performance from Surrey harpist Rebeca Jones

This owl joined some Easter bunnies for a family day at the Whitgift Centre. The shopping centre hosted its Weenies event on Tuesday. Children could kickstart the school holidays by meeting Scooby the White-faced Scops Owl - and some rabbits