ENGINEERS spent 90 minutes fixing a major gas leak which closed the A2 in both directions. The road has now re-opened nearly three hours after the closure at the A227 junction in Gravesend. Channel Tunnel Rail Link services, which operate near the site
AN ELDERLY man set his bedroom alight after he smoked a cigarette in bed. Two crews from Forest Hill Fire Station were called to Westwood Hill, Forest Hill, at 2.30pm today after the man accidentally set fire to his mattress. The fire was contained
LICENSING chiefs have received five objections to an application to extend opening hours at a pizza take away. Haji-Mirzagul Zabibullah has applied to Greenwich Council to serve pizza and late night refreshments until midnight from Sunday to Thursday
NURSERY staff are celebrating after being praised for their high standards of care. The 22 member team at the Early Years Childcare Centre, Antelope Road, Woolwich Dockyard, beat hundreds of workers from around 500 other companies to win the title of
ABBA fans can belt out all their favourite hits, singing along with the professionals in a fun-packed interactive stage show. Sing-A-Long-A Abba comes to Croydon's Fairfield Halls next week, complete with goody bags and a big screen for the lyrics and
AS A youngster I was fascinated by all things football and to a lesser, more cynical degree, I still am today. But as an impatient kid, I hated actually reading about football, preferring to look at pictures and had Paul Harrison's book been around then
ISOBEL are a band with a future - and a past. In 2004 they played at the Hammersmith Apollo in a line up which included Kasabian and Razorlight, after Isobel won the XFM Radio Rock School competition. The band members were all 16 at the time. Since
by ZEE GAINES FOURTH Wall Productions brings film and video into the theatre with an amusing mix of sketches about an enthusiastic, if misguided, cable television station, MCN TV! Mocking current TV programming, the range of teasing entertainment
A NEW exhibition looks at the Suffragette movement and the events leading to the death of activist Emily Davison at the Epsom Derby in 1913. Emily ran onto the track during a race, waving a suffragette banner. She was trampled by the King's horse,
TODAY is Community Hygiene Concern's Bug Busting Day where schools and the community are offered information and advice about head louse detection and treatment. The campaign aims to synchronise bug busting across the UK to help prevent head lice from
THE Lewisham Expert Patient Programme has announced the dates of its forthcoming courses. The programme is funded by Lewisham PCT and administered by The Positive Place. Courses aim to increase self-esteem, give a feeling of control, manage depression
A NATIONAL obesity programme was launched this month and Bromley is one of the first boroughs to offer the service. Bromley Mytime, the charitable leisure trust, started the programme last week with the aim to transform the lives of Bromley's overweight
Although cervical cancer is still the second most common form of cancer in women under 35, there has been a significant reduction in the numbers of people coming forward for cervical screening. Doctors from the NHS Cancer Screening programme have said
THE University of Greenwich is giving professionals in the hair and beauty industry the opportunity to develop business and management skills. It has teamed up with hairdressing experts L'Oreal to offer a new foundation degree in salon management
THE Haberdashers' Aske's Hatchem College in New Cross has been selected as one of six schools to pilot a scheme of a combined cadet force (CCF) partnership between schools and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The pilot scheme aims to give young people
TWO NEW reports indicate recruitment in the IT sector is to increase in coming years, while good pay rises are also expected this year. The National Computing Centre's (NCC) Benchmark of IT Salaries and Employment Trends 2007, predicts the increase
Matching workers' skills to their ideal jobs can be rewarding. Matt French speaks to a consultant who is happy to work long hours to help her contractors. QUALIFICATIONS: Certified by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation. PLACE OF WORK:
UK INVESTORS are warming to the idea of buying into holiday developments in France free from VAT. Holiday complexes, known as residences de tourisme, are built by a developer who then sells the units to investors on a leaseback scheme basis. Investors
DESPITE housing demand continuing to outstrip supply, a new report claims power could be about to shift from sellers to buyers. Entering this year, sellers remained in a strong position. With demand from buyers sufficiently high, there was little compromise
IF YOU think you have found your dream home, look closely past the spacious garden and trendy kitchen to make sure there are no gremlins which are likely to cost you time and money once the sale has gone through, says Halifax estate agent. The agent
PEOPLE using estate agents and conveyancers are not clear about the difference between the services, a survey has revealed. A poll commissioned by the Council for National Land Information Service found the public are uninformed about many areas of
VAGHA Residential has re-branded and is now Key Location. The re-branding is not the only new aspect to the business, the agent has taken on a new member of staff, Gwen Ball. Gwen has been in the business for more than 15 years and has experience
OAK Estates helped Dalmain Primary School raise £90 last month via a board promotion and Beat the Oaks football game. Branch manager Richard Sheidu said the weather was not the greatest but everyone enjoyed themselves. He wishes to thank all vendors
KINLEIGH Folkard & Hayward has appointed Siobhan McGarvey as its marketing manager. Siobhan will be responsible for marketing projects across the company's seven divisions, as well as having a more strategic role in the ongoing brand development.
THESE are exciting times at News Shopper. As our newest blogger Alison has already said, this week marks the start of a new web-first era for us. The future of journalism is digital and the future of newspapers lies in their ability to adapt to the
David Tracey lettings director for Humphriss & Ryde Experience: More than 16 years' experience, working for small independents and large corporate estate agents. I started work as a trainee negotiator and worked my way up to become a branch lettings
CONRAN Estates has launched a scheme to sponsor a school in every area it has an office. Following its successful sponsorship scheme of the Lewisham Schools Football Team, Conran has pledged to support other boroughs too. Conran's managing director
THE SAVOY Hotel was packed with Your Move estate agents and staff last month, when the company treated its workers to a lavish lunch. Your Move Lettings was celebrating its most successful year to date and invited staff from across the country to
HOME videos which appear to show motorists speeding through the Dartford Tunnel are under investigation by Kent Police. Footage of cars travelling through the tunnel, allegedly up to speeds of 130mph, has been loaded onto video-sharing website YouTube
So our wonderful government wants to teach our school kids social skills and get them to become au fait (that’ll stump most of them!) with our history - as the government sees it. However if the figures just released are anything to go by, it’s a bit
ABLE ESTATES is calling on charities and good causes to submit ideas for a community-led campaign it is planning to launch. The agent is celebrating 10 years of business in Abbey Wood this month and to mark the occasion, the company wants to give something
Name: Ulla Weinberg Location: Forest Hill Message: Ginger tabby, named Whiskey, lost in Forest Hill - Taymount Rise area on February 3. Email: ulla_weinberg@hotmail.com
POLICE and forensic officers were called after the sudden death of a 37-year-old man last night. An ambulance also arrived at the property in Melrose Road, Biggin Hill, at around 5.30pm. Police had to force entry into the address to reach the man, who
THE first winner of our online monthly mobile phone competition has been chosen. Sam Friend, 22, from Gravesend, has won himself a £20 Carphone Warehouse voucher for this picture of Holly Hill, near Vigo. Send us your pictures - from breaking news incidents
NEWS Shopper this week launched our new web-first news service. From now on, all news stories and features will appear on newsshopper.co.uk before being published in our eight newspapers. We aim to provide the fastest and finest news service across
THE bus driver accused of forcing his way through a funeral cortege has been sacked. Following a disciplinary hearing, the unnamed Arriva driver was dismissed. The family of Eileen Scriven, 69, claimed her funeral procession was "turned into a public
AN OFFICER serving with Bexleyheath police has been arrested as part of the Operation Orr investigation into online child pornography. The 38-year-old PC, believed to work as a training officer, was arrested by Kent police in Gillingham on January 26
THE ringleader of a gang which attacked passers-by, damaged buses and intimidated the public, has been given an Asbo. Danny Garton's behaviour caused so much concern, Bexley Council succeeded in getting an interim Asbo in December, pending a full hearing
THE first winner of our online monthly mobile phone competition has been chosen. Sam Friend, 22, from Gravesend, has won himself a £20 Carphone Warehouse voucher for this picture of Holly Hill, near Vigo. Send us your pictures - from breaking news incidents
NEWS Shopper this week launched a new web-first news service. From now on, all news stories and features will appear on newsshopper.co.uk before being published in our eight newspapers. We aim to provide the fastest and finest news service across our
THREE people had to be rescued from their homes by firefighters after a blaze broke out in a block of flats. A fire started in the basement of the building in Baker Road, Woolwich at 7.30pm on Friday. It spread up to the sixth floor leading to 40 people
TO HELP tackle homelessness, the Acorn Group has joined housing charity Shelter's Raise the Roof campaign. The campaign is a drive to raise awareness and funds for the 130,000 officially homeless children in the UK - living in temporary accommodation
HUNDREDS of residents are campaigning to save a sports field from a school development. More than 400 people are opposing a proposal by Greenwich Council to relocate Willow Dene Primary School to Hervey Road sports ground in Kidbrooke. A meeting was
PROPERTY investors are always looking for ways to expand their portfolios. Hotel-to-let has proved a popular option in the past couple of years and, as Kerry Ann Eustice finds out, it's been a good move for many. Investors who have put cash into the
The construction industry knows with the Thames Gateway regeneration and preparation for the Olympics in full swing, it needs a skilled workforce. Kerry Ann Eustice visits an on-site training centre to find out more. Health and safety on the building
Last month's winner: The Gas Fireplace: Mrs Ellen Sinyard of Bexley wins a hang-on-the wall fireplace.
ON-LOAN Addicks goalkeeper Scott Carson is this week expected to close in on the England under-21 cap record by making his 25th appearance. He should be playing in tonight's friendly against Spain at Derby County's Pride Park under new boss Stuart
SCHOOLCHILDREN learned silence can be golden when they raised nearly £300 by keeping quiet for 20 minutes. Year One pupils from Cobham Hall, Cobham, took part in The Big Hush, an annual sponsored silence to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
A NURSE who repeatedly fell asleep while on duty has been kicked out of the profession. Karen Falce nodded off during home visits and conferences, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) disciplinary panel heard. The 42-year-old had returned to work as
SCOUTS are getting ready to start a year of centenary celebrations. Woolwich's 14 scouting groups have come together to mark the landmark with a range of events. The festivities will be kicked off with an exhibition at the Citizens' Gallery in Powis
A COMMUNITY trust has been praised for regenerating a park and gardens. Twinkle Park Trust has received an award from the British Urban Regeneration Association (Bura) for redeveloping Twinkle Park and Charlotte Turner Gardens, both in Watergate Street
A BAR has been ordered to install sound insulation after a neighbouring restaurant owner complained about "unreasonably loud music". The owner of Oliver's Music Bar, Nevada Street, Greenwich, has been told to carry out the work by Greenwich Council's
A BRAINY student is set to have her essay published in a political magazine after winning a national competition. Bonnie Jackson won the Enid Lakeman essay prize for 2006, sponsored by the McDougall Trust, which encourages the study of politics. The
A £13.5M project to overhaul a dilapidated health centre has moved a step closer to completion. The Waldron Health Centre, Stanley Street, New Cross, is currently undergoing a two-phase redevelopment programme. Today, construction workers and staff
A TEEN footballer who crashed his mother's car and injured four friends after a boozy night out has avoided jail. Charlton Athletic youth team player Keiran Murtagh was "showing off" to his four friends when the speeding Ford Fiesta smashed into a parked
A CYCLIST has been knocked off his bike after colliding with a bus at a crossroads. The 35-year-old man was struck by the 286 bus at 9am this morning at a junction between Halfway Street and Willersley Avenue, Sidcup. He was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital
A DEVELOPER has lodged a planning application to replace the Crayford Centre which helps people with mental health problems. The proposals, to replace the buildings at 4 to 8 London Road, Crayford, with two buildings of five and six storeys, have been
NEWS Shopper wants to hear from readers who have friends and family serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. With news of troops being stretched to their limit in the most hostile of environments, we want to hear how our lads and lasses are coping. What
HOUSING CLEAR-UP: My stance on the council house stock transfer has been misrepresented. The decision to have a ballot was proposed and seconded by Gravesham's Labour Leader and Deputy Leader at a council meeting on June 28. I supported the proposal because
I AM writing to express my disappointment at the refusal to grant planning permission for the proposed development at Eden Road Scout headquarters (Plans To Sell Scout Land Are Refused, News Shopper, January 24). As Cub leader of the group, I saw this
I WELCOME the news Swanley Town Council is putting up barriers to stop the nuisance and danger of mini-motos (Fight To Keep Out Mini Motorbikes, News Shopper, January 24) but this is only addressing half the problem. Parents should not buy childrenthese
RESIDENTS of Eden Road, Eden Close and elsewhere are not against Scouts and Guides but strongly oppose their unnecessary and disturbing course of action (Plans To Sell Scout Land Are Refused, News Shopper, January 24). Families and former Scouts and
ALL OR NOTHING? Residents to the east of Hither Green station are to be asked by Lewisham Council whether they would like their area to be a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). Residents will be given a choice of a 9am to 7pm CPZ, or no restrictions at all
YOUR front page article about the amalgamation of hospital services (Aiming To Cut Health Costs, News Shopper, January 17) is an indication of how far managers have to go to balance the books. It is also a further warning we are losing our National
I WANT to write about the wonderful treatment my mother received in Lewisham Hospital. The staff throughout the hospital were very caring. Many tests were done to find out her problems, and thanks to the wonderful doctors my mother is now on the road
IN REPLY to Mr de Vere criticising the plans to restore the Manor House and library in Lee (Same Labour, Same Problems In Our Borough, Letters, News Shopper. January 24). Your correspondent is in no way representative of the community's view of this
JONATHAN Fortune, Simon Walton and Kelly Youga left Charlton on loan deals on the final day of the transfer window on January 31, and made their debuts over the weekend. Fortune helped Championship side Stoke City to a 1-1 draw with Southend United
ALL season-ticket holders can still purchase tickets for the trip to Manchester United on Saturday (3pm). Voucher G is required by post or in person at the Valley commercial centre, priced £36 adults and £18 over-60s and under-16s. There are also
BLACKHEATH & Bromley are on the look out for people interested in taking up pole vaulting. The club has enjoyed much success in this event in recent years with youngsters Scott Huggins, Rachel Arnheim and now Emily Godley all gaining international
BLACKHEATH & Bromley Athletic Club will be hosting the first of the 2007 Nike Challenge Cross Country races this Sunday at Norman Park. Registration takes place on the day at the track from 10.30am at a nominal cost of £1. Timetable is as follows
MICHAEL Skinner will find out later this week if he has been selected for the Great Britain team for next month's World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya. The Blackheath & Bromley athlete placed fourth in the trial race which was incorporated
Gillingham Anchorians 29 v 13 Old Gravesendians Rugby Union Kent League One Report by Les Beven HOW many referees does it take to organise the Kent League One match between Gillingham Anchorians and Old Gravesendians? Three, apparently. This
A GREEN party member has criticised hazardous waste collection services across four boroughs. Darren Johnson accused Greenwich, Bexley, Bromley and Lewisham of being "complacent" about the amounts of waste, including asbestos, pesticides, petrol and
FIRE crews were called after a stolen jeep was abandoned and set alight. The 4x4 Vauxhall Frontera was left on a grass verge at the junction between Midfield Way and Chipperfield Road, Orpington, last night. The vehicle had been driven through nearby
TWO women and a teenage girl have appeared in court accused of running a fake charity collection. Daniela Vasile, aged 22, Veronica Constantin, 26, and a 16-year-old girl, all of no fixed address but believed to be from north London, are charged with
A CONSERVATIONIST and an MP have told of their regret at losing a 100-year-old pub as part of a £400m development. The Director General pub will be demolished to make way for the recently approved Love Lane development. The 1.5million sq ft scheme
POLICE are hunting a man in his early 20s who sexually assaulted a woman in a street during the morning rush hour. Detectives are appealing for anyone who was in the Beverley Road area of Barnehurst, near the junction with Northall Road, on January 22
POLICE are appealing for information after a masked man pistol whipped and robbed a staff member in an off-licence. The man entered the Kent House off-licence in Kent House Road, Beckenham, just after 9pm on February 2. A 38-year-old man who was stacking
