Hundreds of families, couples, and friends soaked up the sun as they assembled on a village green over the weekend. Highams Park Day, now in its sixth year, was organised by community forum group, the Highams Park Society and took place on Saturday
Staff at a children's hospice have raised vital funds to 'pay for a day of care' after completing a running challenge. The all-female team at Haven House in High Road, Woodford Green, took part in the British 10k run through central London yesterday
West Ham United have seen four Premier League matches moved for live television coverage next season. The first round of Premier League fixtures to be broadcast by Sky Sports or BT Sports were announced earlier today, with four West Ham games included
Pizza Express will open a new branch in a multi-million development. The chain has confirmed it will open a restaurant in The Scene, on the former arcade site in Walthamstow. It will join brands including Nando’s and Turtle Bay in Cleveland
A reggae lover who defied a ban on playing loud music has been spared jail. Chrissie Holyoak, 53, of Boxted Close in Buckhurst Hill, was told by a judge that she could be jailed for ignoring warnings over her behaviour. But Recorder Anthony
Thousands of people flocked to Theydon Bois Green this weekend to celebrate the return of the village’s famous Donkey Derby. The event entertained the crowds with a series of competitive donkey races as well as a special lamb race featuring livestock
A former senior councillor and chairman has died, it has been announced. Joan Davis, who represented Loughton Broadway, was the first non-Conservative chairman of Epping Forest Disctrict Council and the second woman to hold the position. Paying
Enner Valencia is undergoing a medical at West Ham United ahead of a proposed £12m move to Upton Park from Mexican side Pachuca, according to the Press Association. Valencia, 24, impressed for Ecuador during the World Cup, scoring three goals
The team behind plans to create a new free school in Ongar are set to meet government officials, in what is considered a major step forward for the project. Almost 2,000 families have registered support online for The Ongar Academy. Now representatives
The number of missing children in Redbridge has more than doubled in the last two years, police have revealed. In the last financial year there were 1,219 children reported missing in the borough, and 18 of those went missing from care homes.
A "chaotic" nursery is failing to protect children's welfare and health, according to a report. Ofsted Inspectors concluded Rainbow Kids Nursery in Malmesbury Road, South Woodford, was inadequate. The nursery, which looks after 36 children
Casualties lined the road after a reconstruction of a serious car crash on Saturday, prompting a quick response from firefighters, paramedics and police officers. Crowds gathered at Gilwell Park for a road safety event organised to educate people
Waltham Abbey, Ongar and Loughton leisure centres are set to offer free activity days in a bid to help people get active. The Everyone Active operated centres will each introduce a jam-packed event as part of the Change4Life campaign which aims
When did Wanstead become the main flight path for planes coming out of London City Airport? The noise pollution and other pollution is becoming quite intolerable in the area. At times planes are coming across Wanstead and east London every
I walk to work every day and every day I take my life in my hands owing to cyclists who believe that they not only have a right to cycle on the pavements of Wanstead but that I as a pedestrian am an unacceptable and annoying obstacle. There is
The recent reports that payday lending company Wonga was sending out fake solicitor letters to cash-strapped customers who couldn’t afford their fees to frighten them is just further evidence of why people should take great care before borrowing money
I was pleased to see last week that Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb had announced that one of the biggest changes in the state pensions scheme in recent history was to be written into law. There was outrage back in 2000, when pensioners got
I would like to tell you how well Waltham Forest council organised the spectator arrangements for the Tour de France whizzing through the area on Monday - a once in a lifetime experience. We live in Leigh-on-Sea and came up to Whipps Cross to watch
I salute the bravery of the head of Epping Primary School when banning the so-called ‘beautiful game’ simply because it’s nothing of the sort. Today’s game is made up of greed-ridden playboys, who will play for any team, while managers play transfer
I want to commend the gentleman who dealt with dog mess on Oak Hill (between Woodford Green and Loughton), which had nothing to do with himself. It was midday and hordes of adults and children were walking up the pavement, which is where the mess
Thank you to the residents of Essex and the visitors who came to the county to watch stage three of the Tour de France on Monday. It was a truly historic day for our county. The atmosphere in towns and villages along the route in Essex was
The Conservatives lack joined up thinking. In the week that Eric Pickles, Communities and Local Government Minister, announ-ced a multi million pound fund to assist councils to tackle fraud, we learn that Tory-led Essex County Council is not taking
At the last minute some- one realised that we had the world famous Tour de France going through our little town of Epping and we weren’t ready. All the shops and houses looked bright and colourful but then spoiling it all was a big empty shop,
A walkway between two stations which was supposed to be built 18 years ago will open next month, according to MP Stella Creasy. Ray Dudley Way will link Queens Road and Walthamstow Central stations. The Family Housing Association (FHA) agreed
An acting school graduate is appealing for help to fund an unusual feature film. Former East 15 student Richard Weston, 22, of Whitakers Way in Loughton, hopes to raise £10,000 for Saddenly Now, which will star Will Firth, son of Oscar winner Colin
A trust working with vulnerable people raised £6,000 as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. Chigwell Riding Trust for Special Needs yesterday welcomed clients, staff and volunteers for a day of entertainment. Guests included Epping Forest MP
A CCTV image has been released of two people being hunted over an attack in an off license. A 25-year-old man was beaten up in Shels Food and Wine in Chadwell Heath Lane by two men after they watched him enter his pin number at the counter at 10.40am
When Claire, a priest, survives an atrocity she sets out on a quest to answer the most difficult question of all - Why? It’s a journey that takes her to the edge of reason, science, politics and faith. David Greig’s daring play explores
Who are you and what do you do? Most people know us as a music duo, prone to wild performances using animalistic vocals, electric guitar, traditional Andean flutes and effects pedals... Who’s the Bitch and who’s the Monk? Debatable. Depends
It’s a practice that dates back thousands of years – from the healing dots on Otzi the Iceman, to the status symbols on tribal populations, to the romantic iconography adorning sailors of the 19th Century, to the gang culture of the 20th Century.
A company has apologised after delays in opening a new landmark hotel. The 14-storey Travelodge in Station Approach, Walthamstow, was due to welcome its first customers on June 23. The company said work was taking “longer than anticipated”
A CCTV image has been released of a man who fraudulently claimed winnings at a bookmaker. Police say the man acted in partnership with a staff member at William Hill in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, to alter an electronic betting record and falsely
A man has been charged with driving offences following a collision in Loughton which resulted in a cyclist being seriously injured. Stuart Hill, 39, a builder of Lippitts Hill, Loughton, has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous
Police discovered cannabis plants in a house after firefighters broke in to tackle a blaze. Officers on patrol on June 26 were alerted to the blaze in Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow. When they arrived at the property, fire crews were tackling
There were 44 new planning applications filed to Redbridge council for the week starting the 7th July. Mr. N Ali: Single storey rear extension, 25, Earlswood Gardens, Clayhall, Ilford, IG5. Mr. P Singh: conversion with rear dormer. Hip to gable
Scores of college students donned a cap and gown as they celebrated the end of their education at Waltham Forest College, last week. This year, 234 graduated in subjects ranging from art and design, fashion and textiles, computing, teaching and
A woman in her 70s was flung backwards as she tried to wrestle her handbag from a robber after being mugged in the middle of the day, it has emerged. The woman was pushed from behind by a man in Chigwell library car park in Hainault Road. She
