MORE than 300 youths descended on St Mary’s Church, Loughton, for the climax to the Battle of the Bands. Friends, fans and family of the six performing acts took their seats and were handed electronic voting devices to help determine which
STRUGGLING native plant species will soon be feeling the benefits of a £1.7million grant to tackle invasive rhododendron growth. The cash comes from Natural England for a ten year habitat restoration project in Epping Forest aiming to prevent
COUNCIL leader Clyde Loakes has been accused of exploiting immigration fears in the constituency where he is hoping to become MP. Among the Labour election pledges highlighted in his leaflet to voters in Northampton South is a commitment to
POLICE workshops were held for school children to show them how to stay safe. PCSO's Carley Etherington and Laura Martin visited Coopersale School in Epping and tailored the sessions to each year group. The reception class listened to
WADDLING for a good cause was the order of the day for children at Braeside School’s Early Years Department. Youngsters from the Buckhurst Hill High Road school enjoyed a walk around their local duck pond in aid of the Meningitis Trust.
A STUDENT at Redbridge College has secured a ‘golden ticket’ to the next round of X-Factor auditions later this month. Edmar Teixeira, 16, auditioned last Tuesday in front of the TV talent show’s producers, who were so impressed they immediately
A SPECIAL guest had a point to prove at the 46th AGM of Buckhurst Hill Residents’ Society. Jeremy Stokes, pikeman to the City of London, addressed members in the full regalia of his profession. Mr Stokes is a member of The Company of
THE first person to be diagnosed with swine flu in the district said he developed symptoms after returning home from a business trip to America. The man, in his 30s, from North Weald, initially had a cough, then a fever and a headache which
FOOD lovers in Wanstead and Woodford may have to think twice before heading out for a bite at their favourite restaurants, after some of the area’s most popular eateries were criticised for their poor hygiene standards. The Cinnamon curry house in
DRINKING alcohol will be banned in parks in Epping under new regulations set out by the district council. People could be prosecuted if they consume alcohol on Lower Swaines playing fields, Stonards Hill recreation ground and the football ground
A BEAST was the inspiration for pupils art work produced for their GCSE exam. Students at St John's School in Epping spent two years building up a portfolio of work to submit for their course work and were given the theme of 'The nature of
A LEADING councillor’s claim that small businesses must ‘ramp up their game’ has prompted anger. Local businesses were criticised by Cllr Terry Wheeler during a town hall debate on the authority’s response to the economic downturn. Unveiling
Two weeks after Wanstead's dramatic council by-election, the Guardian caught up with new councillor Alex Wilson to find out how he is settling in. CONSERVATIVE Cllr Alex Wilson certainly has his work cut out over the next year. Two of his fellow
ALLOTMENT holders are celebrating having their plots safeguarded after so much uncertainty in recent years. Redbridge Council attempted to sell off five allotment sites to property developers in 2007 but backed down after a fierce Guardian-backed
Waltham Forest Council will have more say in funding local transport under new plans from the Greater London Assembly. The move will cut red tape and make it easier for council’s to fund specific projects. The borough will receive £2.7
THE forgotten "Cinderellas" of war time have been honoured at a special ceremony at Valentines Mansion. Women from across the borough who worked for the Land Army and Timber Corps during World War Two, came together to swap stories and photographs
A DEVELOPER is continuing his fight to build a commuter car park, despite huge objections. George Dilloway has appealed against the district council's decision to reject his application to create the 350 space car park on land off Abridge Road
IT LOOKS set to be a busy summer at Leyton Orient after nearly half of the playing squad was culled at the weekend. Boss Geraint Williams spent the Bank Holiday in face-to-face talks with each player. Top scorer Adam Boyd is one of 13
It's nice to have avoided relegation in an up and down season. We'll take it as a team, I'll take it as an individual and we'll look to build next season. Now, I'm looking forward to a break. You work hard all season, and this is when you can repair
ANGRY traders and residents have said they have had their fill of takeaways with two new applications planned for a crowded high street. Domino’s Pizza has now formally completed its planning appeal to move into the former PDSA charity shop
A PRIEST who campaigned for the ordination of women and acceptance of homosexuality is leaving Waltham Forest. The Revd Claire Wilson is leaving All Saints Church, part of the parish of SS Peter and Paul in Chingford, where for more than ten
A CARER looking after vulnerable people in their homes says new management are failing the elderly and disabled. Service users and their relatives have expressed grave concerns with the quality of a new service provided by Leonard Chesire Disability
MORE than 150 young people have signed a petition asking for more equipment to be installed at a skateboard park. Arry West, 15 from St John's school, Epping approached the town council to ask for their support to update the park at Stonards
MAYOR of London Boris Johnson is to attend a special public meeting on the impact the 2012 Games will have on London. To be held on June 9 at the Walthamstow Assembly Hall, the Mayor will be joined by London Organising Committee of the Olympic
PEOPLE living next door to a house which could become a take away say they do not want it in their quiet village. An application to open a fast food restaurant at the house on Market Place in Abridge was rejected by the district council in
WATERWAYS on the Olympic park are being dredged as part of a multi-million pound clean up. A 6-tonne craft is dredging a 2.2km stretch of water from Bow Creek to the Waterworks River, in Newham. More than 30,000 tonnes of silt, gravel
CAMPAIGNERS have been left fuming after councillors approved Tesco's plans to install a "garish" illuminated sign at its new Wanstead branch. Representatives from the Wanstead Society argued that the council should force the supermarket chain
THE most important trees in Wanstead and Woodford are set to be given a new lease of life when millions of pounds are ploughed into a woodland heritage project. More than a thousand 'Keystone Trees' have been identified by the Epping Forest
THE Big Lottery Fund has awarded the district council with 'Fit for Business' recognition, as the first organisation in Essex to achieve this title. The National Lottery funded programme, 'Wellbeing in the East', works with 37 businesses across
A LOCAL drama teacher is hoping to help talented children break into showbiz. Amanda Goodwin, 40, of Richmond Avenue, Highams Park, has been running the Act 2 drama school at Handsworth Primary School for nearly five years and has now set up the Act
NATURE enthusiasts can enjoy activities at Waterworks Nature Reserve as part of the Lee Valley Regional Park's Spring Wildlife Weekend. The reserve, in Lammas Road, Leyton, will host a series of talks and workshops next weekend (May 16 and 17).
