London

Tower Hamlets Council has been encouraging its residents to love recycling all week as part of national Recycle Week. An information stall has been touring the borough, handing out advice and information on what can and can't be recycled. Residents have also been encouraged to use their communal purple bins, where they have them, and clear sacks for recycling. Mayor John Biggs said: "Making the borough cleaner and greener is a big priority. The council sent 12,000 tonnes of waste to be recycled last year but we need to do even more, and we want local people to help us." Lead member for Strategic Development, Councillor Rachel Blake, added: "By recycling, you are doing your part to help the environment. Everyday items can be given a new lease of life, from plastic bottles to cardboard boxes...

Tower Hamlets Council has ordered three conservation area houses, illegally demolished in June 2016, to be re-built by their owners exactly as they stood before. The owners, suspected to have caused or permitted the demolition of the buildings in Coldharbour Conservation Area, repeatedly refused to give a credible explanation for their destruction during exhaustive enquiries by the council. Enforcement notices have now been issued to the owners, giving them 18 months to rebuild the properties. John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: "Many local people were understandably distressed by the demolition of these properties. It is right that those who show contempt for our heritage assets and flout the law should face legal action. "I am pleased our legal action will help remedy the harm the ...

A new exhibition of artwork on the life and work of Chris Braithwaite, also known as Chris Jones, will open on Thursday 5 October at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives. Chris Braithwaite, a seaman originally from Barbados, moved to London and lived in Stepney in the 1930s,§ where he became a tireless campaigner for equal employment rights for dockers and seafarers from Britain's colonies. He was also active in a number of political organisations. In 1935, Braithwaite founded the Colonial Seamen's Association which lobbied against racism faced by Asian seamen as well as those from the Caribbean. Inspired by Braithwaite's work, London-based artist Basil Olton, also of Barbadian heritage, has created a number of new artworks in ceramics reflecting their shared concerns of impe...

    Six people have been injured after a noxious substance was thrown during an incident at an east London shopping mall. Three of the victims needed hospital treatment after they were hit with the substance during an altercation between two groups of males at the Stratford Centre. Horrified onlookers reported scenes of panic in the aftermath of the incident which was first feared to be a series of random attacks. One witness described seeing a young male victim screaming in pain as his friends shouted it is an acid attack, he is burning, while others rushed to wash the substance from their skin. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident on Saturday evening. Scotland Yard said the altercation took place ins...

    This is the moment a group of commuters clubbed together to push a broken down bus which was blocking up a road in north London. Up to a dozen people helped to move the bus after it broke down in Finsbury Park on Friday evening. Commuter Richard Blaiberg told the Standard: The bus was in the way and everyone clubbed together. I guess people were desperate to get home. I think commuter rage moved that bus. The vehicle broke down at Finsbury Park bus station just after 6.30pm. Oliver Kassman tweeted: Was part of all different kinds of people pushing a broken down #Londonbus out the way of traffic in #FinsburyPark. #metaphor #LondonIsOpen. Brian Douieb wrote: Members of public helping to move broken down bus causing obstruction at Finsbury Park.

A major new employment, training and skills facility in Spitalfields, located in the former London Fruit and Wool Exchange (LFWE), was approved on Tuesday night at a Tower Hamlets Council Cabinet meeting. Tower Hamlets council negotiated a financial contribution of £1.2 million from the developers, Exemplar, when granting planning permission for the redevelopment of the LFWE. This funding was specifically secured to provide local training and improved employment and enterprise opportunities in the area. In addition, the council will have 500 sq m of commercial space rent and service charge free, for 10 years. The centre, scheduled to open in July 2018, will feature a bespoke training facility for residents and will work closely with local employers as part of the WorkPath partnership. Alto...

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets, is inviting residents to the next 'Ask the Mayor' question and answer event on Tuesday 26 September at the Harford Health Centre, 115 Harford St, London E1 4FG from 7.30pm – 9pm. The 'Ask the Mayor' session gives local people the chance to put questions to Mayor Biggs, to quiz him about plans for the borough and tell him about issues that need resolving. At the event the Mayor will also be setting out his approach to the upcoming council budget following a wide ranging public consultation. Mayor Biggs said: I welcome the chance to speak to residents about the issues that matter to them, and that's why I introduced my 'Ask the Mayor' sessions. I look forward to a discussion at the Harford Centre about people's views on the future of the Borough. Everyone ...

    Two more men have been arrested in South Wales over the Parsons Green terrorist attack, police say. The pair, aged 48 and 30, were arrested in Newport just after 5am. It follows the arrest of a 25-year-old man in the city on Tuesday night after a counter-terrorism raid. The latest arrests bring the number of people being held over Friday's bomb attack to five. Two other men, aged 18 and 21, are still in custody in connection the attack in southwest London. Two properties in Newport are being searched by officers Detectives were earlier given more time to question the pair arrested at the weekend. Yahyah Farroukh, 21, is listed as living at an address in Stanwell, Surrey, which was searched by officers on Sunday. Yahyah Farroukh, 21, was arrested in west London The 18-year-...

    Met Police may press manslaughter charges, which could see individuals jailed Police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire say they may press individual manslaughter charges which could see those responsible for the disaster jailed. Corporate manslaughter charges may also be looked at, police previously said. Officers are also probing eight cases of fraud involving people who claimed money after the disaster and four possible thefts from flats on the lower levels of the Tower while it was under 24-hour security, according to a spokesperson. Met Police may press manslaughter charges, which could see individuals jailed Police now believe that the death toll from the blaze on 14 June could be slightly lower than the current estimate of around 80.

    A second man has been arrested by detectives investigating the terrorist attack at Parsons Green station, the Metropolitan Police has said. The 21-year-old man was arrested in Hounslow around 11.50pm on Saturday under the Terrorism Act. He was taken to a south London police station and remains in custody. An 18-year-old man was arrested in the departure area of the port of Dover in connection with the attack on Saturday morning. He was arrested by Kent Police under the Terrorism Act and remains in custody at a London police station. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu described the arrest as very significant. A search was also carried out at a house in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, at the home of foster care couple Penelope and Ronald Jones, who previously received MBEs f...