It is believed to be feeding around barges near Gravesend.

The horrendous way in which fire spread shows no-one should have been living there, a fire chief says.

Image source, Getty Images

Benedict Cumberbatch has spoken for the first time about stepping in to stop a cyclist being robbed in central London.

The Sherlock star told chat show host Ellen DeGeneres he saw a "delivery guy getting surrounded by some guys" last November and stopped to intervene.

"I didn't think twice about knives or acid or any of the other things that can be part of that situation so it was a bit foolhardy," he revealed.

The star was hailed a hero when details of the incident emerged this year, external.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Getty Images

Three major landowners are considering investing in an Oxford Street redevelopment.

In a meeting last night, Westminster City Council revealed that they have been in talks with the three potential contributors, who remain anonymous at the moment.

The council is planning to spend £50m a year for the next three years on a redesigning, upgrading and developing the street and its surroundings, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Chief executive Stuart Love said at the meeting: “We have had three large landowners suggest that they would like to contribute and what their expectations might be.”

The news comes after the council pulled out of the mayor of London’s scheme to pedestrianise the street earlier this year.

More than four million people visit Oxford Street each week.

Image source, lfb

The fire at Highbury Leisure Centre has now been brought under control, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

The blaze broke out at about midday and damaged the roof of the one-storey building.

The LFB said there were no reports of injuries.

About 100 people had left the building before the brigade arrived in what the centre described as an "emergency evacuation" on its website.

The London Ambulance Service said it assessed three people at the scene but did not take anyone to hospital.

About 80 firefighters and 12 crews took almost two hours to bring the blaze, which could be seen from as far away as the Tate Modern, under control.

Image source, Twitter/@mille8294

Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene into the evening damping down.

Station manager James Chapman said: “Crews worked hard in difficult conditions to bring this large fire under control.

“A number of local road closures are in place around the site, so motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible.”

The centre, on Highbury Cresent, is closed until further notice and customers are asked to check the website , externalfor up-to-date information.

Image source, Met Police

Detectives investigating the murder of a "hugely popular" personal trainer are facing "total silence" with even his friends failing to speak to police.

Abraham Badru, 26, was shot dead on 25 March near his home in Hackney, east London, as he went to get drink from the boot of his AMG Mercedes.

Six months on and despite a £20,000 reward on offer, no arrests have been made and investigators still know little about parts of his life.

The personal trainer received a police bravery award in 2009 after stopping a gang rape and giving evidence against the attackers despite receiving death threats.

His family believe he may have been killed as revenge, but his love life and business interests are other lines of inquiry.

Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh said: "Abraham was a hugely popular young man. There were 200 to 250 people at his funeral.

"People have not come forward and there are big gaps in his life around his girlfriends, around his business interests that he was involved in.

"The answer lies within his friends because they would have known if something was adrift or wrong or out of the ordinary."

As a beluga whale is spotted in the Thames, online users are posting their amusing reactions

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Getty Images

Lambeth Council will improve its noise nuisance service, after an ombudsman found it had turned down more than 6,300 complaints since 2016.

The council had changed its policy as a response to budget cuts, only investigating a noise complaint if three people raised concerns.

But local authorities cannot place restrictions on what they will investigate, local government and social care ombudsman Michael King said.

“Ongoing noise nuisance can cause significant distress, but Lambeth Council’s policy unfairly swept many people’s complaints under the carpet,” he said.

“Councils have a statutory duty to investigate and cannot impose their own limits on what they will and will not consider.

“I’m pleased Lambeth council has now changed its policy to recognise its duties, and will now look into any ongoing concerns that have not been investigated previously,” Mr King added.

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said the council had made changes and would ensure complaints were handled more effectively.

“We’ve fully accepted the findings of the LGO and apologise unreservedly for the inconvenience caused by the changes to the statutory noise service, which were introduced in 2016,” he said.

RMT union members on London's Piccadilly Line will walk out from 12:00 BST on Wednesday.

A Beluga whale has "almost certainly" been seen in the River Thames, marine life rescuers have said.

It was first spotted by ecologist and ornithologist Dave Andrews, who said it had been feeding around the barges near Gravesend.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue said it seemed to be "swimming strongly".

Spokeswoman Julia Cable urged the public not to get too close to the whale and "to watch it from the shore".

Smoke caused by a fire in Highbury can be seen from Bankside on the southern bank of the River Thames - about four miles from the scene.

Videos of the blaze on the roof of Highbury Leisure Centre have been shared on social media.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB), which was called to the blaze just after midday, said about 100 people had left the building by the time it arrived.

There are no reports of injuries, it added.

A family doctor has gone on trial accused of sexual offences against 20 women.

Dr Manish Shah, 48, is accused of assaulting female patients at his surgery in Romford, Greater London.

He is charged with 75 sexual offences against 20 complainants, who will give evidence during a four-month trial at the Old Bailey which cannot be reported for legal reasons.

The defendant, of Brunel Close, Romford, is on conditional bail.

The London Fire Brigade now has 80 firefighters and 12 crews tackling a blaze at Highbury Leisure Centre.

Highbury Leisure Centre in Highbury, north-east London, has been evacuated after a fire.

The centre, on Highbury Crescent, published an update on its website, external stating it would be closed for the foreseeable future due to an "emergency evacuation".

It is usually open from 06:30 to 22:00 and offers a gym, swimming pool, classes and a sauna.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) now has 12 engines at the scene after it was called at about 12:00.

An LBF spokeswoman said it is not yet known if anyone has been injured as a result of the fire, or what the cause is.

BBC Weather

It will be dry this afternoon with sunny spells and variable amounts of cloud. Winds will remain light.

A dry evening with largely clear skies.

Maximum temperature: 15 to 18°C (59 to 64°F).

A gym in north-east London is on fire.

The fire brigade was called to Highbury Leisure Centre, on Highbury Crescent, shortly after 12:00.

Part of the roof is alight, the London Fire Brigade (LFB), which sent eight crews and about 60 firefighters to the scene, says.

The cause is not yet known.

A strike on the London Underground line serving Heathrow Airport will go ahead after talks collapsed.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on the Piccadilly Line will launch a 48-hour walkout from 12 noon tomorrow and a five-hour strike from 20:30 on Friday.

The union says there has been a complete breakdown of industrial relations.

Transport for London (TfL) warned there will be little or no service, including the Night Tube on Friday.

The two sides met at the conciliation service Acas but they ended without agreement.

Alan Moore said there would have been more causalities had people on higher floors tried to leave.

BBC London News

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