A National Audit Office (NAO) has announced an investigation which is planned for early 2019.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Tory Margot Bright has won the Lancaster Gate by-election for a seat on Westminster City Council.

Four candidates contested the ward last night, with Councillor Bright taking 913 votes and beating three other candidates to hold the traditional Tory safe seat by early this morning.

Cllr Bright, who unsuccessfully contested the Church Street ward in the May local elections, is involved in residents’ associations, the council’s Safer Neighbourhoods Panel, and is a trustee of Paddington Charities.

She replaces former Conservative councillor Robert Davis

Fire crews are battling a blaze at a car breakers and tyre warehouse in Erith.

About 80 firefighters and 12 fire engines have been deployed to tackle the blaze on Darent Industrial Park after the brigade was called soon after 11:00.

The cause of the blaze is not currently known,

Saracens appoint former London Irish, Toulon, Harlequins and England lock Nick Kennedy as head of player recruitment.

Two bystanders were injured after a man fired a gun at another man on a north London street.

On 20 September at about 21:30, a dark coloured Jaguar using cloned number plates pulled up in the Peabody Estate.

One of the men inside the car then got out of the vehicle and fired several shoots at another person on Greenman Street, then again in Essex Road.

The targeted man was not injured but a 34-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man who were also on the street suffered minor injuries.

Nobody has been arrested over the shooting and police have released CCTV to try to find the shooter and the car driver.

The government responds to calls for help by saying it is funding many fire safety measures.

Southeastern services are also being delayed in a separate incident at Victoria where a train has become "gapped" following an electrical failure.

This means it is stuck over part of the track which has no power supply and as a result platforms 6,7 and 8 are currently out of operation.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Talia Shadwell

The number of European rough sleepers on Westminster’s streets has tripled, new figures show.

The inner London borough’s one-night annual street count uncovered the highest number of rough sleepers on its streets since November 2015, a report to Westminster City Councillors says.

Westminster’s public protection and licensing lead Cllr Ian Adams joined a street count on 27 September, where the council’s team found 340 rough sleepers overnight and the following morning.

His report to councillors said that represented a 12% increase from the previous quarter.

Of that number, there were 134 UK nationals, many of whom were either new to the streets or had recently returned.

Another 132 were people from the European Economic Area (EEA) who were unable access benefits in the UK.

BBC London News

Which? has discovered that shoppers can find better deals at other times in the year.

Adverts for fatty, sugary foods will vanish from London's transport network next year, City Hall says.

BBC London News

Victoria Hollins has this morning's top stories from the BBC London newsroom.

Image source, PA

The majority of vehicles break the speed limit in new 20mph zones in residential areas, a Government commissioned study has found.

Just 47% of motorists comply with the limit on roads near houses, rising to 65% in city centres.

Although a "substantial proportion" of people are speeding in those areas, there has been an increase in drivers travelling at less than 24mph, which suggests "faster drivers have slowed down".

The study also found there is "insufficient evidence" that the lower speed limit has led to a significant reduction in crashes and casualties in residential areas. Journey times are estimated to have increased by 3% in residential areas and 5% in city centres, adding less than a minute to a five-mile trip.

The Government commissioned consultancy firm Atkins to examine vehicle speeds in 12 areas where the limit was reduced from 30mph to 20mph.

There has been a substantial growth in the number of 20mph limits following the Department for Transport's decision in 2013 to encourage local authorities to consider the measure in a bid to reduce casualties and boost walking and cycling.

AA president Edmund King said speed limits must reflect the nature of roads so drivers can "easily understand why the limit is set".

He went on: "We need more variable speed limits linked to time of day. For example, in the USA most drivers slow down outside schools with flashing yellow lights but not at 3am when there are no children around.

"The research suggests blanket 20mph zones dilute the speed limit's effectiveness and compliance."

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at road safety charity Brake, said: "Breaking the speed limit is breaking the law and those who do so should be punished.

"We must make a success of 20mph limits but to do so we need more enforcement which is delivered consistently across the country."

BBC Weather

A little misty in places at first this morning with a lot of cloud but in general, a fair amount of dry weather.

This afternoon, it may be a touch brighter but still with lots of cloud. Mostly dry.

Maximum temperature: 7 to 10°C (45 to 50°F).

BBC London News

Good morning.

We'll be bringing you updates of all the latest news, sport, travel and weather in London throughout the day.

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From old police stations to schools, could empty buildings provide thousands more homes across the UK?

Brentford add former technical director Robert Rowan to their squad list after his death at the age of only 28.

Midfielder Jed Wallace signs a new, undisclosed-length contract with Championship outfit Millwall.

New Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri plans to "tinker clever" with his side to keep them in the Premier League.

BBC London News

Updates for London have ended for the day but we'll be back at 08:00 on Friday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather.

Keep checking back here throughout the evening for any breaking news.

BBC Weather

Cloud is expected to further build this evening, leading to a cloudy night.

There will some light scattered showers drifting up from the south too. Less cold than of late.

Minimum temperature: 2 to 5°C (36 to 41°F).