BBC London News

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

Have a good weekend.

BBC Weather

Most places will have another cold night with clear spells and variable cloud. Still the slight risk of an isolated shower in the evening.

Minimum temperature: 0 to 3°C (32 to 37°F).

Image source, Better Bankside

Nearly 100 businesses based around Bankside have been taking pat in a project to collect gifts of new clothing, toiletries and food to give to local homeless, vulnerable and elderly people this Christmas.

Some 6,000 items have been donated so far for the Together at Christmas scheme and 200 volunteers have been helping to wrap them ahead of the presents being delivered.

The scheme, run by Better Bankside, began 11 years ago.

Peter Williams, CEO of Better Bankside, said: “Today in London and beyond there is an obligation to help the people around us in whatever way we can."

Image source, TfL

About 250,000 journeys have been made in the first year of the Night Overground, Transport for London (TfL) has said.

At the moment, the only Overground journey possible for people between 00:25 and is between Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate, on Saturdays and Sundays.

But from this weekend - which marks exactly a year since the launch - Night Overground services will also begin to serve Whitechapel station.

Amy Lamé, the "night czar" in the London mayor's team, said: “The Night Overground has provided a big boost to east London’s diverse life at night. Its success enables London to thrive as a 24-hour city, by helping people get to work safely and quickly, enjoy a night out in a pub, or flexibility to shop after an evening shift."

The Night Overground follows the launch of the Night Tube in August 2016, which now runs on the Central, Victoria, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines on Friday and Saturday nights.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Labour has won a by-election with a comfortable majority to re-take a council seat left empty following a councillor’s resignation.

Labour candidate Seema Chandwani saw off a challenge by the Liberal Democrats to take the West Green seat in Tottenham with 56.6% of the vote.

Lib Dem candidate Elizabeth Payne put in a strong showing, winning 27.6% of the vote – more than triple the party's share in the May 2018 local election.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Ishmael Osamor following his conviction on drugs charges.

Councillor Chandwani announced she would donate £1,000 of her councillor’s allowance to a “youth fund” for the people of Tottenham. Tottenham MP David Lammy will also put £1,000 into the fund.

Mr Lammy tweeted: “Well done @SeemaChandwani for a great victory in West Green Ward. Wonderful to dedicate your win to Tottenham’s young people.”

Councillor Chandwani will also help to launch a leadership programme for young women of ethnic minority backgrounds in Haringey “to equip them to challenge and campaign against the social injustices they face”.

Along with fellow Labour councillor Ruth Gordon, she has pledged to hold collections at full council to encourage members to donate to foodbanks.

Cllr Chandwani’s victory means Labour now has 42 seats on Haringey Council, with the Liberal Democrats on 15.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lewisham Council has been urged to strengthen planning policy around pub conversions amid concerns property developers see boozers as “easy targets.”

This comes after the number of pubs in the borough has decreased by 50% since the early 2000s.

Speaking at a sustainable development committee, pub protection officer at the Campaign for Real Ale, Neil Pettigrew, said while the borough had a strong pub policy, it could be made stronger.

“We recognise Lewisham has a strong pub protection policy at the moment but we would like to see it made much stronger, particularly because property developers feel pubs are an easy target.

“An example which has cropped up recently in Forest Hill is the All In One pub.

“It is a popular pub used by the community, lots of meeting and clubs meet there.

A property developer walked in, made an offer on the premises and submitted an application,” he explained.

“What we would like to see is stronger policies to make it clear to property developers that they will not get permission to demolish pubs or to change them to residential use. That would be our main objective,” he added.

This comes after the council undertook a review of the circumstances impacting pubs.

Anyone who wishes to change a pub to any other use needs a full planning application submission.

Lewisham Council officer David Syme said there were a number of policies to protect pubs in the draft London Plan, including making sure any development in a pub does not compromise its future.

The committee will consider the recommendations made at its next meeting.

Inside Croydon

The Institute of Cancer Research, based near the Royal Marsden Hospital in Belmont, has been recognised for its many successes in discovering new cancer drugs through the award of blue plaques under the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemical Landmark scheme.

Full story, external

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, LDRS

Whether pleasure and action have made the hours seem short, or the world seems stale, flat and unprofitable, all visitors to Shoreditch will be able to take a moment to relax in the company of William Shakespeare by the end of 2019 – or at least a newly-fix’d statue of him.

The sculpture, which will sit near the junction of New Inn Yard and New Inn Broadway, will come as part of the new public realm developments for the area, which will include the remains of The Theatre, on permanent display on the first floor of the central building on New Inn Broadway.

The foundations of The Theatre were found by archaeologists in 2008, having been lost for 400 years.

The first purpose-built theatre in London, it was constructed by Richard Burbage for Shakespeare in 1576, prior to being dismantled and moved in 1598 on the construction of the Globe.

Cllr Vincent Stops (Lab, Hackney Central), asked: “Will I be able to sit next to him?”

Cllr Stops was assured this would be possible.

BBC London News

Image source, Jason Hawkes

We used this wonderful photo by Jason Hawkes of the Shard ant night as our banner, but we want a new picture every day to show off the capital.

Have you taken a photo of your part of London which you think would be suitable? If so, email it in high resolution (2048 x 1152 or 1680 x 945) to london.locallive@bbc.co.uk.

Two men admit attacking two police officers in south London after footage of the assault went viral.

The 23-year-old rapper - real name Momodou Jallow - says he was "utterly stupid" to carry a blade.

These are some of the most impressive Christmas light displays on houses across Greater London.

Each one is fundraising for charity.

Image source, PA

Wages are worth a up to a third less in some parts of London than a decade ago, according to a report.

Research by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that the average worker has lost £20,390 in real earnings since 2008.

The biggest losses have been in areas including the London borough of Redbridge, Epsom and Waverley in Surrey.

Only two London local authorities – Southwark and Merton – have seen the value of wages recover.

TUC Regional Secretary Sam Gurney said: “The government has failed to tackle Britain’s cost of living crisis. As a result many families across London will be worse off this Christmas than a decade ago.

“While pay packets have recovered in most leading economies, wage growth in the UK is stuck in the slow lane."

An environmental campaigner, who says she was tricked into a relationship, fails in a legal challenge.

BBC Weather

This afternoon will be chilly with rather a lot of cloud in places but also some brighter spells.

Most places will be dry but the odd light shower will remain possible.

Maximum Temperature: 2C to 5C (36F to 41F).

BBC Weather

This afternoon will be chilly with rather a lot of cloud in places but also some brighter spells. Most places will be dry but the odd light shower will remain possible.

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

London's Mail Rail is no longer carrying letters but instead taking people on tours.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Newham Council has become the first in the country to adopt an official definition of Islamophobia in a bid to stamp out racism.

Councillor have passed a motion that will see the local authority endorse the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims definition of Islamophobia.

The meaning was finalised by the APPG at the end of November, following almost two years of consultation.

It defines Islamophobia as “rooted in racism and a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.

The nine point definition includes “calling for or justifying the killing or harming of Muslims in the name of a fascist ideology” and “applying double standards by requiring Muslims to behave in ways not expected or demanded of any other groups in society”.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, who put forward the motion, said: “Newham is proud of its diversity and recognises this as a huge asset and a source of great strength.

“A large proportion of its residents are Muslim, who are an integral part of its make-up, playing a huge role in all aspects of the borough’s life. Its residents have always united and supported each other in the fight against racism and discrimination in all its forms.”

Millwall defender Jake Cooper commits his future to the Championship club by signing a new long-term-contract.

Two dogs have died in a fire at a house in Plumstead in south east London.

Twenty-five firefighters and four fire engines were deployed to the building in Roydene Road at 09:50.

London Fire Brigade said a small part of the ground floor was damaged in the blaze and the dogs were found dead at the scene.

The cause of the fire, which was under control at 11:00, is not currently known.