Summary

  • Updates on 9 April

  1. Norwegian man charged over St Paul's bomb plotpublished at 08:59 British Summer Time 13 April 2021

    He is said to have been in contact with a British woman who planned to kill herself in the cathedral.

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  2. London weather: Sunny to start but scattered showers laterpublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 13 April 2021

    BBC Weather

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    Today will start sunny and dry, but it will turn cloudier through the afternoon bringing a few scattered showers.

    Light winds with a variable direction.

    Maximum Temperature: 9C to 12C (48F to 54F)

  3. Woman, 36, held over teen street stabbingpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 13 April 2021

    Levi Ernest-Morrison, 17, died in south-east London on Saturday.

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  4. Newquay to London air contract not awardedpublished at 06:45 British Summer Time 13 April 2021

    The deadline has passed to find an airline to provide frequent flights between London and Newquay.

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  5. Trafalgar Square may host Euro fan parkpublished at 06:11 British Summer Time 13 April 2021

    Up to nine matches could be shown on giant TV screens in central London if licensing is approved.

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  6. 'The world through my eyes is different'published at 00:16 British Summer Time 13 April 2021

    Usha Mistry has very limited sight and is worried about moving around London as lockdown eases.

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  7. Surge testing in south London over Covid variantpublished at 21:53 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    NHS Test and Trace says 44 cases of the South African variant in two areas is "significant".

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  8. Celebrations as pub gardens, shops and zoos reopenpublished at 21:21 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Shoppers have been rushing back to the High Street, where queues were seen outside some retailers.

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  9. Terror attack victim's life 'was a triumph'published at 18:02 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    A jury has been sworn in at the inquest into the death of two graduates killed at Fishmongers' Hall.

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  10. London passenger numbers rise as lockdown easespublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Transport for London sees a rise in bus and Tube passengers as shops, hairdressers and pubs reopen.

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  11. Salon started hair and beauty treatments when clock struck twelvepublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    HairdresserImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Five housemates desperate for a trim and tan booked Secret Spa stylist Nas Ganev and tan artist Magdelaine Gibson to visit their home at one minute past midnight for haircuts and bronzed skin as coronavirus restrictions eased across England

    Beauty therapists wasted little time ushering in the easing of lockdown restrictions across England as long-awaited hair and beauty treatments began when the clock struck twelve.

    Monday marks the first time salons and hairdressers are able to treat customers since the third national lockdown was legally imposed in England on 6 January.

    One of the beauty companies delivering midnight services was Secret Spa, which offers at-home salon and spa treatments at home across London, Manchester and Brighton.

    At the stroke of midnight, co-owner Emily Ewart-Perks, alongside hair stylist Nas Ganev and tan artist Magdelaine Gibson, visited a home in Balham, south London to offer their long-awaited services to clients Amy Pallister and Isabella Robinson.

    "It's so amazing. It's just been such a long time coming," Ms Ewart-Perks said.

    "I know that our therapists are just so happy to be working with clients again.

    "Everyone has really missed the social contact of the day-to-day job and making clients happy. We haven't been able to do that for the best part of five-to-six months."

    EmilyImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    At the stroke of midnight, Emily Ewart-Perks visited a home in Balham to offer their long-awaited services to a client

    Ms Pallister, who received the first hair cut of the day, said the return of beauty services could not have come sooner.

    "(The haircut) feels amazing, I can't stop touching it," she said.

    "(It's been) about seven or eight months, since my last one, so I had some very split ends.

    "I'm very impatient, so I didn't want to wait. (I booked it) as soon as they could fit me in."

  12. Met Police 'step up patrols' as restrictions liftedpublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Covent GardenImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A pedestrianised road with outdoor seating areas is seen in Covent Garden ahead of a further easing of lockdown restrictions

    In response to the easing of restriction, the Metropolitan Police said it will be "stepping up" patrols in high footfall areas from Monday.

    Jane Connors, the Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner, said: "The Met is ready to welcome back people to the streets of London. We will be stepping up our patrols to busy high footfall areas, to look out for everyone's safety and to disrupt any criminal activity.

    "Of course, where we need to take action against those who dangerously flout the rules we will do. While the case rate has declined in London, we have seen the concerning position in northern Europe. It is important that we all stick to the rules so further lockdowns, or restrictions, are avoided."

    The next significant date is 17 May, when socialising indoors will be permitted under the "rule of six" - if the Prime Minister judges that the vaccination programme is safely breaking the link between infections and deaths.

  13. Oxford Street reopening: 'Young people ran to join shop queues'published at 12:04 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Jamie Moreland
    BBC London

    Running to join queueImage source, PA

    There were queues, crowds and dashes for the doors as dozens of shoppers swept into stores this morning on Oxford Street.

    Despite flurries of snow, queues began forming from 06:30 BST outside shops including Primark, JD, Foot Locker and NikeTown, with some shoppers keen to buy newly released shoes.

    Some young people were spotted running across roads to line up for whichever branch they thought might open first.

    Inside shops, the atmosphere was less chaotic. Enthusiastic staff welcomed back customers and reminded people to sanitise their hands.

    Most people wore masks and calmly respected social distancing.

    Many consumers said they were excited to be back and felt safe with the Covid secure measures.

    Oxford StreetImage source, PA
  14. Oxford Street queues as shoppers flock to stores for reopeningpublished at 09:46 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Shoppers have started queuing outside London's Oxford Street stores this morning as some of England's lockdown rules are relaxed.

    From today, non-essential shops and hairdressers are allowed to reopen, while pubs and restaurants are allowed to serve customers outside.

    Some people were spotted running to join the queue outside JD Sports while crowds gathered around the front doors of nearby TK Maxx.

    A large queue was also formed outside Size? in Carnaby Street.

    JD Bond Street
    JD Oxford Street
    Carnaby St
  15. As it happened: 'Duke's legacy will live on'published at 09:30 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd dedicated the day to memories of Prince Philip.

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  16. London weather: Cloudy with showers but sunny spells laterpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    BBC Weather

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    Today will start largely cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain spreading eastwards.

    In the afternoon, the cloud will become patchier to allow some sunny spells, but there still will be a few showers.

    Maximum Temperature: 8C to 11C (46F to 52F)

  17. Wooing shoppers back to Oxford Streetpublished at 00:01 British Summer Time 12 April 2021

    Empty stores and American sweets - what consumers on Oxford Street can expect to see as shops reopen.

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  18. Murder charge over woman, 85, found in bathtubpublished at 20:13 British Summer Time 11 April 2021

    Police have named the victim as Loretta Herman, from north east London.

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  19. Police 'regret' hurt over halting church servicepublished at 20:03 British Summer Time 11 April 2021

    Video of officers addressing the Good Friday congregation, from the altar, circulated online.

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  20. Somerset chase 285 to beat Middlesexpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 11 April 2021

    Somerset chase 285 to beat Middlesex and complete a remarkable comeback victory by four wickets in their County Championship game at Lord's.

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