West London News

The NHS says it is committed to scaling down services available at A&E departments at Ealing and Charing Cross Hospitals but pledges the changes won't happen until it has ensured "additional capacity" is in place elsewhere. The life-saving departments will be transformed into 'local A&E' wards which will not be equipped to deal with major trauma. It is part of a plan spanning North West London which will see more healthcare provided by so-called 'primary and community care services' such as walk-in centres and doctors' surgeries in an attempt to cut down the numbers of people being admitted to hospital. Read More Latest health news Big services like full A&E departments are to be centralised in fewer hospitals. Campaign groups live Ealing Save our NHS continue to fight bitterly against the changes. Get West London asked the NHS about the future of the hospitals as rumours continue to circulate that services will be downgraded or moved elsewhere. In response to these … [Read more...] about A&E at Ealing and Charing Cross Hospitals to be scaled down

WhatsApp has launched a huge new update that will massively change the way you chat to friends The popular instant messaging service can now be used to make group calls with voice and video. Users can now chat with up to four friends at anytime, anywhere following a new update at the end of last month. Members of the group call will be able to see, hear and speak to each other simultaneously, The Mirror reports. A WhatsApp spokesman announced the update in a blog post which read: “You can make a group call with up to four people total - anytime and anywhere. Read More Stories for shopping lovers "Just start a one-on-one voice or video call and tap the new "add participant" button in the top right corner to add more contacts to the call." WhatsApp has reassured users that these group calls will always be end-to-end encrypted. This means only the members of the group can listen to or view the content of the call. WhatsApp also confirmed that it has designed calling to work … [Read more...] about A huge WhatsApp update will transform the way you chat

Wealdstone FC confirmed it will be investigating claims that broadcasting legend Martin Tyler was punched during a football match at the stadium in Ruislip on Monday night (August 13). The 72-year-old Sky Sports veteran had been on the touchline during the Vanarama National League South game, which Wealdstone FC won 1-0. Tyler, who is also assistant manager of rivaling team, Woking FC, was allegedly punched in the back during the fracas that ensued when opponents Wealdstone FC scored an 85th minute penalty, Surrey Live reports. Woking's manager Alan Dowson claimed in a post match interview that his assistant had been punched. "He got punched in the back, I gather, which is not very good," claimed Dowson following the game at Wealdstone's stadium in Grosvenor Vale. Woking FC confirmed it is standing by what their manager argued after the game but it did not wish to add any further comments. A spokesman for Woking FC said : "Alan Dowson was quoted directly and accurately but the … [Read more...] about Wealdstone FC investigate claims Martin Tyler punched in Ruislip

If you haven't heard of The Kiki Challenge it's the latest social media trend to take the Internet by storm. Police have been forced to issue a warning after several people have hurt themselves or posed a dangers to others while carrying out the challenge, which involves jumping out of a moving vehicle. So why Kiki? The challenge involves jumping out of a car and dancing along to Drake's hit My Feelings which includes the line "Kiki, do you love me?", before getting back into the moving vehicle. Videos of people attempting the challenge are then posted on social media but unsurprisingly it has led to more than a handful of injuries and accidents. Police have warned people not to attempt the trend after videos of those doing it show them crashing into lamp posts and even other people, Coventry Live reports. Others have hurt themselves tripping over and falling out of cars before they have even begun to dance. Read More What else is happening in west London? One woman put her … [Read more...] about Dangerous Kiki Challenge social media trend prompts police warning

A Hayes couple were lucky to escape alive when they woke up to find part of their house engulfed by flames and smoke. The pair only stirred after the heat and smell of the blaze reached their room and it was later discovered that worryingly, there were no fire alarms installed in the property. Up to 35 firefighters were called to Stormount Drive at 11.30pm on Monday (August 13) and spent an hour and-a-half battling the flames. The incident has prompted London Fire Brigade to issue a fresh appeal for smoke alarms to be installed in all properties and everyone to regularly check they are working. Four fire engines from Hayes, Heathrow and Hillingdon attended the fire on Monday night. Half of the first floor and all of the roof were damaged by the blaze which is believed to have started in a bedroom. An image taken by crew at the scene shows the top part of the property completely burnt out. A man and woman escaped outside before the blaze took hold of the house and they were treated … [Read more...] about Hayes couple’s lucky escape as house without alarms catches fire

A 42-year-old man is fighting for his life after being struck by a train on Monday (August 13). Officers were called to Mortlake station, in Richmond , at around 8.20pm after reports of a person being struck by a train. Emergency services arrived, including an air ambulance, and remained at the scene between Whitton and Barnes in the evening. Paramedics from London Ambulance Service then rushed a 42-year-old man to hospital from the station. He has suffered life-threatening injuries. His family has been informed. Read More What else is happening in west London? A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “Officers were called to Mortlake station at 8.20pm yesterday after a report that a person had been struck by a train. “Colleagues from the London Ambulance Service also attended, and a 42-year-old man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. His family has been informed. “This incident is not currently being treated as suspicious.” … [Read more...] about Man, 42, fighting for life after being struck by train in Richmond

Spiders are about to start invading UK homes in their annual tradition of terrifying everyone by hiding in baths. Huge spiders are being sighted in UK homes as the mating season is now upon us and they need somewhere warm and dry to lay their eggs. Generally, spiders are most active during September through to November, but a wet and cool August could tempt them inside. The heavy rainfall and cooler weather over the weekend could also encourage spiders to make the move into your homes a bit earlier than usual. The photo below, taken by Chris Pentney, shows a huge spider climbing up a roll of toilet paper. And the Newcastle Chronicle reported that the above video, shot in Gosforth on Sunday, shows a 7cm spider racing around curtains. Our eight-legged friends can have a leg span of up to 12cm and female spiders can stay in your home for the whole of their seven year life span. But many spiders you'll find lurking in your home at this time of year are males in search of a mate. Females … [Read more...] about Here’s how to stop spiders from invading your homes

For keen cyclists, building a series of cycling superhighways that link outer London with the centre is a no brainer: They mean people can commute to work more safely in less danger of being hit by a car on the many thunderous carriageways and gyratory systems that link up the capital. They also help to improve people’s health and start to shift drivers and families away from relying on the motor car. Of course not everyone agrees. Some feel the superhighways – which are basically two-way cycle lanes protected by kerbs – will wreck the pavements for shoppers and shopkeepers, make it more difficult to get in and out of junctions and slow traffic down on major routes. I decided to see for myself, so on Tuesday, August 7, members of the Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham Cycling Campaign groups took me on a ride on a Boris bike along some of the proposed route of Cycle Superhighway 9. This planned linked between Hounslow town centre and Kensington Olympia and will cost … [Read more...] about Watch what it will be like to ride along the Cycle Superhighway 9

The Metropolitan Police will step up its armed presence in London's streets after a car crashed into several cyclists and pedestrians before smashing into barriers outside Westminster . A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of terrorist offences, the force confirmed shortly after the incident. Multiple people were injured when the silver Ford Fiesta smashed its way towards the gates outside of the House of Common at 7.37am on Tuesday (August 14). Police confirmed the incident is being treated as an attempted terrorist attack and its Counter Terrorism Command Unit is now leading the investigation. Londoners have been warned to not be alarmed by additional police presence as British Transport Police (BTP) officers - both armed and unarmed will be carrying out patrols across the capital. The area around the Palace of Westminster was temporarily in lockdown as police swarmed the scene after a car crashed into several people before smashing into the barriers. Video footage … [Read more...] about Police presences stepped up in London after Westminster incident

A curious puppy landed itself in a sticky situation in north west London last week. Max the Jack Russell decided to explore the great beyond outside his owner's flat in Maida Vale but when he slipped out of the window, he ended up in a a bit of a predicament. Luckily a concerned neighbour spotted the tiny brown and white pooch trapped on the narrow ledge - two floors above ground. A rescue mission was immediately launched when firefighters from Paddington were called to Lanhill Road shortly after 7.30pm on Monday August 6. Crew brought the curious canine to safety and it's believed poor Max was stuck on the narrow ledge for up to half-an-hour. A photograph taken from the scene shows a very nervous Max teetering on the tall building's edge while three firefighters work hard to rescue him. "It seems Max managed to climb out of the window and then realised he couldn't turn round on the ledge and was well and truly stuck," said crew manager Sean Sloan. "We don’t know exactly how … [Read more...] about Curious dog sparks rescue mission to save him from window ledge