You might think you need to take out a second mortgage if you want to spend a day in London’s fancy old Knightsbridge quarter – but if you’re super-savvy with your cash, turns out you can have a great day living it up like a local.

So if it’s a place you’ve either avoided because you thought it was only for people who drive supercars and drip with jewellery, then think again.

Not only can you pop into Harrods for lunch and still come out with change from a tenner (thanks to their £7 sandwiches from the Roast and Bake takeaway), but there are so many hidden hot spots to enjoy without breaking the bank. 

Here’s how I did it…

Walk it baby

The best way to explore Knightsbridge is to first take a detour away from the iconic Brompton Road and explore the side streets.

Of course, knowing where to start is always a good thing, which is why the Knightsbridge partnership has just launched an interactive map which gives a tour of neighbourhood and must see-highlights, from the beautiful Mandarin Oriental and Bulgari hotels, to tourist must-sees like Wellington Arch, Jane Austen’s blue plaque and the historical Brompton Oratory.

Another gem to discover off the beaten track is the The Map House, which offers a beautifully presented history and geography lesson on London and beyond, through their 10,000-odd maps. Visitors are more than welcome to browse rather than buy, too.

Meanwhile, if you need a quick coffee-stop but don’t want to pay a fortune for a flat white, the Co. London is a great side street shout, with a lattes coming in at £3.50.

It’s also worth considering that if there’s a group of you going and you want to do some touristing without the usual clichés, then hiring a Blue Badge Tourist Guide could be an option. Sophie Campbell really knows her stuff – from sharing stories of how yesterday’s hay stables became today’s must have loft apartments, to the spooky tale behind the Grenadier pub’s ceiling covered in bank notes. Get a group of 10 of you together and a half day – 4 hours walk – costs around £28 each. 

Clothes shopping in Harrods – but not as you know it

While it’s all great and lovely if you can afford the likes of Christian Louboutin and Alexander McQueen, but also hidden away on the fourth floor of London’s most glitzy deparment store is the most amazing budget-friendly pop up.

Called My Wardrobe HQ, there are rails of outfit to rent – from as little as £7, yes, really. And it’s not cut-price brands on offer either. You can rent a Victoria Beckham dress for as little as £10 a day, while there’s plenty to choose from with designers Needle & Thread, Ganni and Isabel Marant to Vampire’s Wife and Zimmerman. Meanwhile, if you head to their website you can even find a £10k Burberry coat on their loan list – although that comes in at £147 a day.

Away from Harrods, if you’re a bit of a budget fashion hound, try The Octavia Foundation’s flagship preloved store on the Brompton Road, which sometimes has high-quality donated goods, including designer and vintage pieces – so well worth a rummage.

Meanwhile, also worth a look is the Pandora Dress Agency. Established in 1947, it offers second hand designer clothes and while most are still eye-wateringly expensive, if you want to splurge/invest on some vintage goodies, they often have an amazing sale.  

Go green

If you’re heading Knightsbridge way it would be a crime not to explore at least some of the 350 acres of the historic Grade I-listed Hyde Park.

One of the eight Royal Parks and once Henry VIII’s private hunting grounds, it’s home to the most stunning landscape alongside a largescale bronze Pan Statue, the famous Speaker’s Corner – andcurrently Winter Wonderland. It also holds the brilliant Serpentine Lake (open Wednesday to Sunday between November and March), where you can hire a pedalo from £6.60 for an adult.

Fine dining on a budget

Sat at the Wellington Arch end of Knightsbridge is the glorious Lanesborough Hotel, famed for being a favourite of the stars from Madonna to Mariah Carey. It’s also the setting for the Lanesborough Grill restaurant. 

Here, if you go a la carte, a plate of (very delicious) Grilled aged English sirloin, bone marrow and oxtail can set you back £52 alone. However, opt for the two course festive set menu and it comes in for almost the same price at £55per person.

Their 2024 set menu comes in even cheaper, with two courses for £39 per person and three courses for £49.50 pp – which means you get all the fanciness and food to-die-for, but at a fraction of the price.

It’s also worth noting that no matter what your budget, the staff treat every customer like an A-lister, replacing napkins when used and topping up glasses without ever needing to be asked. (And the cheese trolley is seriously good!)

For an end of the day drink

Okay, so there’s three ways you can do this. If you want to spoil yourself after a long day of money saving, head to Harrod’s swanky Baccarat bar in the basement of the store. Here the cocktails are next level – but also a bit pricey. For example, the tequila-based Cool Blues really does hit the spot… and the wallet, at £26 a pop.

More mid-price cocktails can be found if you head to Harvey Nichol”s Fifth Floor Bar at the top of the shop, where another tequila based offering, the Tokyo Margariti, will set you back £15. (Although this place doesn’t quite have the exclusive feel of the Bacarrat, the bar has a fun, buzzy vibe and also runs a weekend cocktail masterclass which includes breakfast, lunch, and cocktails for £70 per person – and looked great fun).

However, if you’re still determined to stick to the budget, then The Paxtons Head in the heart of Knightsbridge, is just as good a place as any for a drink.

While this 1900s boozer has a great selection of wine, beer and soft drinks (as well as mirrors with a great story behind them), it doesn’t have such an eclectic mix of cocktails on offer. Although you can get a Mojito Spritzer for under a tenner, so still does the job!  

READ MORE: The top wellness holiday destinations if relaxation is on your 2024 agenda

READ MORE: The best Christmas lights in Europe have been revealed — with 5 dazzling displays in London

READ MORE: I flew to Romania for a 24-hour spa break – it was £100 cheaper than the UK

A blast of cold arctic air is likely to sweep the UK this week, bringing the possibility of snow in some areas, weather forecasters say.

But the potential of snowy weather has many wondering if we’re likely to see London covered in snow around the festive season.

When was the last white Christmas in London?

When did London last have a white Christmas?

According to the Met Office, a white Christmas is officially recorded whenever a snowflake falls on Christmas day.

The most recent times London had a snowy holiday was in 2022, with 2021, 2020 and 2017 also being classed white Christmases.

But most of us think of a white Christmas as blankets of snow covering the UK – yet London hasn’t seen a true white Christmas for 20 years.

London has technically had six white Christmases since 1960: 1964, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1996 and 1999.

However, white Christmases in London have not always been so rare.

According to the Met Office  “winters were particularly persistent and severe” from 1550-1850, as Britain (and the entire Northern hemisphere) was going through what is now known as the Little Ice Age.

This is why we see such harsh descriptions of winter in the novels of Charles Dickens, such as in A Christmas Carol.

During this time snowfall was common and the river Thames would even completely freeze over, meaning that people could ice skate on it.

Football pitches, bowling matches, fruit-sellers, shoemakers and even barbers were also set up on the ice, in what was known as Frost Fairs – can you imagine that happening now?

The Met office added: ‘Since 1960, around half of the years have seen at least 5% of the network record snow falling on Christmas Day.

‘This means we can probably expect more than half of all Christmas Days to be a white Christmas.’

Will we have a white Christmas this year?

It’s too early to truly tell if we’ll have a white Christmas this year, but in the next few weeks a cold snap will hit the UK.

A ‘reasonably strong signal’ has been detected for a downturn on Friday, bringing yet more showers in Scotland and north-east England that could fall as sleet and snow over hills.

‘There is a 70 per cent chance that areas as far south as southern England could experience overnight frosts and a general reduction in temperature,’ Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Helen Caughey said.

MORE : Edinburgh Christmas market visitor slams extortionate price of chips

MORE : Martin Lewis issues bleak energy cost warning with average bill rising £94 a year

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A man has been shot dead after a stand-off with armed police in east London.

Officers rushed to a property in Dagenham on Thursday night after the man called the police and said he wanted to take his own life.

During the phone call shortly before 8pm, he also told cops he had a loaded gun at his home in Weston Green.

Armed police and a specialist negotiator were involved in a back and forth with the man, believed to be aged 40, for around one hour.

Despite attempts to bring the incident to a safe conclusion, officers fired shots at around 9pm.

The Met said a non-police issue gun was found at the property and a search suggests no one else was there at the time of the incident.

Emergency first aid, including CPR, was carried out by paramedics but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 9.30pm.

An investigation has now been launched.

Pictures show forensics investigating and a white tent has been erected directly outside the front of the house.

Commander Kyle Gordon, frontline policing commander for north and east London, said: ‘My thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who has died, with the local community in Dagenham and the officers involved in this incident.

‘While formal identification has yet to take place, officers believe he was aged 40.

‘His next of kin has been informed.

‘They will receive our full support.’

The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards was made aware immediately after the incident and the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been informed.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A ‘lawless’ estate made of £1,560-a-month shipping containers is set to be torn down, but families are worried they could be left homeless.

Marston Court estate in west London is made up of makeshift homes created from metal shipping containers, and has reportedly become a magnet for drug dealers and knife-wielding thugs.

Ealing Council officials sent letters ordering residents to leave their homes by December 12 or to take temporary accommodation offered to them.

The council will make a final decision on whether to decommission the homes on December 6.

Two families revealed they were offered ‘unsuitable’ accommodation fifteen miles away in Slough.

One mum told MailOnline she was moving from one nightmare scenario to another.

‘The council have told us they will make only one offer of putting us up in temporary accommodation somewhere else,’ she said.

‘The council have said if we don’t accept their offer they will no longer have a legal responsibility to provide housing for us and we will be on our own.

‘It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. We don’t know if we will have a roof over our heads this Christmas.’

The residents previously told MyLondon how their homes were infested with mould and rodents.

Resident Erin Martin said at the time: ‘When we moved in here, our shower didn’t have any hot water and neither did the kitchen sink.

‘It took them two years to come and fix it. Me and my kids were bathing using a bucket and a kettle for two years, just so they could come in 20 minutes and fix it, my sink still isn’t giving me hot water.

‘They don’t make it easy to know who to talk to, who to ring, who to speak to, there is no information.

‘Eight years, I have been waiting for Ealing Council to house me, for eight years. Everywhere I have been put is “temporary”. Eight years isn’t temporary.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

While the evenings keep on getting darker, we don’t mind so much if it means we get to enjoy dazzling Christmas light displays.

From giant baubles, angels and of course, sparkling Christmas trees, they’re festive, fun and, more often than not, free.

And now, the best Christmas light displays in Europe have been crowned, and it was our capital city that came out on top.

Yes, really! From the Oxford Street stars to Carnaby Street’s neon solar system strung up, London was the best overall city for Christmas light displays.

The Regent Street lights were also crowned the top light display in Europe, with four other London spots also making the top 10.

It shouldn’t really come as a surprise that the city shines the brightest at Christmas time, after all, it was also just revealed to be the world’s prettiest Christmas city, beating New York and Paris to claim the top spot. 

The research, by ferry and cruise operator DFDS, used TikTok data to determine where the best light displays in Europe were, compiling a list of places that have garnered the most posts and likes on the video-sharing app.

London was the clear winner, with five of the city’s festive installations making it into the top 10, with the iconic Regent Street angels coming in at number one, thanks to a whopping 2.3 million views on TikTok.

The angels were closely followed by the Covent Garden Christmas lights in second place with 1.4 million views. This year the spectacular display features over 40 giant bells with bows, 12 giant baubles and eight spinning mirror balls. 

Also on the list was Oxford Street in fifth, with Carnaby Street in eighth place and Christmas at Kew rounding out the top 10.

Other noteworthy European light displays that made the cut included Christmas at the Botanics in Edinburgh, the George Square Christmas lights in Glasgow, and Bahnhofstrasse street in Zurich. 

The research also included a list of Europe’s top 10 overall best cities to visit for Christmas light displays. London was of course at number one, but other high ranking cities included Barcelona, Paris, Lisbon, Vienna, and Budapest. 

As well as fabulous Christmas lights, London also has a number of other festive treats to enjoy, from idyllic ice-skating rinks at iconic locations such as Somerset House, Kensington Palace, and Queen’s House in Greenwich.

There are also plenty of cute Christmas markets you can peruse to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

Those keen to get into the hustle and bustle of the season can head to Winter Wonderland to enjoy the neon lights, shopping stalls, and giant rides. But if you’d prefer something a little calmer, there’s always the Winter Market at Southbank which is filled with craft stalls and festive food. 

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Where to find the best Christmas lights and festive markets in London this year

MORE : You’re almost definitely making this mistake when decorating your Christmas tree

Welcome back to the Slice, your weekly guide to what’s on in London.

We might not love the fact that the sun set at 4pm today, but we’re definitely using it as an excuse to start our nights out earlier than ever.

That means three bargain courses before a West End show, alfresco drinks with friends cosied up under sheepskins, evening walks through illuminated gardens and… a dinner dance with a yeti?

The night is still young…

The Slice’s Pick

Velvet Pines

Neither the blistering indoor blizzard nor the snow-capped entrance to a 1970s ski lodge can prepare you for a night at Velvet Pines. This immersive dining experience begins in the hotel bar (complete with staff plucked from Fawlty Towers), before leading you upstairs to the grand chalet-inspired dining hall.

Expect hilarious songs and performances throughout your meal and even… a dancing yeti?! It is absolutely daft but a fantastic laugh; the actors, the music and the set design understand the brief and then some. Sadly, the food is quite disappointing for the price, so if that is a concern we recommend saving yourself £55 by keeping to the cabaret seating. For that price, you are unlikely to find a more fun, bonkers, feel-good Christmas experience this holiday season.

Until 23 December. Tickets from £35 (non-dining) and £90 (3 course dining). 47- 49 Tanner Street, London.

Food & Drink

Stanley’s Chelsea

by Jeremy Ullmann

More elegant than a pub, and more relaxing than a high-end bar, Stanley’s Chelsea is a West London oasis with exceptionally good food. The courtyard’s charming decor adapts to the changing seasons (it’s currently festooned with frosted foliage for winter) and manages to pull off a ‘too good to Instagram’ atmosphere, asking you to just sit back and enjoy.

And the food, oh the food. Everything is cooked, seasoned and presented to perfection. Dishes like the crab crumpet and the ham croquettes have no business being as spectacular as they are, while the mains’ flavours are blended with a staggering level of confidence by the talented chefs. Food this good, at this price, doesn’t come around often. 

Small plates from £4, mains from £19. 151 Sydney Street, Chelsea.

Fiume

by Rob Buckhaven

I don’t go to Battersea Power Station enough. If I had, I’d have clocked Fiume, the Italian eatery that’s part of the D&D Group. You know, Quaglino’s and Bluebird? I was lured in by Fiume’s Sicilian winter terrace, in collaboration with Italicus Rosalio di Bergamotto, the Italian liqueur based around bergamot. This Christmas terrace comes with a bespoke cocktail menu, I’d recommend the Grande Eleganza for Bergamotto blended with Malfy Gin, or the Negroni Bianco, a sweeter take on a Negroni. Soak them up with a host of tasty plates, then scootch over to the high-end shops next door for some window-licking.

Cocktails from £10. Circus West, Battersea Power Station.

Luci

Escape the busyness of Covent Garden, dim the lights, turn on some slow music, and here enters the mushroom and truffle risotto – creamy, earthy and with a hint of garlic. Each dish from this intimate Italian restaurant is simple yet delicious with the right amount of punch – plus, they don’t shy on the portions. We’d particularly recommend the seafood and homemade focaccia.

Mains from £14. 136 Long Acre, Covent Garden. 

MORE LIKE THIS:

🦑 Fitzrovia’s luxury hotel The Mandrake plays host to a stunning 10-course menu made from a collaboration between Yopo and Playa Dubai. South American dishes include stunners like octopus empanadas and wagyu anticucho. Pricey, but extraordinarily tasty. Until the end of November. Set menu £125pp. 20-21 Newman Street.

🥘 Tapas Revolution, the quintessential place for authentic Spanish food, have redesigned their London branches and have a new menu! A parade of tasty starters and flavoursome mains include the stand-out Gambas A Las Ajillo. The cocktails are delicious too and the excellent staff round up a great dinner out. ¡Salud!

WIN a year's supply of Flävar vodka schnapps or a Flävar mini gift set

Metro has teamed up with the vodka-schnapps brand FLÄVAR to give away a year’s supply of their best-selling schnapps flavours including blueberry and lemon, salted caramel and strawberry and lime! Three lucky runners-up will receive a Flävar Miniature Gift Box.

To enter, simply fill out your details using the form here before midnight, 29 November! 

Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland and Scotland) residents aged 18 or over. For full details, terms and conditions, visit our terms and conditions page.

London's best... new pre-theatre menus

BEST ROMANTIC: Hovarda

The best date night in London is dinner and a show, and the table should be booked at Hovardo. Emerald tiles and sleek table lamps set the scene for three exquisite Greek acts comprising (among other delights) velvety, honey-ed feta wrapped in crisp phyllo strands, tender, delicate stonebass, and rich pistachio Kataifi. We won’t judge you for eating off each other’s spoons.

2 courses £24.50, 3 courses £29.50, Tues – Sat 5pm to 7pm. 36 – 40 Rupert St, Soho.

BEST VALUE: Paro

A high-octane show like The Lion King needs a big dinner to fuel it, and you don’t have to go far to find one. The newly-opened Paro sits underneath the Lyceum, dishing up three huge courses of classic Anglo-Indian fare (go for the Bang Bang chicken and sweet Chicken Korma). Poppadums at £1.50 a pop are worth it for the sauces. It’s not fancy, but you will be full.

2 courses £19, 3 courses £22, 11.45am – 6.30pm daily. Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington St, Covent Garden.

BEST GLAM: Bocconcio Soho

With its array of golden lamps, glitzy marble bar, and dough-flipping pizza chefs, it’s clear that Bocconcino was made for the stage, dah-ling. The new Soho branch leans into its Theatreland surroundings with a pre-(or post!) show menu boasting Italian favourites like beef carpaccio, homemade pappardelle with wild mushrooms and stracciatella, and Sicilian cannolo.

2 courses for £30, 3 courses for £35, Mon – Thurs, 5-6:30pm & 9:30-10:30pm. 59 Great Marlborough St, Soho.

WIN the ultimate family day out at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland with Crystal Ski Holidays

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Crystal Ski Holidays have partnered up with Metro to give you the chance to win the Ultimate Family Day Out at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland this festive period so you can get that feeling you can’t forget.

You could win entry for six people to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland including tickets for the Real Ice Slide in partnership with Crystal Ski Holidays and Magical Ice Kingdom. You’ll also receive three Ride Tokens per person so you can continue the fun, plus 1 x food voucher and 2 x drink vouchers per person so you can tuck into the delicious alpine snacks and beverages available in the park.

Click here and fill out the form to enter – you have until midnight 24 November. Full T&Cs here. 

What’s on

🌼 Take a moment at the Ever After Garden in Grosvenor Square, where an installation of 25,000 illuminated white roses glows this winter. You can dedicate one of the roses to a treasured loved one to make a donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports the work of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-leading cancer centre. Until 19 December, Grosvenor Square.

🍸 Everyone is invited at Smirnoff We Do Us Live!, the fully accessible, ultra-inclusive event from Smirnoff in collaboration with Tilting the Lens and Sink the Pink. Hosted by Strictly star Layton Williams and Fats Timbo, the night promises show-stopping performances from the likes of Joshua James and special guest Mel C. Sign up here to win your free ticket.

💗 The menopause takes the spotlight at PAUSE Live, with real-life stories, top tips from the UK’s menopause experts, an array of workshops, wellness sessions and an exciting celebrity line-up. You can even book a 1-2-1 ‘meet the expert’ add-on session to discuss your symptoms. Tickets £15.99. November 25, Business Design Centre.

Theatre

Sleeping Beauty

Oh yes you DO need a break from the kids post-Christmas. Oh no you DON’T have kids but fancy a pre-NYE hilarious treat? Then join stars of RuPauls Drag Race LIVE in the West End for the outrageous SLEEPING BEAUTY. 

Starring Kitty Scott-Claus (Masterchef), Victoria Scone (Death Drop), Kemah Bob (The Jonathan Ross Show) and current Drag Race UK stars Kate Butch and Michael Marouli in this retelling of the classic pantomime as you’ve never seen it before. 

Tickets from £25. 27 – 31 December, Harold Pinter Theatre, West End. 

Culture

Christmas at KidZania

KidZania London is inspiring children to give back this Christmas, by inviting kids aged 4 to 14 to share their KidZos (KidZania’s unique currency) with the charity KidsOut, dedicated to bringing fun and happiness to children in and around London.

The initiative encourages them to spread festive spirit and kindness through fun career role-play activities within the indoor city. Families are also invited to ‘Elfmas’, a special experience to bring them closer together and to take caring and sharing to the max!

£54.50 per child, £34.50 per adult. 2 December 2023 – 7 January 2024,  Westfield London, Shepherd’s Bush. 

See you next week!

MORE : The world’s prettiest Christmas city has been crowned — and we couldn’t be more proud

MORE : Cadbury fans go wild as ‘game-changing’ treat makes surprise return before Christmas

Police carried out the largest seizure of synthtic opioids in a series of raids which lead to 11 arrests.

Around 150,000 tablets of a drug called Nitazene were found in Waltham Forest, east London, in a factory set up to make the pills, police said.

Detectives believe the drug was being sold on the dark web.

They also found various other class A and B drugs, a gun, a pill pressing machine, more than £60,000 in cash and £8,000 in cryptocurrency stored on hard drives.

A series of raids were carried out in Enfield, north London, on October 24.

Some 11 people were arrested between August 21 and November 21 and all charged with conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.

Detective Superintendent Helen Rance, leading the investigation, said: ‘Synthetic opioids have been detected in batches of heroin found in London and across the UK.

‘They substantially raise the risk of incredibly serious harm to the user and are believed to be linked to a number of deaths.

‘We are working closely with partners to monitor and proactively tackle this issue, provide advice and remove the availability of these dangerous drugs from our streets.’

Police say anyone who has taken synthetic opioids should get medical treatment urgently.

They have taken the unusual step of highlighting signs of someone who may have taken one of these drug.

These include having small, narrowed pupils; reduced or loss of consciousness; dizziness or drowsiness; difficulty breathing; nausea or vomiting; cold or clammy skin; blue or grey lips and fingernails; low blood pressure or decreased heart rate.

Ms Rance added: ‘The public health advice remains that illegal drugs should not be consumed.

‘There are support services available for people who need help. Anyone who has consumed synthetic opioids and experiences the symptoms described should seek urgent medical treatment.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A vehicle crashed through a brick bridge in south London today, upending morning commutes for countless travellers.

Railway lines running through between Sutton (Surrey) and West Croydon are delayed or cancelled while engineers remove fallen debris, Network Rail Kent and Sussex said on X.

Photographs uploaded by the operator show chunks of brick lying on the tracks.

‘Please continue checking before you travel,’ Network Rail added.

Southern said no trains are able to run between the two stations ‘until further notice’ and called on riders to give themselves an extra hour to get to their destiation.

Rail replacement bus services are in place between Epson Downs and Sutton calling at Banstead and Belmont.

Southern said: ‘A road vehicle colliding with a bridge between Sutton and Selhurst/Norwood Junction means all lines are blocked. As a result trains may be cancelled.

‘This is expected until 2pm.’

The Transport for London (TfL) status update website says: ‘No service between Sydenham and West Croydon due to a vehicle striking a bridge in West Croydon area.

‘Good service on the rest of the route. Good service on all other London Overground routes.’

TfL, the British Transport Police and London Ambulance Service have been contacted for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Eerie ‘ghost marks’ have appeared on the walls of Elizabeth Line tube stations – left by previous commuters.

Photos at Tottenham Court Road on London’s newest line show grey outlines of people left by travellers sitting on benches.

The marks also appear at Liverpool Street, with the station’s white walls appearing to be stained by commuters’ coats and heads.

While eerie, they seem have formed from passengers leaning back on the freshly painted walls – not by spirits.

Transport for London, who operates the line, say that they maintain a ‘rigorous’ cleaning programme at all stations to ensure they are safe for commuters.

A spokesperson for the TfL said: ‘We are exploring new ways to clean the walls behind seating at some of our Elizabeth line stations to try to remove any marks and protect the walls in future.’

The Elizabeth Line, named after the late Queen Elizabeth II, opened on May 24, 2022 – 13 years after construction on the line began in 2009.

The 41-stop route now hosts 204 million passenger journeys per year, costing the Government around £18.9 billion.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

After hopping off one tube, you’re now trying to push your way through the hustle and bustle to get your connecting line.

But the doors close seconds before you’re able to jump on and you try not to look too embarrassed about missing it.

As city dwellers, we’re all used to having to wait a few minutes for the next train. But why does a four-minute pause seem to make us 30 minutes late?

On X – the app formerly known as Twitter – Londoners have come up with a theory.

You see, while friends, family and employers think your lateness is due to tardiness, time just isn’t the same in the capital – and there are theories that prove it.

In response to a meme showing Sharon from EastEnders sprinting down the market, people are sharing their oh-so-relatable issues with ‘London time’.

‘Can’t explain it, but when I lived in London, taking a tube four minutes later somehow made you 30 minutes later. Time works differently there’, one person said.

Other commuters weighed in on the theory and the comments are hilarious.

‘It’s the link bruh, the chain effect. That tube might be the difference in catching the once in 30 mins bus/tram/district line,’ one person shared.

Another agreed, adding: ‘It’s the connections, you take the four minute later train, you miss the next one and that’s another five mins to wait, that late connection you miss your last bus etc. suddenly the extra three minutes waits here and there end up being 35 mins’.

Another commuter added: ‘Leaving the house five minutes later makes me 45 mins later to where I’m going’.

Someone else quipped: ‘That’s because, in the world of TFL, a minute isn’t 60 seconds. It’s whatever they want it to be.’

The ‘unwritten math’ of London time was explained by a commenter, who shared: ‘Every minute you’re late means you delay every connecting tube by five times that amount. The cycle repeats. It’s unwritten math that everyone in London knows. Next thing you know your travel time went from 35 mins to three business days’.

Maybe this explains why everyone in London is always in a rush.

Of course there are the unexpected cancellations, delays, and part suspensions in the mix, too. But don’t worry, chances are you’re not a ‘time optimist’ – a person who is ‘habitually late because they think they have more time than they do’. 

You’re just on London time.

Running late for Christmas drinks? Trapped in the rush-hour crush? Sky Mobile customers no longer need to worry about keeping in touch with friends and family as the network has expanded its 4G and 5G coverage to more than 20 stations.

Passengers can now text or call while underground, as well as browsing the web for some Christmas shopping, listening to a podcast or streaming a calming TV show amid the commuter hustle and bustle.

Coverage includes stations on the Jubilee line between Canning Town and Westminster, and the Central line from Holland Park to Queensway and between Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road.

On the Northern line, Sky Mobile will cover Archway to Euston and Belsize to Euston on the northern branches, and Goodge Street to Tottenham Court Road on the Charing Cross branch.

Sky Mobile also confirmed it would be expanding its 4G and 5G network further in 2024, as TfL rolls out coverage to the Victoria and Elizabeth lines.

Which networks offer service on the tube?

A number of other networks already provide 4G coverage on the Tube, while WiFi is available at most stations.

EE offers 4G to passengers on the Central line between Holland Park and Queensway, the Northern line between Archway and Kentish Town, and on the Jubilee line between Westminster and Canning Town.

Virgin Media O2 also offers 4G between the same stops on the Central, Jubilee and Northern lines, while Notting Hill, between Holland Park and Queensway, now offers 5G.

Vodafone recently introduced 4G to sections of the Jubilee, Northern and Central lines, with 5G available at selected stations and tunnels including Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Camden Town.

Can I get WiFi on the Tube?

Most mobile networks offer WiFi at all Tube stations.

Free WiFi is also available at most Overground stations, Victoria Coach Station and, most recently, Elizabeth line stops under central London.

The WiFi does not cover the tunnels between stations yet, but Transport for London has pledged to eliminate these mobile ‘not spots’ by the end of 2024.

A 300 ft high ‘crystal ball’ proposed to be built in east London has been rejected by Sadiq Khan.

The 21,000-capacity MSG sphere would have been illuminated on the outside and have the highest resolution LED screen on Earth – as well as immersive sound systems to host concerts, shows and sporting events.

But the proposals, similar to another huge venue in Las Vegas, have been rejected by the city’s mayor.

A Mayor of London spokesperson said: ‘London is open to investment from around the world and Sadiq wants to see more world-class, ambitious, innovative entertainment venues in our city.

‘But as part of looking at the planning application for the MSG Sphere, the Mayor has seen independent evidence that shows the current proposals would result in an unacceptable negative impact on local residents.’

Mr Khan said the venue would cause ‘significant light intrusion resulting in significant harm to the outlook of neighbouring properties, detriment to human health, and significant harm to the general amenity enjoyed by residents of their own homes’.

A Sphere Entertainment spokesperson said: ‘While we are disappointed in London’s decision, there are many forward-thinking cities that are eager to bring this technology to their communities. We will concentrate on those.’

The 4.7-acre site intended for the dome had been bought by MSG after it was left empty following the the 2012 London Olympics.

MSG said thousands of jobs would have been created, had the dome been allowed to be constructed.

Newham Chamber of Commerce chair Lloyd Johnson said: ‘As a global destination, Sphere would attract visitors year-round to Newham, which would benefit our shops, bars, restaurants and hotels – bringing in £50 million a year in revenue for local businesses along with well-paying jobs for residents.

‘We see the Sphere as a great opportunity that would create a direct investment in our area.’

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has the final say on the plans.

Fighting the plans are the campaign group Stop MSG Sphere London and a spokesperson for the group Lindesay Mace previously told the Daily Telegraph: ‘The fact that where we are now, on the permission being granted, is a travesty of justice.

‘The sphere is designed for Vegas, the city of lights. It is not designed for a small site that is surrounded with three blocks of residential properties.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A former soldier who bit, stabbed and raped a woman in a ‘perverted and cannibalistic’ attack in his apartment has been jailed for 14 years.

Malawian Theodore Mkuzi, 42, put his victim through the terrifying ordeal after taking her back to his home in upmarket Maida Vale, London on January 3 last year.

He savagely bit her lips, nose and face while repeatedly raping her, Southwark crown court heard.

Police arrived at the flat in Greville Place – where apartments can fetch £2 million – to find Mkuzi naked in the living room and the woman in a bath full of blood-stained water.

Mkuzi admitted two counts of rape and two counts of unlawful wounding.

Sentencing Mkuzi, Judge Christopher Hehir referred to the victim’s impact statement.

He said: ‘The long-term effect is clear from her victim impact statement.

‘It is utterly clear that what you did had the most devastating effect on her.

‘She describes her ordeal as being like a horror movie. She describes your conduct towards her as perverted and cannibalistic.

‘I do not think that you are a cannibal, but I understand why she would express herself in that way.

‘You told her that the two of you were going to die that day. Had Yonas Gurja not raised the alarm, and had the police not arrived on time, there is a very real possibility that you would have killed her.

‘You are a dangerous man. You pose a grave risk of physical and psychological harm to women.’

‘You must go to prison and remain in prison for a very long time.’

Matthew Dalton, prosecuting said early on January 3, 2022, the pair had been drinking together with his friend Mr Gurja before the pair had consensual sex.

Later while they were having sex again, Mkuuzi started biting her lips, nose and face with considerable force causing significant pain.

Mr Dalton said: ‘She made clear her discomfort and withdrew her consent.

‘She tried to push him off her, but he was holding her tight and restraining her. He bit her cheeks causing injury. She pleaded with him to stop.’

At this point Mr Gurja came into the room where he confronted Mkuzi.

The prosecutor said: ‘Mr Gurja told Mkuzi to stop. Mkuzi told him not to get involved.

‘Mr Gurja picked up a knife in self-defence. He ran to the lavatory and dropped from the second floor window, injuring himself while landing.

‘Mkuzi said that she and he were going to die that day.

‘Mkuzi obtained a large kitchen knife and stabbed her in the chest. She also sustained an injury to the back of her head.

‘He obtained some bottles of soft drink and poured it over her in an attempt to wash her of her injuries.’

The court heard he then ordered her to get into the bath and then raped her again.

Eventually police arrived to find the woman still in the bath.

Mr Dalton said: ‘The word blood bath is very apt, She was hysterical, her face was swollen and had difficulties communicating with the officers.’

She told the officers that she had been bitten and stabbed by Mkuzi.

Emma-Louise Heath, defending Mkuzi, said: ‘He has put his time in custody to good use. He has attended regular drug and alcohol awareness courses.

‘What Mr Mkuzi has begun to do is to address those issues and those risks that make him a potential risk to the public.’

She said Mkuzi had pleaded guilty and therefore the woman did not have to give evidence.

Ms Mkuzi told the court that Mkuzi had come to the UK from Malawi 20 years ago, and had served in the British armed forces. After this, he worked as an HGV driver.

Mkuzi, of Kilburn, was jailed for 14 years with a six year extended license period.

He will serve at least two thirds of the sentence in custody, and no restraining order was imposed.

Judge Hehir said to Mkuzi: ‘You escaped a life sentence by a whisker.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements could see millions of people working a four-day week with the same pay in the next ten years, according to a new report.

Around 28% of the nation’s workforce (8.8m employees) are set to work 32 hours a week full time by 2033, figures published by independent research organisation, Autonomy, has revealed.

Eight local authorities where workers are most likely to move to a four-day week have been identified, all in the south-east.

Five are in the capital, including the City of London, Wandsworth, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Richmond upon Thames.

They are joined by St Albans in Hertfordshire, Wokingham in Berkshire and Elmbridge in Surrey.

‘All of these local authorities hold the potential for 38% or more of their workforces to move to a four-day week using AI augmentation over the next decade,’ the Autonomy report said.  

The research, using data from the International Monetary Fund and Goldman Sachs, pointed to an improvement in worker productivity while maintaining pay and performance, particularly in desk-based jobs.

The introduction of the technology to lower working hours could also reduce widespread mental health illnesses and physical ailments associated with overwork, the report found – creating more time for ‘democracy, leisure consumption and social cohesion’.  

‘In the case of the UK – where work-related stress, anxiety and depression constitute one of the most significant labour market issues today – these wellbeing factors cannot be emphasised enough,’ the report said.  

Up to 88% of workers – almost 28million – across Britain could see their working hours reduced by at least 10% if Large Language Models (LLM) are introduced.

LLMs are a type of AI trained to create whole sentences, paragraphs and even essays.

They were initially developed to predict language but have also been trained to be used in a wide variety of applications, from customer service chatbots to personal assistants and friends to lonely people.

In London, 89% of the workforce could see their hours reduced by at least 10% due to AI-productivity gains.

Will Strange, director of research at Autonomy, said developments in AI could ‘usher in a new era of four-day working weeks for all’.

‘Our research offers a fresh perspective in debates around how AI can be utilised for good.

‘A shorter working week is the most tangible way of ensuring that AI delivers benefits to workers as well as companies.’

But the report comes amid growing fears about the threat to humanity posed by AI.

Elon Musk described AI as an ‘existential risk’ for humans, warning how for the first time ever, we are faced with something ‘that is going to be far more intelligent than us’.

‘It’s not clear to me if we can control such a thing,’ he said, ‘but we can aspire to guide it in a direction that’s beneficial to humanity,’ he told the UK’s AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire earlier this month.

Also addressing the summit, King Charles issued a chilling warning about the ‘significant risks’ of the emerging technology.

In a video address filmed at Buckingham Palace, he said: ‘We are witnessing one of the greatest technological leaps in the history of human endeavour.

‘AI holds the potential to completely transform life as we know it, to help us better treat, and perhaps cure conditions like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

‘However, if we are to realise the untold benefits of AI, then we must work together on combating its significant risks, too.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said mitigating the risk of extinction because of AI should be a global priority alongside pandemics and nuclear war.

In an extreme scenario, humans could ‘lose control of AI completely’, he warned.

However ‘it is not a risk that people need to be losing sleep over right now,’ he said.

Earlier today, he urged world leaders to harness the power of AI and other cutting-edge technology to end malnutrition worldwide.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A man and a woman have been rushed to hospital after a dog attack in south east London.

The Metropolitan Police, ambulance and air ambulance were called to Bedwell Road in Belvedere at around 9am today.

The woman has been left in critical condition following the attack, and the man received minor injuries.

The dog was Tasered by police officers who had shut it in a different room, where the dog then died.

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service told the BBC the woman and man were taken to a ‘major trauma centre as a priority’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

A secondary school in London has been evacuated for the second time in four days after a series of hoax bomb threats.

Parents of children at Oaks Park High School in Carshalton were told on Monday morning that police had asked teachers to urgently evacuate pupils onto the playing fields.

The school said it had received an ‘identical threat’ via email at the same time on Friday.

One mother, who has a 13-year-old boy at the school, said the latest ordeal was ‘terrifying’.

She told MailOnline: ‘Everything goes through your head… You don’t know if it’s real or not. Imagine if they said to the pupils that you can go in and something happens.

‘I would rather collect my kid from school but you just have to trust the police have done their job.’

After sending an alert to parents at 8.19am, the school issued another update at 9.14am to say that police had ‘given clearance for the school to reopen’.

The Met Police previously said Friday’s incident was being treated as malicious communications and they had no wider concerns.

Officers searched the building and nothing was found on Friday.

No one has been arrested in connection with the threatening emails.

Metro.co.uk has approached the Met Police for further comment on today’s incident.

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.

If you’re a Londoner, you’ve no doubt got some pretty strong opinions on where’s the best place to live in the capital.

The mere mention of ‘south of the river’ leaves some cold, while others may as well get ‘south west is best’ tattooed on their foreheads.

But now, a new ranking has revealed the most desirable areas in London, and it won’t come as a surprise that some of the poshest spots in the capital all make the top 10.

And the neighbourhood people want to move to the most? That goes to north London’s leafy Hampstead.

Known for attracting A-list residents such as Harry Styles and Ricky Gervais, and with the sprawling Hampstead Heath on your doorstep, it’s got a lot to boast about.

But, if you’re house hunting around there, be warned. According to Foxton’s the average price of a Hampstead house last year was a whopping £1,847,180.  

The list, which was part of Time Out’s ranking of the Coolest Neighbourhoods in the World, was compiled by asking 12,000 people about their city’s areas. One of the questions asked was: where would you like to move in your city?  

Second place for Londoners went to Chelsea. While you might bump into a few reality stars there, you can also wonder down the bustling King’s Road, head to the Saatchi Gallery and stroll along the side streets, picking out which townhouse you’d like to move into.

Rounding out the top three was north London’s Islington.

The area’s Upper Street is home to an array of bars, restaurants and shops, or if you fancy a more laid-back afternoon, mooch along the canal – just mind those cyclists.

Plenty of other glam neighbourhoods also made the cut, from Soho to Notting Hill.

Ted Lasso’s Richmond was one of the only south London area to make the cut – but we can see why: the area comes alive during the summer, with a glorious park, and a river perfect attempting to row along.

The other was Greenwich, the home of literal time, as well as the popular market, and stunning views across London from the observatory.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Surprising London neighbourhood named one of the world’s coolest places to live

MORE : This genius hack slashes wait time at airport security — and it’s completely free

A mistakenly-issued parking ticket has cost a construction worker his business – and forced him to lay off 10 staff.

Dwight Henry received a PCN in April for parking his van in a suspended parking spot – despite leaving the space five minutes before it became unavailab.e

The £65 ticket was ripped up by the parking officer, but nearly six months later bailiffs demanded payment.

His work van was seized, and even though Hackney council has apologised, cancelled the fine and returned his van, Dwight was unable to earn for months and has had to shut down his business – Phoenix Construction East London Ltd.

He lost out on £45,000 worth of contracts and has been forced to let his 10 staff go, as his work tools were locked up in the seized van.

Dwight, a 45-year-old dad of five who lives in Lower Clapton, north east London, is now looking for work and has called on the council to pay out compensation.

He said: ‘It has ruined my life. The council have never reached out to me to say “let’s try and make amends”.

‘I had to lay everyone off. I am pretty much out of business.

‘Construction for me is over. 30 years. All my life it’s all I’ve known… Since I was 16 years old.’

Dwight approached his van on the morning of April 5 and found a parking attendant issuing him with a ticket at 7:55am – five minutes before the bay he’d parked in became suspended.

After the construction company owner pointed out his mistake, Mr Henry says it was agreed that the fine should be cancelled and the £65 parking ticket ripped up.

But five months later he was shocked to receive a letter from bailiffs Newlyn Plc, saying they had been passed a debt of more than £200 for the ticket.

Then, despite beginning the process of challenging the fine with the Traffic Enforcement Centre, his van was clamped and seized by ‘aggressive’ bailiffs at the end of October and he was told his debt had increased to £1,300.

He said: ‘I’ve been looking for delivery jobs. I usually take jobs three or four months in advance, but the council took that away from me. I have no jobs to sustain me for the winter.

‘This PCN is not legal. It can’t be legal because it was issued before the time of the contravention hours.

‘I haven’t earned a penny from October 23 to this present day. I haven’t been able to work – I’ve had no tools, no transportation.

‘Bear in mind I’m paying for insurance for this van, I’m paying tax and MOT. I’ve just lost three contracts for £45,000 because of this situation.

‘No one wants to review the evidence because if they review the evidence they will see I did not park illegally. No one is listening to me.’

Despite the fine now having been cancelled and his van having been returned to him earlier this week, the business owner says that having been unable to arrange new contracts for the winter means he will now be forced to close his business.

Dwight also said if a council worker he had spoken to over the phone on October 23 had bothered to review his case, he might not be in the dire situation he now finds himself in.

He said: I’m past furious. The stress this brought on me is a different level. The bailiffs were so aggressive it was unbelievable. It was an abuse of power.

‘I think the council should pay me back what I have lost and compensate me for the stress and damage they have caused. The council should take full responsibility for the negligence.

‘But I’m not rich enough to hire a big-time lawyer or anything. The council already destroyed my life.

‘The council officers are still in their jobs, getting paid… But what about my kids, my family? What about the guys I’ve had to lay off, permanently?

‘The council don’t take responsibility for their actions. It’s not fair; a man shouldn’t lose their livelihood because of what happened.

“I can’t say what they should give me, but they should compensate me. I am seeking justice. It’s embarrassing. How can I tell someone “I lost my van because the council took it over a parking ticket for £65?”

‘It sounds like I’m broke… It’s the implication. It’s embarrassing what they have done to me. They’ve embarrassed me in my profession and left me in financial ruin.’

Dwight was forced to shut his previous construction business during the pandemic, and was in the process of rebuilding when the incorrectly-issued parking ticket was handed out in April.

Despite apologising and confirming the PCN was issued incorrectly, Hackney council claim they wrote to him three times before bailiffs became involved, which included details of how to challenge the ticket.

The council say they did not receive a response, which is why the PCN was escalated.

They say they also received a phone call from the enforcement agent in September saying they had spoken to Mr Henry who had confirmed he’d received correspondence from Hackney council before the PCN was registered as a debt.

A spokesperson for Hackney council said: ‘More than a month passed between Mr Henry speaking to the enforcement agent on September 18 and the vehicle being impounded on October 23, when Mr Henry had the opportunity to resolve the case.

‘We’d urge Mr Henry to contact us if he would like us to review his case.

‘We’ve reviewed this case and found that the PCN was issued three minutes before the parking suspension began. This should have been cancelled and we apologise to Mr Henry for the inconvenience this has caused him.’

Hackney Council did not comment on whether it planned to compensate Dwight or not.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

From Thurso in Scotland to Truro in Cornwall, the UK has an impressive array of towns that are well worth a visit.

But if you’re after a day trip to a picture-perfect place, where should you go?

Well, the UK’s prettiest towns have been ranked, and the top spot was claimed by Lewes, in Sussex.

With it’s quaint medieval streets, impressive castle and beautiful parks, you could spend hours mooching around here.

And the best part? It’s just an hour away from London.

The list was revealed by The Telegraph, who asked a group of travel experts to rank Britain’s towns from ugliest to prettiest, based on factors such as shopfront aesthetics, historic architecture, traffic levels, litter volume and the number of viewpoints.

The East Sussex town came out on top with an average rating of 46. It was follows by Queensferry, West Lothian, in Scotland in second place with a score of 45, and St David’s, Pembrokeshire, Wales, which scored 44. 

However, there were some British towns that didn’t fair so well. Down at the bottom of the list was Slough, with the worst score of just 12.

The experts wrote of the Berkshire town: ‘[The] High Street has been rated one of the unhealthiest in the UK for its preponderance of takeways and lack of leisure facilities, and pound shops colonise the stores that cling on in boxy 20th-century shop fronts.’ Ouch.

Methyr Tydfil in Wales was the second ugliest town, and Telfrod, Shropshire came in at third.

What’s so good about Lewes?

Lewes is a quaint mediaeval town nestled in the Sussex countryside, and, to be fair, it is really pretty.

With a historic high street, a castle, bustling Christmas markets and acres of green space, the traditional market town is certainly a top contender for most beautiful places in the UK.

Plus, it was named best place to live in Sussex for 2023, which is partly down to its banging local beer and even more banging bonfire night celebrations — the biggest in the country. 

How to get to Lewes from London

The two best ways to get from London to Lewes is by train or car — but the train is more than twice as fast as driving. 

You can get from London Victoria Lewes in just over an hour. Tickets cost around £6 when you book in advance. 

It takes around 2-and-a-half hours to drive from London to Lewes following the A2.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : The world’s prettiest Christmas city has been crowned — and we couldn’t be more proud

MORE : Travel experts reveal top trending holiday destinations to jet to this winter

MORE : 10 last-minute holiday destinations to book if you’re craving winter sun

A woman surprised her partner with a proposal by asking him through a map on her running app.

Sarita Aujla, 29, decided she was ready to pop the question to her boyfriend of almost two years, Jack Tench.

But she wasn’t content with a run-of-the-mill proposal – so instead set herself a ‘big, impossible idea’.

Sarita, a charity fundraiser and trustee, told Metro.co.uk: ‘I never really fully understood why men had to propose to women, and why men didn’t get an engagement ring and I thought that was a bit harsh, so I quite liked the idea of proposing.

‘I’m also quite an extroverted, loud person and I wanted to make a grand gesture… a big gesture of love to show the world just how much I love Jack.

‘I was also weighing up that he’s a lot more of an introvert, so probably wanted something much more low key than I thought he would.

‘A huge part of our relationship has been running, and we like Parkrun and running around the world together, and it’s a fun thing we share. I then thought… I wonder if I could run a proposal into Strava?’

She said she started plotting out in June everywhere she was going to visit with Jack, 31, over the following months – but struggled to find an appropriate place to carry out the task.

She made it even more difficult by wanting to write a full sentence: ‘Jack, will you marry me?’ instead of just a couple of words.

‘But I discovered Greenwich University was enough of a grid system to do it,’ Sarita added.

‘It took me probably the best part of…. four hours looking at maps and drawing on them. Then I had to sit down and draw it all out on Google Maps.’

She said she then had to appoint some helpers to do a practice run the week beforehand using some cones – and to make sure she hadn’t planned her route through any blocked off areas, fences or obstacles.

She also had to hide everything she was doing online so Jack, who she met through mutual friends, didn’t see any of her practice runs.

By Saturday, November 11, she decided she was ready, and headed to south-east London for the most important run of her life.

Sarita said: ‘I was very relieved because I’d set everything up so it had to happen on that day… luckily it was a beautiful, sunny and crisp winter’s day.’

The first two words of the message went really well, then disaster struck: ‘There was quite a big hiccup in that they were setting up the Greenwich ice rink smack bang where I was going to run “you”…’

She said she had to wrap the letter Y around the scaffolding of the ice rink.

‘Then some children tried to take the cones, bless them,’ she added.

‘But it miraculously went well despite the ice rink, I was so relieved and happy.’

The run was 6.26km (3.89 miles) and took her just under 40 minutes in total to do.

Sarita had then planned to meet Jack for brunch in Greenwich at midday – but without knowing the importance of the situation, he was in no rush to arrive on time.

When he eventually turned up, she took him to the fountain next to the university and then told him to look at her latest run on Strava.

As he did that, she got down on one knee and was about to launch into an emotive speech – before he exclaimed, ‘Yes! Yes, I will marry you.’

She said: ‘I haven’t asked you yet!’ and her now-fiancé replied: ‘You have – it’s right here,’ and held up his phone.

Jack, a software engineer, told Metro: ‘Sarita was not happy at all because she had a whole speech planned and hadn’t considered I was immediately going to get the question!

‘I was over the moon happy, and I think I was so surprised by the whole thing – I genuinely didn’t see it coming – that when she was giving the speech, it was going in one ear and out of the other. I was just in shock and so happy, and so excited.

‘I wasn’t paying any attention to anything going on around me – it was all a bit of a blur.

‘The first thing I thought afterwards – I was just so impressed by all the route planning that had gone into it and see how you’d actually pulled it off.

‘Normally on all our adventures cycling, running and hiking around the world, I’m often really involved in the route planning so I can appreciate how complicated it must have been.’

The couple, who live together in Shadwell, east London, had Buck’s Fizz from a pair of engagement mugs and then spent the rest of the day celebrating in Greenwich.

They are now preparing to tie the knot almost one year from now, in December 2024.

Jack added: ‘We’re both so excited for the wedding – so much so, that everything’s already planned.

‘It’s all booked, we know exactly what we’re doing and we’re having a really exciting Christmas wedding next year, which we’re both looking forward to.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

When you think of summer getaways, Spain, Portugal and Greece no doubt spring to mind.

But a budget airline has just launched bargain flights to a European city that is so often forgotten by holidaymakers.

Wizz Air is offering flights from London Luton to Chişinău – the capital of Moldova – for just £17.99 one way.

After a brief suspension earlier this year, the flights now operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

In just three hours and 15 minutes you could be in the land locked country, where temperatures typically reach the high 20s in mid-June.

If you decide to take advantage of the cheap flights, be sure to put the Mileștii Mici winery at the top of your list. The cellar has 34 miles of underground galleries and holds the Guinness World Record for having the biggest wine collection in the world – nearly two million bottles. 

But if the mere thought of that hangover is enough to put you enough, there’s still plenty to do.

Moldova was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, meaning Chişinău is perfect for architecture buffs, as it’s filled with examples of Soviet and brutalist architecture.

There’s also the Nativity Cathedral, which was built in the 1830s before being destroyed in WW2. Now, it’s been rebuilt, and stands in the heart of the capital.

Not far from the cathedral, visitors can find the National Museum of History of Moldova. Costing just over €1, there are over 265,000 exhibits including a replica of St Stefan’s sword, the weapon of a warrior revered across the nation.

‘We are pleased to reintroduce the route from London Luton to Chisinau in Moldova’, Zsuzsa Trubek, Communications Manager at Wizz Air said.

‘Eastern European destinations like Chisinau are becoming more popular with tourists and we are delighted to expand our offering for passengers looking to explore the region.

‘Chisinau has a rich history with beautiful architecture and the route will allow our UK passengers to connect with family or enjoy a holiday in a beautiful location.’

So, what are you waiting for? Get those dates in the diary and discover the little-known beauty of Chişinău.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : We’ve found the best way to explore Europe’s number one holiday destination for 2024

MORE : The top 10 trending cities for 2024 revealed – and three are in Japan

MORE : Europe’s cheapest pints revealed — one city’s is ‘cheaper than water’

A woman was allegedly raped in the street in the early hours of the morning in south London.

The reported victim, aged in her 30s, said she was attacked near West Croydon railway station shortly before 1am on Saturday.

She has been taken to hospital following the assault near the junction of London Road and Kidderminster Road.

A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape at the scene and was also taken to hospital as a precaution.

Police have erected a cordon along a major road between Croydon and Norbury until around 10am, according to MyLondon.

Detective sergeant Walter said: ‘I know the local community will be incredibly concerned to hear about this terrible incident.

‘I want to offer my full reassurance that a thorough investigation is underway.

‘Local residents should expect to see an increased police presence in the area as we continue our enquiries.’

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.

‘I wear what makes me happy, not anyone else – and that’s colour. That’s what makes me happy.’

This is style advice from fashion-fanatic Sylvia Ezer. Currently the face of a nationwide clothes campaign, she’s not your average model. 

Plucked at random while out shopping, her story has echoes of Kate Moss’ 1988 rise to fame after the British supermodel was spotted at New York’s JFK airport while smoking a cigarette.

However, while Kate Moss was just 14 when was she was scouted for stardom, former teacher Sylvia was 88. It also happened a bit more closer to home – at her favourite White Stuff store in London’s Muswell Hill, where she lives.

‘I was just looking through the rail, as I always do, when someone came up and asked if I’d like to pose myself,’ she tells Metro.co.uk ‘I’d done a little bit of modelling-  a very long time ago – so thought it would be fun.’

Within weeks, Sylvia was whisked away to Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments for a photoshoot and the images soon went viral, as people praised her ageless style.

‘I couldn’t quite believe it,’ Sylvia admits with a smile.

‘I’ve always been happy in comfortable, casual gear rather than anything too formal or tight. So White Stuff was always my cup of tea. When I walk into a shop I cast an eye on the rails and the styles and, usually, I can pick out what will look good. My eye knows what is going to suit me. 

‘If I wear something I’m not comfortable in, the moment I open my front door I’m taking it off and getting changed. It’s important to be confident in what you like. For me, colour makes me happy.’

Sylvia’s love of all things bright began in the small village of Robertson in South Africa’s Western Cape, where she was surrounded by vibrant plants and rich wine fields. 

Her family ran the village’s Commercial Hotel which often hosted a travelling acting troupe. Sylvia remembers watching a performance in the local village hall when she was six-years-old. She was “fascinated’ by their colourful outfits and bold accessories. And so a lifelong love of clothing began.

The self-professed ‘country bumpkin’ moved to a bigger town of Worchester as a teenager and then to the University of Western Cape to study drama. Her confidence and love of fashion grew when she moved to London in 1958, just in time to enjoy the swinging sixties in full flow.

‘I remember even going on the tube and seeing everyone dressed in different things, there was a freedom’, she recalls.

‘I still loved the theatre and went there often. I would love going to Portobello Market and browsing the rails. It was all very exciting, I was certainly a city girl by this point.’

She admits she did lose her colour at points at low points in her life. In the wake of the death of her husband Colyn, who was only 59, and death of her second partner Jim, in 2020, her wardrobe took a back seat.

But in her return to a new normal, it was clothing like a familiar pink jumper and deep red trousers that gave her something to smile about.

These days, the former drama teacher turned model is happy to impart her style knowledge to a new generation, which is why I jumped at the chance to spend an afternoon with her. As the most fashion conscious person in the world, I wanted to find out her style secrets. 

As a teenager – with a full-face of terrible acne that lasted years – I embraced our black school uniform and clothes that would help me blend in. That mindset of ‘not standing out’ has continued on until adulthood where I’m still pretty nervous to veer away from a dark hoodie and jeans combination.

So meeting Sylvia was quite the jump. Her love is colour, and colour gets you noticed. 

As I got glammed up, 5’2” Sylvia reached up to the rail to investigate her options. She held up each one as she expertly envisioned what could be paired together.

But would I like what she chose? Here’s how we got on…

Sylvia's makeover magic: outfit by outfit

Look 1

First outfit was a knitted white jumper with a sprinkling of colour on the sleeves, Sylvia’s speciality, teamed with a rusty corduroy long skirt.

Sylvia says: ‘Colour as key and this earthy, brick style red is one of my favourites – it takes me back to my upbringing in South Africa. Going for a skirt rather than pairing a jumper with jeans is an easy way to elevate a classic look, so you can wear it anywhere.’

Kirsten says: ‘Coupled with a long red skirt, it made for a very cosy piece of autumnal wear that could take me from the office to after work drinks. I’d definitely never worn a skirt as long, it felt fairly alien, and I was definitely nervous about pulling it off. Longer skirts do seem to be getting back into style again, Sylvia is onto a new trend here.’

Jumper: £75, White Stuff

Skirt: £38, Next

Look 2

Second outfit included some striking pink trousers coupled with a pink high neck fluffy jumper.

Sylvia says: I chose to roll up the sleeves, this outfit means business. It’s the perfect example of how colour can make you smile – this would liven up any trip to the office. Two simple choices which make a big impact.

Kirsten says: ‘I must admit, Sylvia’s second choice for me looked pretty daunting on the rail. Bright pink trousers and a fluffy pink jumper – a pairing I wouldn’t normally run a million miles from. But Sylvia gave me the confidence to pull it off after some words of encouragement to trust her, and I was glad I did. Not just the office, it would be fun for any girls afternoon or suit for some winter nights out – where being warm is just as essential as looking good.

Trousers, £38, River Island

Jumper: Pink High Neck Jumper, £40

Look 3

Our third outfit provided a chance to match up fashionista Sylvia with the fashion guinea pig Kirsten. The 88-year-old went with a plain white t-shirt and the 27-year-old with a pair of wide-length jeans. A smattering of buttons and deep velvet green completed the look on our matching blazer.

Sylvia says: ‘The blazer was a key fashion piece I’ve seen reinvented dozens of times over my decades in London. But again, simplicity is key. Paired with a set of smart jeans and stunning shirt, the blazer could be the perfect choice for a spot of networking or to elevate a work outfit. 

Kirsten says: ‘When I first saw them on the rail I thought they would be far too big for me, but the oversized look worked wonders. This is something I’d love to wear round the office or on a Sunday stroll to the shops, this was my favourite of Sylvia’s selections.

Blazer: £75, White Stuff

Jeans: £38, River Island

Shirt, £39.50, M&S Autograph Collection

Look 4

The final outfit of the day reflected a key component for Sylvia – comfort. She picked out a pair of brown cord trousers and a cosy bright green jumper.

Sylvia: This kind of outfit is perfect for hosting duties. Just the other day, I held a lunch party in a similar pair of White Stuff trousers and I was able to dash back and forth the kitchen in style. They’re super comfortable and last a long time.

Kirsten: As Sylvia says, this comfortable outfit would be ideal for having friends over. The trousers really were comfortable and, really, perhaps the most easy-to-repeat way of switching up my boring jeans and hoodie style. The combo was also perfect for not letting chilly temperatures get in the way of a nice outfit, or for fading into the background. 

Trousers: £44.25, White Stuff

Jumper: £29.50, M&S

Conclusion

While the overall experience of being a fashion guinea pig was daunting, it really was a learning experience and showed me that style doesn’t have to be as scary as the Instagram reels or perfectly curated social media posts make out. As Sylvia says, the experience should be a joy, not a chore.

She did take me out of my comfort zone initially but it was good to be encouraged to try out bolder colours and combinations I would not have considered myself 

Inspired by the likes of Maggie Smith who – at the age of 88 –  became the new face of fashion brand Loewe’s, Syvlia taught me that any outfit can stand out – but there’s a key accessory needed if you really want to make it pop: confidence.

‘With getting older, I have learned more to wear what makes me happy. You can always make something your own with confidence,’ Sylvia explains.

Thanks to her stylish eye I will definitely be bolder and braver when I look through the high street fashion rails in the future and not always head for the dark colours all the time. I’m definitely going to be more daring in my colour choices in future.

Sylvia's beauty regime

While we had her, we wanted to find out Sylvia’s beauty regime that’s helped her stay looking fabulous over the years.

She told us that her must-have piece of make-up is the Clarins Joli Rouge lipstick. ‘It’s a shade of orange and adds a lovely pop of colour. I’ve very fond of it and have replenished it several times over the last few years. The lipstick lights up my face.’

Occasionally she will dip into a brown shade of Lancome lipstick, but she says this ‘depends on my mood’. She’s partial to a Lancome foundation each day as well.

When it comes to keeping her skin fresh, she has a strict evening routine. But she’s not devoted to a particular brand, she’s happy to find whatever is the most ‘economical’ in Boots. Syliva starts by using a cleansing milk then wipes it away with a tissue or soft sponge.

She repeats this twice to make sure she’s captured all the dregs of the day. ‘Then I’ll use some eye-make up remover, add some serum, then use my night cream. Occasionally I’ll use an eye cream.’

A No 7 lipbalm comes next, especially in winter.

‘I never go to bed without taking off my make-up’, Sylvia adds. ‘When it comes to my night routine, I use products which are on sale, never anything too expensive. I do have a lot of skin damage from when I was younger, I never wore sun cream.

‘We weren’t taught all that, we would even put things like lemon juice on our face. We didn’t realise how bad that was. So I have to keep my face hydrated, at morning and night I use a Garnier Rose Water miscellar cleanser, which I wipe on with a cotton pad.’

Photographs by: Natasha Pszenicki, Hair & Make Up: Desmond Grundy

MORE : Dolly Parton: ‘I drank margaritas and streaked through Tom Jones’s yard’

MORE : I’m a glamour model at 42 and don’t ever want to stop showing my ‘wibbly bits’

MORE : How feminist fetish-inspired fashion became the party look of the year

A man has admitted to killing his elderly mother by smothering her in her own bed.

Kevin Pearce, a 59-year-old full-time carer, attacked 89-year-old Eileen Pearce at their home in Bexleyheath, southeast London, in June 2021.

He was previously accused of murder but denied the charge, stating that he caused her death but had no memory of doing it.

Prosecutors accepted a charge of manslaughter by diminished responsibility after psychiatric reports on his mental state were completed.

Pearce pleaded guilty to the charge on Friday and was granted bail ahead of a sentencing hearing early next year.

Prosecutor Michelle Nelson KC said: ‘In the circumstances and a review, the CPS think it’s appropriate to accept the plea.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

The rental property market is a wild place, to say the least.

And in the latest instalment of ‘can the landlord actually do that?’, one woman stumbled across a rental listing charging £75 per month in ‘pet rent’.

The two-bed, two bath flat is situated in London’s Stepney Green, near Whitechapel and Bank. Professional landlord Fizzy Living is offering the property for a deposit of £2,300 and £2,180 per calendar month rent.

This means if you have a pet it’ll take your monthly total to £2,255. As if pets aren’t already expensive enough.

X (formerly Twitter) user Hannah Louise wrote: ‘Sometimes I think there is nothing a landlord could do that I would find shocking anymore and then they hit you with PET RENT.’

One person jokingly responded: ‘How is your pet meant to pay rent? Do they have a job?’

Another wrote: ‘PET RENT?!?!? I am aghast,’ while another said: ‘How much for a tamagotchi?’

Fellow renters on the platform shared their experiences of being charged for pets in their rental properties.

Hannah shared a screen shot from one person, who messaged her to say their building was charging £25 for hamsters.

Another wrote: ‘We pay £50 a month for our dog,’ while another said: ‘Mines £15 extra a month which I don’t massively mind, but I wish we didn’t have to.’

Someone else shared that they had to pay an extra £500 deposit so their landlord would allow their cat to live in the property, while another had to pay £200 and has to get the property professionally flea sprayed if they move out.

Clearly people are forking out the money. Research from Zoopla showed that a rental property being ‘pet friendly’ made it much more desirable but as of 2021 just 7% of landlords advertised their homes as being suitable for pets.

Of the 1,261 landlords surveyed by SpareRoom back in 2018, 69% said they don’t allow pets in their properties because they’re worried about the smell or damage a pet might cause.

But, the same study found 88% of pet owners have never had any complaints and that their pets have never caused damage to a property.

The landlord for this two bed, two bath, Fizzy Living, states: ‘We love pets! Fizzy is London’s most pet-friendly landlord (thanks TimeOut London!) and we welcome pets at all Fizzy buildings.’

However, its £75 per month ‘pet rent’ is in place across every single one of its properties, which it claims ‘contributes to the additional cleaning and maintenance required’.

This only applies to pets like cats and dogs, not hamsters or fish that are contained.

But can landlords actually charge you for having pets in the property?

The short answer is yes, but not excessively.

According to the House of Commons Library, in its explanation of the rules on pet ownership in rented properties, ‘Landlords cannot charge a fee for agreeing to a request to keep a pet and cannot ask for a higher deposit if this would breach the deposit cap requirements in the Tenant Fees Act 2019’.

When it comes to private landlords ‘the default position is for landlords not to unreasonably withhold consent where a tenant asks for permission to keep a pet’, but renters must seek permission.

Landlords have to be reasonable and should agree to this if they believe the tenant to be ‘a responsible pet owner and the pet is of a kind that is suitable in relation to the nature of the premises at which it will be kept’.

‘Clause C3.5 prohibits a landlord from exercising a blanket ban on pets. A responsible pet owner will be aware of their responsibilities in making best efforts to ensure their pet does not cause a nuisance to neighbouring households or undue damage to the Property,’ according to the House of Commons Library.

Reasons landlords can say no to requests are not wanting large pets in small properties and also if they deem it impractical.

‘If consent is given on the condition that additional deposit is paid by the tenant, the total deposit must not breach the deposit cap introduced under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and must be protected in an authorised tenancy deposit scheme.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Londoners outraged over £37 fish and chips with just nine fries

MORE : ‘Glorified shed’ up for sale in Scotland for £100,000

MORE : How feminist fetish-inspired fashion became the party look of the year

Friday sees many of us Brits reach for the classic dish of hearty fish and chips.

But one Londoner was outraged after being served a portion for the eye-watering price of £37.

It wasn’t the price that had him so angry though. He took to X (formerly Twitter) sharing a picture of his ‘bland’ dinner, which pictured just nine chips on the plate.

The dish is on the menu by celebrity chef Tom Kerridge in Harrods, and commentators on the social media platform were also up in arms.

The disappointed diner wrote on X: ‘THIRTY SEVEN POUNDS for this bland plate of fish & chips at Tom Kerridge’s in Harrods. NINE chips. NINE.’

Kerridge’s Fish and Chips is, as the name suggests, dedicated to fish and chips, with £37 being the cheapest option for a fish and chip dish on the menu.

The internet was horrified at the diner’s experience, with the post amassing 3,300 comments.

One user said: ‘Blimey! What fish is it? Koi carp?’

Another commented: ‘Frigging disgrace! Fine dining taking the royal piss,’ while someone else said: ‘You’ve been had.’

One even joked: ‘The food is socially distanced too,’ to which another replied: ‘Yeah, most of the chips stayed away completely.’

While it may be a longstanding tradition to avoid meat on a Friday and eat fish instead (it’s a Roman Catholic belief), if it’s going to set us back this much money in a cost of living crisis, we think we’ll give it a miss.

Kerridge’s Fish and Chips writes on their website: ”And as you’d expect, Kerridge does not neglect the chips, which take two days to be prepared before they arrive at your table, piping hot and triple-cooked alongside a choice of dips.’

The chef came under fire back in July for the cost of his food and said: ‘I’ve learnt to deal with it. I’m seen as a man of the people, so when I put fish and chips on for £35, they shout at me for it being expensive.

‘The fish in most chippies is frozen at sea, in a big block, a year ago, then cut up and portioned.

‘The potatoes are maybe four weeks old, have gone through a chipper, been cleaned and put into cheap oil. They’re wrapped in paper, with malt vinegar and salt. 

‘I love it, but at Harrods it’s line-caught, day-boat turbot. The potatoes are specifically sourced for their sugar and starch content, then individually cut up by a person.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : Our sex life has fallen off a cliff — we only did it 6 times this week

MORE : Aldi shoppers thrilled with Walkers dupe after flavour was axed with no notice

MORE : Aldi limits popular Christmas item to ‘two per customer’ in all stores

A manhunt is underway after a woman who tried to break up an argument was almost pushed in front of a Tube train.

The woman saw her attacker arguing with an elderly man at Leicester Square station on November 6.

The man, wearing a puffer jacket, then turned on her, grabbing her arms and dragging her towards the tracks.

There was a struggle and she managed to escape from him, but he grabbed her again and pushed her as a train arrived at around 3.30pm.

Two witnesses intervened and managed to pull the woman away from the suspect who got onto the train.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: ‘The suspect is described as a male believed to be in his late twenties with a muscular build, wearing a beige scarf over his head and a short puffer jacket.’

A man tried to pull a woman into the path of an oncoming tube train at King’s Cross Underground station last year before her friends intervened.

Arthur Hawrylewicz, from Cardiff, was jailed for 10 years for attempted murder.

Detective sergeant Mike Blakeburn said of the incident: ‘Had it not been for their brave actions pulling her from his clutches, we could easily have been dealing with a murder investigation.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

It’s the time of year when Christmas enthusiasts will be heading to ice rinks and markets, ready for some festive fun.

Far flung destinations like New York, with it’s Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree, will be a bucket-list trip for many, or families may head to Lapland, where children can visit Santa Claus at home.

But when it comes to the world’s most picturesque Christmas spot, you don’t have to travel as far as you might think.

In a recent study, we’re very pleased – and not at all surprised – to announce that our very own London was awarded the number one spot.

The research by long-haul holiday specialists, Travelbag, analysed Instagram hashtags for 100 of the best-rated cities.

With more than 270,000 hashtags, London was the winner, with New York in at second place with 255,000.

Paris comes in at number three, while those looking for a slightly balmier Christmas, will be pleased to hear that Dubai is fourth.

Completing the top five is Chicago, the setting for everyone’s favourite Christmas film, Home Alone.

While we rarely get a white Christmas here in London (we last saw snow in London on Christmas Day in 1999), it can still be pretty picture-perfect during the holidays.

The Christmas lights are already twinkling on Oxford Street, and elsewhere, visitors to Covent Garden will be treated to a display of over 40 giant bells with bows, 12 giant baubles and eight spinning mirror balls.

And, while you’re out on London’s shopping streets, you may as well pop into Hamley’s – the oldest toy store. Whether you’re a big kid, or an actual kid, walking into the giant shop feels like walking into a the elves workshop, with pretty much every toy a child could think to add on their Christmas list.

The capital is also home to some idyllic ice-skating rinks, the most famous of which sits in the courtyard of Somerset House, underneath the iconic Christmas tree.

And, if it’s Christmas markets you’re after, you’re spoilt for choice. Of course, there’s the slightly heady Winter Wonderland, with it’s neon lights and giant rides, but there are other more low-key options too.

The Winter Market on the Southbank is great choice for those who want to mooch among the craft stalls in the shadow of the London Eye, with a beer in one hand and a German sausage in the other.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE : These are the best-selling wedding gifts of 2023 – but would you splash £500 on a present?

MORE : What is a Christmas Eve box and what should you put in it?

A sixth body has been recovered after five members of the same family died in a house fire in west London on Sunday evening.

The bodies have included adults and children and have not yet been formally identified. A seventh person was taken to hospital with serious burns.

The families of all those concerned have been informed that a sixth body has been discovered.

The adults who lived at the home have been named locally as Aroen Kishen and wife Seema, while tributes named the youngsters as Riyan, Shanaya and Arohi.

A blaze tore through a home on Channel Close in Hounslow at about 10.30pm, the Metropolitan Police said.

The house was gutted by the flames, with the ground and first floor of the mid-terrace house destroyed.

Tributes now line Channel Close, a residential cul-de-sac road by Great West Road, with a note on a bunch of flowers reading: ‘Rest in peace, sweet child.’

Police are treating the deaths as unexplained and have appealed for witnesses.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Garth Hall said: ‘Firstly, I want to express my sincere condolences to all those affected by this terrible incident.

‘The deaths of so many people, including children, is simply heart-breaking.’

Hall said that investigation efforts have been hampered by the scene being ‘too unstable and dangerous’.

‘It was only after the walls were shored up, and the roof removed, that it became safe enough for search teams to enter the premises,’ he added.

‘We have now been able to sadly confirm the death of a sixth person.

‘The investigation into the cause of the fire continues and I must express my thanks to the London Fire Brigade, their knowledge and experience has been crucial in helping us understand what may have happened that dreadful night.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE : Asda worker killed himself in supermarket and wasn’t found for three days

MORE : Family kicked out of Bristol flats at risk of collapse ‘frustrated and worried’

MORE : Boy, 10, ‘killed by vicious monkey that ripped out his intestines’

A woman subjected passengers on a London bus to an aggressive ‘antisemitic’ outburst in which she shouted: ‘Only Jews eat at McDonald’s.’

Wearing a black bandana, black coat, ripped blue jeans and white trainers, she was filmed confronting and threatening other people on board on Armistice Day. 

The eyewitness who was on the bus with her husband when she recorded the footage described the attack as ‘distressing’ and ’scary’.

It first started when the woman overheard other passengers talking about McDonald’s chips and interrupted by saying: ‘Only jews eat McDonald’s.’

Shortly after the video begins, she can be heard asking someone: ‘Are you a Jew?’

When she realises she’s being recorded, she takes a violent swipe at the woman filming in an attempt to smash the phone out of her hand. 

Another passenger intervened and stood in between the pair, to which the woman said ‘don’t touch me’ and asked ‘why are you recording me?’

Referencing her remarks about Jews, the woman filming asks her to ‘say it again’.

But she responds by trying to aggressively push past the man attempting to keep her away and shouts: ‘Why are you touching me, fam? I’ll smash your glasses into your eyes, bro.’

She then walks along the bus towards another passenger and says: ‘Oh. cos I said something about Jews?

‘You’re lucky I don’t smash your phone, you know. Stop recording me, please stop recording me.’

The passenger tells her: ‘Everyone is recording you, I think you need to get off the bus.’

She aggressively leans towards the man and squares up to him, repeatedly shouting: ‘Can you please stop recording me? I’m telling you, stop recording me.’

Another woman can be heard also asking her to get off a bus and a man says ‘what you are saying is offensive’.

Refusing the requests from other passengers to leave the bus, she then slumps into a seat, waves her hands and says: ‘Get me off the bus, bro.’

Her bizarre tirade of abuse came on the same day that around 300,000 people marched through London in support of Palestine, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Far-right protesters also clashed with police at the Cenotaph and others were later filmed abusing people at railway stations in the capital for showing their support to Palestine.

Speaking after the incident, the eyewitness told MailOnline: ‘It is not safe to be a Jew in London right now. We are experiencing everything that we were warned about as children. 

‘Each bus or train journey becomes increasingly intimidating, making us question if this is a place we can continue to call home. 

‘As the granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors, I am appalled, but sadly, not completely surprised, that this is something I have to face in my lifetime.

‘I was scared. This is a route I take daily, and while I had my husband with me this time, I can’t help but wonder who would stand up for me if I were alone?’

The Met Police has not yet commented on this specific incident but condemned the acts of violence committed by far-right protesters and anti-Semitic hate crimes over the weekend and arrested 145 people.

Matt Twist, the Met’s assistant commissioner, said the force is working hard to continue identifying those who have committed offences.

So far, 11 people have been charged with offences including assault on an emergency worker, criminal damage, racially aggravated assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

Pro-Palestine protesters have recently targeted McDonald’s restaurants across the UK by throwing mice onto the floor.

Targeted mice attacks have been part of a campaign to boycott McDonald’s for offering free meals to IDF soldiers, which some claim shows they are favouring Israel in the ongoing conflict.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.