A wealthy couple who accused their ‘devious little sod’ nephew of stealing their £4 million house have left him staring at a £150,000 court bill. 

Self-made millionaire Michael Lee, 79, and wife King-Su Huang, 73, sued Cheng-Jen Ku, 40, after he claimed to own the swanky property in Kensington’s Queen’s Gate Place Mews. 

The couple purchased it in Mr Ku’s name back in 2004 for ‘privacy reasons’ as they did not want the extent of their wealth to become public knowledge, Central London County Court heard. 

Mr Ku had initially lived there and later claimed he was the true owner of the house and that it had been ‘gifted’ to him in line with Taiwanese tradition by his rich auntie. 

But he told Judge Alan Johns that he had later moved out of the multimillion-pound house ‘because his auntie and uncle were too strict’. 

The judge, Alan Johns, said Mr Ku’s behaviour ‘didn’t look like the actions of an owner’ before ruling the true beneficial owner of the house is his aunt. 

He added that Mr Ku is liable to pay his auntie and uncle’s lawyers’ bill of around £115,000. He will also have to pay his own legal fees, which were estimated before the trial at £35,000. 

The exclusive cobbled mews was once the epicentre of the world’s classic car trade and the site from which motor racing legend Alain De Cadenet ran his Le Mans team. 

Businessman Mr Lee, who made his fortune through a £13m Essex electronics company, met his wife while working in Taiwan and later channeled his cash into a property portfolio. 

And when he and his wife found the property in Queen’s Gate Place Mews, just a short walk from the Royal Albert Hall and Natural History Museum, they decided to snap it up. 

The Victorian mews was built between 1866 and 1869 to provide stables for the grand houses on nearby Queen’s Gate and is accessed through a Grade-II Listed archway. 

Mr Ku, a ‘close’ nephew whom Mr Lee had been fond of as a ‘cute little kid’, had lived with the couple in their £1 million-plus Essex former home after moving to the UK from Taiwan. 

Mr Lee told the judge that his wife handed their nephew £1.57 million to buy the house in his name, explaining that for ‘privacy’ reasons and to prevent the property being called on as collateral for business loans they wanted to put it in Mr Ku’s name. 

It is now worth more than twice the price that was paid, with lawyers valuing it at up to £4 million. 

Mr Ku became its registered owner, initially living there, though his aunt and uncle also had keys and a room in the house. 

But he later went on to claim the house was his because it was ‘gifted’ to him by his aunt, a claim blasted as ‘piffle’ by Mr Lee in evidence during the trial. 

Mrs Huang sued her nephew – backed by her husband Mr Lee as a key witness – for a ruling that, despite being in his name, she was always the rightful owner. 

Mr Lee told the judge that his nephew had gone from being ‘a cute little kid’ nicknamed ‘Trouble’ to become ‘mean and nasty’ in adulthood. 

‘He is trying to steal our house because he has turned out to be a devious little sod and that’s why we’re in court,’ he said from the witness box. 

Mrs Huang’s barrister Rupert Cohen told the judge there had been a clear understanding that, despite being in their nephew’s name, she was the true owner, with her nephew holding it on trust for her. 

She and her husband paid all the bills owing for the house and claimed her nephew only ever used the property ‘with her consent’. 

However, Mr Ku’s barrister, Scott Redpath, claimed the clear intention was to ‘give this property to him’. 

In his ruling, the judge said: ‘I’ve reached a clear conclusion that the intention in this case was for the mews house to be owned by Mrs Huang. Indeed, there was an express agreement to that effect. 

‘There was an express discussion over the telephone before the house was purchased in which she said she wanted to buy a property but use Mr Ku’s name. He agreed. 

‘As understood by the parties, it was an arrangement not that the mews house was to be Mr Ku’s but was to be Mrs Huang’s and just to be held in Mr Ku’s name.’ 

He added: ‘I make a declaration that the mews house is held in trust by Mr Ku for Mrs Huang.’

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Two women have been filmed tearing down posters in London highlighting the victims of Hamas kidnappings.

The posters, which children, elderly women and other civilians believed to have been dragged from their homes in Israel amid this weekend’s surprise attack by the militants, have appeared in several locations around the capital.

Israeli authorities have confirmed the identities of 97 kidnap victims, but many more are unaccounted for.

They include a baby Ariel, her brother Kfir and their mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas, who were filmed being manhandled by Hamas fighters after the Nir Oz kibbutz was ransacked and set ablaze.

Two women have since been filmed ripping the posters from walls outside Mornington Crescent Tube station in north-west London.

An onlooker is heard challenging them, asking: ‘Why don’t you do something for Palestine?’

One of the women turns around and replies: ‘This is for Palestine!’.

A British-Israeli woman who filmed the incident said she was verbally abused and intimidated by passers-by while she and her mother put the posters up.

Neta Fibeesh caught a last-minute flight from Tel Aviv to London on Saturday and has since witnessed renewed hatred towards Jewish people in the UK.

She told MailOnline: ‘I feel safer in the UK because it’s not a warzone, but it is still really unpleasant here. It’s just really upsetting. 

‘I know a lot of people who are scared about being Jewish now in the UK. 

‘One of my friends is more religious than me, he wears a kippah and has been walking around for several days with a hat, and my dad saw someone wearing a kippah get sworn at.’

Rishi Sunak has called on police chiefs to clamp down on incidents of antisemitism.

Two Jewish schools closed this week and will only tentatively reopen on Monday amid tensions.

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The UK has had a warm start to autumn this year, with temperatures well above the average even as we’ve headed into October – but that’s all come crashing to a halt.

Because as well as heavy rain sweeping the country – with a yellow warning in place across parts of the country until midnight on Friday – the temperature is set to drop dramatically over the weekend.

Expect things to feel a whole lot colder – maybe even to the point that you’ll want to whack the heating on for the first time this season.

There’s even talk of snow in some parts – but could London see a dusting of flakes?

Here’s what you need to know…

Is it going to snow in London?

While we may be in for a cold snap, there’s no snow forecast for London in the coming days.

However, we could still be in for the first snow of the season, with wintry showers predicted to fall in some higher areas of Scotland.

The Met Office’s forecast for Scotland reads: ‘Saturday will be a bright and breezy day, with sunny spells and showers. Showers falling as snow across the hills in Scotland. Feeling colder for all.’

From Sunday to Tuesday, the Met Office predicts for the south: ‘Turning brighter, fresher, and chillier through the period, with good spells of autumn sunshine.

‘Largely settled, with the odd shower. Overnight fog and frost possible, especially in rural spots.’

BBC Weather predicts that the temperature in London could plummet by as much as 10 degrees over the weekend – to around 11C in the capital.

However, slightly warmer conditions are expected into the early part of next week as the mercury rises into the mid-teens.

Of the coming days, Alex Burkill, Met Office meteorologist said: ‘Some places will be 10°C lower than they were last weekend.’

He continued: ‘Looking at the details for Saturday, it’s a bright sunny picture for many of us to start. But showers feeding in from cold northerly wind.’

But these will be, ‘scattered,’ he added, with ‘bright sunny spells.’

How cold does it need to be for snow?

For snow to fall and stick, ground temperatures need to be below 2 degrees.

In the UK, the heaviest snow falls tend to happen when the air temperature is between 0 and 2 degrees.

If the air temperature is above freezing then falling snow will begin to melt.

Snow will fall as sleet in temperatures above 2 degrees, and fall as rain in temperatures over 5 degrees.

So we’re still well above optimum snow temperatures in most of the UK – but with the colder months drawing in, all that could change in the coming weeks.

MORE : UK is washed away as winds reach 80mph with more weather warnings in place

MORE : After September’s record-breaking spell of weather here’s whether we can expect another 30C heatwave in 2023

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An artwork suspected to be that of the elusive graffiti artist Banksy has appeared outside an underground station in London.

It was spotted at Edgware Road Underground Station on Monday and like many of his other pieces has an important message.

The suspected Banksy piece shows three figures dragging a robot arm with the words ‘Another world is possible’.

While it is yet to be officially confirmed as a Banksy artwork, fans have already travelled to the area to see the piece.

It looks like the typical Banksy – with the classic black and white stencil work, the hand-sprayed lettering, no name tag, and commentary on pressing themes and anxieties.

The artist posts his artwork on his Instagram account and there has been no posts of his pieces since March.

Banksy confirmed that a mural art piece which appeared on a wall in Margate, Kent, was his in February 2023.

Located off Grosvenor Place in Margate, the piece is titled ‘Valentine’s Day mascara’.

The graffiti depicts a woman with a missing tooth and swollen eye shoving a man, presumably her partner, inside a freezer.

The artwork was eventually relocated to a theme park.

Margate’s amusement park Dreamland now houses the piece to remain ‘accessible to all those who want to come and enjoy it for the foreseeable future’.

A statement from owner Red Eight Gallery and Dreamland Margate said: ‘Banksy’s artwork Valentine’s Day Mascara has today been removed from its original location by a skilled team of professionals and taken to an art conservator in Faversham.

‘There it will be prepared for its eventual installation at Dreamland Margate where it will be on display for the public to see.

‘Julian Usher from Red Eight Gallery and Eddie Kemsley from Dreamland are delighted that they have been able to help the artwork’s current owner achieve their dreams for it and look forward to revealing it in its new home at Dreamland.’

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Four Jewish schools in north London are closing their doors ‘in the interests of the safety of our precious children’.

Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware and Menorah High School in Neasden informed parents the schools would not open now until Monday.

A fourth Jewish school in north London is also closing, Sky News understands.

Rabbi Feldman, of Torah Vodaas, told the broadcaster there was ‘no specific threat to our school’ and it was ‘not a decision that has been taken lightly’, in a letter to parents.

Follow our live blog on the Israel-Hamas war here

Rabbi Chaim Pinter, the principal of Yesodey Hatorah School, also told Sky News they had put ‘certain measures’ in place, including ‘extra patrols’ as well as providing therapists and counsellors to the students.

‘There is worry, people are concerned. People don’t want this to spill over,’ he said.

‘The majority of students live locally, but the students who live out of the local area, they are coming in via taxis rather than public transport.

‘Our priority is the children,’ he added. ‘And the best place, the safest place for a child, is in school.’

Jewish students have been warned by schools to disguise their uniform because of fears of attacks due to the Israel-Hamas war.

One father whose children’s school had given out such advice said: ‘In 2023 for my kids to go to school and it not be okay for them to wear uniform, a kippah, star of David on their blazers, to have to hide their identity in 2023, it’s very scary.

‘I am scared for myself and my family. It’s a scary situation.’

His wife said there had been at least three police officers outside the children’s school every day over the past few days.

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have already been killed in the conflict that started on Saturday.

It comes after a leading Jewish charity said it had recorded a 400% rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the past four days.

Elsewhere, the IDF Chief of Staff admitted Israel had failed to protect its citizens when Hamas attacked.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said: ‘The IDF is responsible for defending the country and its citizens, and Saturday morning, in the area around Gaza, we did not live up to it.

‘We will learn, investigate, but now is the time for war.’

Prime minister Rishi Sunak promised £3million to protect schools, synagogues, and other Jewish community buildings today.

This money will go towards additional guards in schools as well as extra security guards across synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings.

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

It’s not every day you get to explore London’s best bars on a budget, but that’s what’s on offer this week! If cocktails aren’t your thing, there are rum and beer festivals, theatre transporting you back to 1974 West Africa and free DJ workshops for aspiring DJs. It’s gonna be a big weekend…

The Slice’s Pick

Le Petit Chef

Le Petit Chef is named after the tiny animated French chef who graces diners between courses with a cartoon skit of how the food about to be eaten has ended up on the plate. Think fun Tom and Jerry stuff, such as dramatically slicing a lobster in two in front of your eyes with a lot of muttering and the odd ‘merde’ drop. 

The projector lighting and limited tables create an intimate yet theatrical atmosphere but the food really delivers too. We opted for the Classic Menu, which starts with a fresh burrata salad, followed by beautifully fishy bouillabaisse, a lobster risotto, a perfectly pink Hereford beef, and the final course a delightfully creamy and sugar-cracking vanilla crème brûlée. It’s a lot to eat, and starting from £119 per head, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s expensive – but if you’ve got that sort of money, this is definitely an enchanting foodie experience. Bon appétit! 

Set menus from £119pp, Juniors £59pp. Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square.

Food & Drink

WIN! A year’s supply of Wine PLUS exclusive tickets to the Naked Wines Winter Tasting Tour

Metro Drinks Club has joined forces with Naked Wines to give you the chance to WIN a year’s supply of delicious wine, plus exclusive tickets to the Naked Wines Winter Tasting Tour.

These aren’t any old wines. Every single bottle is made by a talented, independent winemaker. So whether you’re a fizz lover, Malbec nut or Sauvignon fan, you’ll get the perfect selection to savour.

5 lucky winners will also get tickets to the Naked Wines Winter Tasting Tour that’s hitting 5 UK cities (Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, London and Ipswich) from 1st-5th November. Ticket winners will meet the likes of Carmen Stevens from South Africa, an award-winning trailblazer who gets a Beatles-style welcome at any tasting she attends.

Loved by over 330,000 UK wine drinkers, Naked Wines connects everyday wine drinkers with the world’s best independent winemakers. They support hundreds of talented winemakers, so they have the freedom to make the best wines they’ve ever made. In return, you get to enjoy better wine at insider prices.

You have until midnight on Wednesday 18 October to enter, so make sure you sign up soon!

Click here and fill in your details to enter. Good luck!

Supperclub Tube

Step aboard this decommissioned Victoria Line tube carriage and let Head Chef Bea Maldonado take you from London to Latin America. Each of the six courses promises a plate full of flavour with our highlights being the yellow corn-based arepas served under black beans and a tomato relish. With its original 1960s patterned seats, this unique supper club set within the Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum is sure to be enjoyed by both foodies and train enthusiasts alike. And if you’re neither of those… It’s a great spot if you’re looking to impress a date with your knowledge of the London restaurant scene off the beaten (train) track.

6-course menu from £67pp. Pumphouse Museum, Walthamstow.

Silverleaf

Scuttle across the Pan Pacific London courtyard plaza to its industrially chic destination bar, Silverleaf and taste the new ‘Building Blocks’ menu. Based around two core ingredients, each cocktail is a masterclass in mixology, art, science and design. Try the Tomato Shiso, Watermelon Sake, the Raspberry Vetiver, or any of them really. The bar team are ready to immerse you in the DNA of each drink, or not. This is cerebral sipping, if you want it to be, or just aesthetic and tasty cocktails if you don’t feel like braining. It’s well worth the scuttle.

Cocktails from £8 with London Cocktail Week (see details below ⬇). 3rd Floor, Devonshire House, 3 Bishopsgate. 

Find out more about Metro Drinks Club and its editor’s pick here.

RumFest

RumFest, the world’s longest rum festival is back in London this weekend for its 17th year! Perfect for rum enthusiasts, the festival will showcase over 400 rums from all over the world to test and try. Tickets include access to all 400 of the delicious rums on offer, cocktail masterclasses hosted by industry experts, tasting sessions, live Caribbean music and dancing during ‘Carnival Hour’, and delicious and perfectly paired Caribbean food stalls. And you get a tiny tasting cup to take home, of course. It’s a must for all rum and spirit lovers!

Tickets from £44. 14-15 October, 47 Lillie Rd, Fulham.

London's best... cocktails London Cocktail Week, 12 - 22 October

Every bar on London Cocktail Week’s list will offer at least one signature cocktail for just £8! Get your £15 wristband from any of the bars and show it when you order – as many times as you like during the week!

BEST EXPERIENCE: Gin Mare’s Med Transfers

Combining a bar crawl with a road trip around the Iberian peninsula, Gin Mare’s cocktail-quaffing expedition sees guests ferried around town in a VW campervan for a bar-hopping evening of perfectly paired gin cocktails and light bites at Parillan, Kwant and Bar Daskal.

Tickets from £20 (must be purchased as a pair, includes three cocktail and food pairings). 17-18 October, meet at Parillan, Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross.

BEST SUNDOWNER: The Rooftop at One Hundred Shoreditch

London Cocktail Week is practically designed for post-work drinkies, and this blush pink hangout atop a trendy hotel is the perfect spot to sip and watch the sunset. Their £8 offering is the aptly named Shoreditch Sundowner – a punchy concoction with Patron reposado tequila, Cointreau, agave, lime juice and blood orange soda. Rock up with your wristband and stay till late.

One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street.

BEST FANCY-PANTS: Baccarat Bar and Studio Franzten

It’s not often we can actually afford anything in Harrods, let alone swanky cocktails. But these are under a tenner! Start with a Pepper Berry Club (served in an exquisite Baccarat crystal glass) in the dazzling bar downstairs, then up to the rooftop for a knockout Vastkusten – with Don Julio blanco tequila, Mandarin Napoleon, Linie Akvavit Sherry cask and Montelobos mezcal.

Lower Ground Floor/ Fifth Floor, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge.

What’s on

Black History Month

Start From Scratch: Free DJ Workshop

The Slice is celebrating Black History Month every week of October, and today we’re highlighting the Start From Scratch DJ Workshop series which looks to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black DJs around the world and throughout history.

Join Pioneer DJ and KISS Fresh Breakfast presenter DJ Esi at the famous Fabric London for a free three-hour session where you will explore the fundamentals of DJing, try out Pioneer DJ’s latest gear and receive a complimentary 3-month license for the online educational platform Virtuoso. Spots are limited so make sure to sign up now!

Free. 18 October, Fabric, 77A Charterhouse, Farringdon.

Theatre

Rumble in the Jungle Rematch★★★

This immersive production transports you back to 1974 Kinshasa where Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought for the title of undisputed world heavyweight champion. Taking place in a warehouse in London’s Docklands which doubles as the luxury Kinshasa Hotel, you’re left to walk around and experience the tasty Congolese street food and performances from James Brown tributes before the main event is recreated, cleverly mixing film clips and live actors. Ultimately, London’s latest immersive production is more party than story. The show is entertaining, but you only belatedly care about the fate of the fighters at its core.

Tickets from £30. Until 29 October, Dock X, Surrey Quays.

Culture

Pink Oktoberfest

Get ready for two weekends of Bavarian fun as Pink Oktoberfest, the world’s largest queer beer festival returns to Between the Bridges. Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 5 star, Ginger Johnson, expect a night of hilarity and tasteful vulgarity. Joining her are renowned queer drag and alt-cabaret artists, including His Royal Hairiness, Dave The Bear, and The Sisters of Shesus. The six-piece synch-pop band, Topsie Redfern and the Morning Afters, will provide a camp twist to the festivities. Enjoy German sausage, cold Steins, games and table dancing, and join the party! Lederhosen or Dirndl optional.

Tickets from £18. 14 and 21 October, Between the Bridges, South Bank.

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James Blunt pulled out all the stops last night for his intimate London album launch show.

No video demonstrates this better than the precious moment caught on camera by Metro.co.uk that you’re about to witness.

The 49-year-old Same Mistake hitmaker introduced a selection of songs from his new album, Who We Used To Be, at his lowkey show in Omeara, Borough, as well as whapping out some old classics.

His new stuff is rather more Coldplay than the crooning you might associate with the man who stormed the charts back in 2004 with You’re Beautiful and Goodbye My Lover.

He got the crowd well and truly pumping for his 2017 Robin Schulz dance track OK, where he made everyone crouch on the floor and jump up at the drop. Fun.

In true James fashion – as he is known to be Twitter/X’s funniest man – he also bantered the crowd as he admitted Glow, a song written for his children, should have been called something else.

‘Change it!’ shouted someone in the crowd, to which he replied: ‘Well it’s too f***ing late now.’ Classic Blunt.

But one moment in the Atlantic Records show that really got the crowd going was when the singer miraculously leapt up onto his piano top.

The unexpected feat of agility came during a lively instrumental break in his catchy 2007 banger, 1973.

James used his keyblock to hoist himself onto the lid of what turned out to be a disconcertingly wobbly piano.

He then proceeded to bob his bottom along to the beat, while grinning from ear to ear and pumping his fists, riling up the – at this point – very impressed crowd.

After the audience went suitably wild over the rather unexpected rock n’ roll turn, James seamlessly returned to the safety of the floor, and sang the chorus as if nothing had happened. What a pro.

You’re Beautiful was obviously another massive highlight of the evening; his most famous song from his debut album Back to Bedlam. During this, James got the crowd to sing the well-known lyrics back to him, continuing his spirited performance.

The audience shed a tear good tear or two for his new track The Girl That Never Was, as everyone was singing along towards the end.

Multiple times throughout the set, audience members shouted out, ‘I love you James!’ and he beamed back, delighted to be on stage again sharing the love with his first new-song album since Once Upon a Mind in 2019.

James shouted out to his wife and family, who boogied along in the crowd to all his classics.

Piano stunt or no piano stunt, James Blunt reminded that small crowd he’s a British legend for a reason, and – contrary to his self-depreciating comedy style – really ought to be taken seriously.

This new album is set to be a corker, folks.

Who We Used To Be is out October 27th on Atlantic Records. Pre-order here. James’ book Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story: A Non-Memoir, is set to be released on October 26.

Got a story?

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MORE : James Blunt hated being a judge on The X Factor

MORE : Pop icon, 75, ‘very ill’ in hospital and forced to cancel gigs

Madonna has been given a very royal welcome to London.

The Queen of Pop kicks off her Celebration tour at the 02 on Saturday and to mark the 65-year-old’s arrival in the capital the world-famous venue has created a Madonna-themed flag much like the Royal Standard flag.

The Royal Standard flag is flown at full mast whenever King Charles III is in residence at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle and Madonna’s flag will let everyone in London know she’s in town.

Made by the royal family’s very own flagmakers, Madonna’s flag will stay up throughout her five headline shows, in which the A-lister will belt out four decades of her biggest hits.

Steve Sayer, vice president and general manager at the O2, said of the idea: ‘The arrival of Madonna and The Celebration Tour in London is arguably the biggest UK event in pop music this year.

‘Madonna has been at the forefront of the genre and part of pop culture for four decades, and we’re very proud that this hotly anticipated tour kicks off right here at The O2. This Royal Standard flag feels like a fitting tribute to pop royalty, and the perfect way to kick off six incredible shows.’

More than 90,000 fans will be able to get a glimpse of the flag across Madonna’s celebration tour dates in London.

The Like A Virgin singer is already in the UK for her massively anticipated tour, which was delayed due to a health scare which saw the star in ICU.

Ahead of the shows, Madonna touched down in Manchester to practice for her blockbuster dates, which will also take her across Europe and then back to the US for the North American leg of the Celebration.

Never one to do things by halves, Madonna chose to rent out the entire Stock Exchange Hotel – owned by footballer Gary Neville – as she prepares for the tour.

The five-star hotel is set in the very heart of central Manchester, with 40 rooms costing up to £500 per night – and for the time being, it’s all Madonna’s.

Well, what else would you expect from pop royalty?

She was seen returning to her hotel earlier this week at 1am following a gruelling eight-hour rehearsal, which suggests she’s going to be putting on one hell of a show for anyone lucky enough to have snagged tour tickets.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

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Ed Sheeran pulled off the ultimate surprise during Busted’s Tuesday night show in London and showered the singers with praise for inspiring a generation.

The 32-year-old international superstar thrilled fans at The 02 after he suddenly appeared on stage just in time to help the bandmembers belt out their track Who’s David, in videos captured by Metro.co.uk.

Before Ed’s big on-stage reveal, Busted – made up of Charlie Simpson, James Bourne and Matt Willis – began asking the crowd ‘Is there anyone called David here?’, referencing their 2004 song Who’s David.

The noughties boyband repeated themselves a number of times before switching out the name and exclaiming: ‘Is there anyone called Ed here?’

After teasing a confused crowd, the band welcomed the Give Me Love singer onto the stage, resulting in a massive roar erupting across the concert venue.

Ed kicked things off, strumming the chords to Who’s David on his signature acoustic guitar and took centre stage while Busted surrounded him on either side.

After singing his last note, Ed took a moment to address excited fans before saying goodbye for the evening.

He was heard saying: ‘London, before I go can I just say these guys were the reason that so many people of my age and my generation picked up a guitar and I don’t think they get enough credit for it.

‘Please give a round of applause for these absolute legends – thank you so much for having me!’

Matt screamed enthusiastically into his microphone hailing the incredible surprise as Ed turned his back and made his way off the stage.

Fans posted clips of the iconic moment to TikTok and commented their shock at what they witnessed in the London-based arena.

One penned: ‘Fulfilled my childhood dreams tonight and it was a big slay, banger after banger ok goodnight xoxo.’

Another said: ‘Still can’t believe that I got to witness this’, while a separate social media account noted: ‘Oh my god, no wayyyy, I am so jealous!’

Elsewhere during the star-studded gig, Busted were joined by their support act Hanson – an American pop-rock band – who helped them bash out Sleeping With The Light On and MMMBop.

Earlier this year, the Year 3000 singers revealed they were heading back out on tour after 20 years for a special 15-date extravaganza.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

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London has been crowned the best city on earth – and the rest of the world aren’t too happy.

The outrage stems from a top 10 list created by Resonance Consultancy. The company delved into data surrounding the ‘liveability’, ‘loveability’ and ‘prosperity’ of the world’s major cities.

Do locals like living there? Do tourists leave good reviews? Are there parks aplenty and a decent public transport system? These are all questions researchers asked themselves when deciding where to crown.

London, for an eighth year in a row, reached in the top spot. 

Paris – battling a bedbug epidemic – and New York – currently at risk of more heavy flooding – followed closely behind.

When Metro asked people for their opinions on the list, many turned their nose up at London’s place in the top slot.

In Paris, your wellbeing and lifestyle are the highest right

Phillip Sanders, a 29-year-old Mancunian who now lives in Paris, firmly believes the French capital has earned its place as the world’s greatest city – and that London is overrated.

He told us: ‘London’s days of being the world’s capital are long behind it. Post brexit, inflation, rent prices, lousy local officials, ancient public transport, it’s no wonder the best part of London is the nightlife and drinking. You need something to help you forget the mess you’re in.

‘Paris is often scoffed at by Londoners for being aloof and inaccessible, but that comes from the profound British arrogance where your presence deserves accommodation. Paris is a community unto itself, and expects an understanding and kindness to its language, history, and spaces.’

The English capital is also ‘too big’ in Phillip’s eyes, with it easily taking an hour to navigate from one part of the city to another.

And while London is a melting pot of cultures, the 29-year-old also raises the point that you’re more likely to find people in Paris who speak multiple languages. Through this, communities get more connected. 

He continued: ‘Culture is wide spread, and the city itself supports it.

‘London, the Tubes are more cramped, the architecture is a mess of deregulation, and the streets are just runways to some mega store. 

‘Paris however is a place of harmony. Every street delicately weaves into main roads, where one can equally be lost or found as the mood strikes. The Metro here is made for the people, with spacious interiors, ample seating, and open plan platforms.’

France may have hit headlines recently for its bedbug infestation and frequent strikes, but Philllip says the latter, at least, is no bad thing.

‘The Parisians have held strong against inflation, gas price hikes, and pension reforms. Striking too is a community effort that sees waves of your community supporting eachother.

‘Strikes are so often events, and are surprisingly well organised and safe. In Paris, your wellbeing and lifestyle are the highest right. Why waste away in your office when you could be living, talking, and soaking up the cities vibes?’

Tokyo has everything London has but is cheaper, cleaner and better organised

Meanwhile Paul Cardwell, who spent five years in London, is also dubious about its place on the list. He currently lives in Tokyo and the contrast between the two cities could not be more stark.

‘It’s busy like London but everyone follows the rules so there is order and it just makes for a much more pleasant environment to be in,’ he said. ‘It is incredibly safe. I can walk down any street at any time and nothing bad is going to happen.’

‘That’s definitely not the same for London. Everything here is clean. I’d eat my dinner off the tube station floor. People are also super helpful – ask a stranger for directions and they will literally take you to the place you want to go to. 

‘It also has better weather as it gets seasons. You get a winter but also a guarantee of a good summer.

‘It is also much cheaper to live – rent is about half the price of London, the supermarket and eating out are much cheaper and higher quality, and going to events is also cheaper – I went to football for £15 and baseball for £12.

‘Essentially, Tokyo has everything London has but is cheaper, cleaner and better organised.’

Unsurprisingly, those whose cities didn’t appear on the list were also quick to chime in.

‘Edinburgh has been overlooked’

Sylvia Tilmann, 56, heralded the success of Edinburgh, which was recently crowned best city for quality of life in a separate study.

Like London, it’s a melting pot for cultures, which is demonstrated through the likes of the globally-renowned Fringe Festival and recently revived Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Sylvia, who teaches Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE), said: ‘I lived in Edinburgh for 17 years and it’s definitely been overlooked.

‘It has everything.

‘A varied music scene, plenty of art galleries and museums, a huge rock in the middle of the city where it can feel like being in the Highlands, an amazing seaside, an international airport and great transport links.

‘What more do you need?’

But it’s easy to criticise from the outside and it seems London’s still loved by those that live there.

Anne Iarchy works as a lifestyle coach in the English capital. She takes issue with the common stereotype that the city fosters selfishness and impatience.

The 51-year-old told Metro: ‘I don’t think Londoners are rude. It all depends on how you go about.

‘If you’re open, talkative and smiling, you’ll get the same back. Rude people are unfortunately everywhere these days. Not London specific.

‘At the same time, I’ve been very lucky to live in a fantastic street where everyone knows each other and if need be, we support each other and have regular street parties.

‘And when all works, public transport is quite easy as well. Be it buses, Underground or the Overground.’

Anne added: ‘I’ve lived in London for 21 years now. I moved here for work mostly, but also because it’s a city with so many opportunities.

‘London offers an amazing mixture of arts of all sorts – music, theatre, dance, exhibitions, and so on. It’s the place where everyone wants to perform or exhibit so you get the biggest names coming.

‘There’s plenty of multicultural food offerings both cheap and expensive and always plenty to discover.’

For born and bred Londoners, there’s no question about the Big Smoke being the best city.

Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist and author, was born and raised in North London.

She told Metro: ‘As a lifelong Londoner, I’d say it isn’t my experience of the city. There are so many moments of connection and community in London. Although it might be true that Londoners seem to be quite busy or rushed.

‘I love London’s diversity – its mix of influences and multicultural background makes it such an exciting city. And the cultural experiences: art, theatre, music, events… there’s always something new to see or do.

‘The architecture of the city is also beautiful, with so much fascinating history.’

MORE : London borough named best place in the UK to raise a family

MORE : Hotel workers reveal five secrets the travel industry doesn’t want you to know

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A Heathrow Airport terminal was briefly evacuated for a second day running, sending crowds of people outside Terminal 3 this morning.

About 20 airlines including American Airlines, Delta and Virgin Atlantic run out of Terminal 3 of the West London airport.

But social media users revealed at around 9.30an this morning that a ‘suspicious package’ had been found, with the building being quickly evacuated.

It’s understood the terminal was emptied as staff investigated a bag, with the evacuation response lasting under an hour.

One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote: ‘That’s everyone at the Delta/Virgin Atlantic terminal at Heathrow being told to leave then. Oh dear.’

Another added: ‘Great, I was in line to drop my luggage off at Heathrow and they are evaluating the terminal because of a security incident.’

A passenger said: ‘T3 evacuated at London Heathrow due to suspicious package found.’

Users posted photographs of crowds of people forming outside the terminal building.

The incident has since been stood down and passengers have returned to the terminal, causing next to no impact on Heathrow’s operation.

The airport’s departure board is showing no delays or cancellations related to the incident.

This was the third incident to upend the airport, with ‘unknown fumes’ reported on Sunday seeing riders rushed off a plane at Terminal 5 on Sunday.

Yesterday, Terminal 4 was evacuated for half an hour due to a man pulling the alarm at the Elizabeth line station for the terminal.

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While Amazon makes drone deliveries in the States and many of us in the UK receive items bought online the same day, it’s hard to imagine a postal service that relied on a pair of oars and a river.

However, at at the start of the 19th century, many Londoners did just that. 

In 1800, a waterman named William Simpson was employed to deliver mail to the many barges and ships that moored on the River Thames. It was a dangerous job and Simpson’s tiny skiff offered little protection from collision with boats and barges – or the enormous propellers of huge ships travelling from international waters.

The Thames in those days was lively and overcrowded with houseboats, barges, sailing vessels and other river-dwellers. Simpson’s role became a vital one in the life of the river, and it was passed down from father to son across seven generations and two families.

The work of these brave men – as well as the scandals – have now been brought to life at London’s Postal Museum after the grandson of the last River Postman donated his family letters and photos. 

‘It was my intention to create a display in the museum on this fascinating subject, and it was clear that Clifford – the youngest Grandson of Herbert Lionel Evans, the last Thames River Postman – had a lot of great content,’ explains Stuart Aiken, Curator at The Postal Museum.

‘Clifford donated a wealth of family history material to the museum, which has helped us to understand and tell this story in our exhibitions in a personal way.’

For more information about The Postal Museum, click here.

MORE : Snapshot: How working class people made history in the 1930s rent strikes

MORE : Snapshot: Vintage photo series celebrates the birth of the NHS

Police have arrested three people after Palestinian supporters clashed with pro-Israel groups after a rally in west London.

At least 5,000 people attended the Palestinian demonstration at the Israeli embassy this evening at around 6pm.

Later, video footage showed groups of Palestinian supporters clashing in the shopping arcade near the High Street Kensington Underground station.

Follow our live blog for latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war

Scotland Yard last night said three arrests had been made for an assault on an emergency worker, racially-motivated criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

The Met said at 7.40pm, 15-year-old boy was arrested on Kensington High Street.

He was in the Tube station when he was detained on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

Around 20 minutes later, a 70-year-old man was arrested nearby on suspicion of racially motivated criminal damage.

At 9pm, a 29-year-old man was arrested in Oxford Street on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Ahead of the protests and vigils we liaised with the organisers to ensure our policing plan was appropriate – balancing the right to lawful protest against any disruption to Londoners, while ensuring all communities are supported and reassured.

‘UK policing has an obligation to uphold the right to protest. However we are clear that where any activity crosses into criminality we will, and have, taken action.’

They added: ‘During the protests in Kensington High Street a number of individuals were observed engaging in criminal damage of a building.

‘We have gathered evidence and active enquiries are underway to identity, locate and arrests those suspected of being involved.

‘We are aware of concerns being raised about flags and other symbols being displayed in a way that could lead to people feeling threatened.

‘Specialist officers reviewed these and determined they were not flags of proscribed organisations.

‘The waving of a particular flag is not, in itself, a specific criminal offence unless it relates to a proscribed organisation. At present, no offences were identified.

‘Londoners will continue to see officers on the streets, in our communities across London in the days to come following days to reassure and protect. We have zero tolerance for any hate crimes.

‘Anyone with concerns, or who has witnessed any offence should speak to an officer or contact police online, via 101 or call 999 in an emergency.

It comes after days of fighting between Israel and Palestine, with more than 3,000 people killed in the conflict since Saturday.

Earlier tonight Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the response to the Hamas attacks would ‘echo for generations’.

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More than three tonnes of Class A and B drugs have been seized, and more than 400 criminals jailed, after a huge Met Police investigation spanning more than three years.

Op Eternal is the name of the investigations into criminals who use encrypted EncroChat devices to organise drug deals, launder money, and orchestrate violence.

The 426 people convicted under the op have been jailed for a grand total of 3,722 years – an average of more than eight-and-a-half years for each person.

The arrests, seizures and convictions have disrupted organised crime groups across London, helping to prevent illegal drugs and weapons getting into the hands of criminals.

Op Eternal used precise, data-led policing to target criminals causing the most harm in London.

It was launched in March 2020 after EncroChat data was accessed by French law enforcement, and the National Crime Agency passed data relating to hundreds of London-based EncroChat handles to the Met.

Op Eternal let police access senior members of crime gangs who were operating out of police reach, or the extent of their offending wasn’t known, for the first time.

Many of them, who were previously living in multi-million pound properties and driving top-of-the-range cars, are now serving prison sentences.

Commander Paul Brogden, who leads the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: ‘Op Eternal is the most significant operation targeting organised crime figures in the Met’s history.

‘The suspects in these investigations are dangerous criminals, many of whom play a key role in supplying kilos of drugs to street gangs whose activities blight and cause misery in communities across London.

‘Every dangerous criminal jailed, and every gun and amount of drugs taken off the street as part of Op Eternal has served to make neighbourhoods in and around the capital safer.

‘Op Eternal investigations have been supported by officers and staff from all corners of the Met, and it is testament to their skill and dedication that this operation has been so successful.

‘Our Op Eternal caseload remains significant, and many more cases are being progressed behind the scenes.

‘We still have specialist teams working to attribute EncroChat handles to people; we are still making arrests regularly; and we still have more to do.

‘Our message to criminals who operated on EncroChat and haven’t yet been visited by police is clear; we won’t stop until we have investigated all EncroChat handles, and it is only a matter of time before we knock on your door and arrest you.’

Craig Turner, Deputy Director of Investigations at the National Crime Agency, said: ‘This operation has resulted in remarkable achievements across UK law enforcement.

‘We are really proud to have led the operation in what was a watershed moment in the fight against serious and organised crime.

‘The infiltration of EncroChat provided a gold mine of intelligence which through officers’ monumental efforts, was transformed into evidence enabling thousands of arrests to happen. There has been nothing like it.

‘The NCA and partners in policing do everything possible to protect the public from the most dangerous organised criminals in the UK and beyond.’

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A couple accused of murdering a 71-year-old woman made online searches for whether people would be able to smell a dead body, a court has heard.

Chelsea Grant, 28, and Xyaire Howard, 23, are alleged to have killed ex-bank worker Susan Hawkey, whose body was found decomposing in her northwest London flat on September 26 last year.

Ms Hawkey had been blindfolded, and her hands were tied behind her head with shoelaces and tape before she was strangled with a piece of black fabric.

Grant and Howard were found to have spent £13,000 on items including cannabis, perfume and clothes using her card as she lay dead.

The pair, who have admitted to two counts of fraud, blame each other for the death.

Grant, who was pregnant at the time of the alleged murder, says she never went inside the Neasden flat, while Howard insists he did not strangle Ms Hawkey – though he says he did bind her with tape to get her to reveal her PIN code.

A jury at the Old Bailey heard mother-of-two Grant had made 65 searches on the subject of bodies decomposing.

They included searches of ‘Can we smell a dead body?’ and ‘Can neighbours smell a dead body?’, made on the day CCTV shows the pair shining a torch into the flat a week after the alleged murder on September 7.

In cross-examination, Annabel Darlow KC asked Howard: ‘Did she [Miss Grant] tell you, “I am worried about smelling dead bodies?”‘

He replied: ‘She didn’t.’

The prosecution also raised early-morning online searches for PPE made by Howard, who claimed they were for his work at a construction site.

Miss Darlow said: ‘We can see that at three o’clock in the morning, we can see you searching for a whole face respirator.

‘You had no interest in working on a grungy building site, you were going to Aylesbury Street to deal with the body.’

Howard replied: ‘I was supposed to start on the 22nd September, but I got sacked on the 21st because I didn’t go to work on the 20th.

‘I was planning to do the [PPE] order when I woke up, but I woke up and saw the message that I was sacked.’

The court heard the pair also made searches relating to pensioner benefits, including ‘What time do retirees get paid?’

Miss Darlow said: ‘You wanted to figure out when Ms Hawkey’s pension came in.

‘The reality is, that the two of you, knowing full well that Ms Hawkey was dead, thought that the money would keep flowing in from her pension.’

Howard denied each of the prosecutor’s allegations.

Grant and Howard, of Press Road, Neasden, deny murder.

Grant denies three counts of robbery, while Howard denies two and admits one.

The trial continues.

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As France is blighted by a scourge of bedbugs, Brits are now convinced they’re seeing the tiny bloodsucking insects everywhere.

A string of viral posts on French social media in recent weeks has shown the parasitic bugs crawling across the seats of trains, cinemas and subways in Paris as well as in airports.

Itchy officials and exterminators have been dealing with the stubborn bedbug for decades which, while they don’t pose a public health risk, are a source of discomfort and anxiety for many.

But bedbug coverage has fuelled anxiety about the bedbugs landing in the UK, with one TikTok user saying she spotted one on the London Underground.

The commuter said in a video posted yesterday: ‘Minding my own business on the Victoria Line, a f**king bed bug is on my leg.

‘Said he’d got a great deal on the Eurostar and wondered if I could take him home. No!’

Experts, however, aren’t so sure whether the insect in the video was a bedbug.

Professor Richard Wall, of the University of Bristol’s School of Biological Sciences, told Metro.co.uk that the bug isn’t ‘flat enough’ to be one.

He added: ‘I’m also pretty confident that it’s not a tick either (too big). It’s worth noting that bedbugs are largely nocturnal.’

The British Pest Control Association (BCPA), which represents pest control professionals, wasn’t sure either.

The trade body told Metro.co.uk: ‘We wouldn’t worry about bedbugs getting themselves an Oyster card just yet – it’s not very common to find bed bugs on public transport.

‘They’re nocturnal and normally only come out during the hours you are in the deepest sleep, between 1am and 5am, to feed.

‘Any reports of an issue would be investigated by the transport company involved, and many companies or organisations have proactive pest control contracts in place for their depots, offices and vehicles, to prevent issues like this.’

Adult bedbugs are wingless, apple-seed-sized insects which have six legs and a flat, oval body with a rusty tint to it, the BCPA says.

TfL said it is not ‘aware of any outbreaks in London’ and is closely monitoring the network.

The public transport agency said: ‘We are continuing to implement our rigorous and thorough cleaning measures that have been proven to keep both the interior and exterior of our trains clean.’

‘We are committed to providing a clean and safe environment on our bus, Tube and rail service for our customers and staff, and we would like to reassure our customers that we continue to maintain our already high standards of cleanliness, so our staff and customers can use the network safely and with confidence.’

Eurostar has also said it’s stepping up its preventative measures on Lonodn-Paris trains amid France’s bedbug invasion.

Researchers say that bedbugs in Britain certainly aren’t new – it’s more people are finally talking about it.

According to the BPCA’s national survey in 2016, there were nearly 11,900 bedbug-related pest control call-outs in 2015/16.

Pest killers Rentokil reported in September that there has been a 65% increase year-on-year in bedbug infestations, with experts pointing to their growing resistance to pesticides as among the reasons why.

Instead, it’s advised people follow the heat or freeze rule, such as throwing clothing in the dryer for an hour or popping small infested items in the freezer for a couple of days.

The uptick in sightings in both Britain and France could be down to the time of year, too.

Their numbers are at their lowest in the winter as many of the pests hibernate before rising in the warmer summer months, with a hotter-than-average October not helping.

While it’s unlikely bedbugs are going to travel to Britain en masse on the Eurostar, Rentokil told Metro.co.uk that international travel is one reason they have become more common in recent decades.

The company said: ‘The ongoing rise of international travel has made it easier for bed bugs to hitch a ride across borders.

‘With the recent outbreak in Paris, it’s crucial for travellers to be aware of the common signs of these pests, and how to mitigate the risk of them spreading further.

‘Bed bugs are prolific breeders, and once they attach themselves to clothing, luggage, or furniture, they can quickly infest a room, house, hotel, or even an aeroplane or bus.’

Bedbugs are blood-sucking hitchhikers who lay hundreds of eggs and get around by stowing away in clothing, bags, mattresses and carpets.

They surface at night to feed, with a person’s warmth and the carbon dioxide they exhale acting as a neon ‘Open’ sign for the buffet of blood underneath their skin.

As they bite, bedbugs leave a zig-zagging trail of red and purple welts that can be itchy for some people.

Health experts stress that there’s no need to worry about infection – bedbugs are more skin-crawling nuisances than anything and bites clear up after a few days.

However, the NHS warns that a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is also possible but rare. People should see their GPs if their bites are still itchy or painful even after taking over-the-counter treatments, such as steroid creams.

MORE : Bedbugs are swarming across France. Here’s how to spot them in your home

MORE : Man who is scared of insects finds a scorpion in his suitcase and names it Brian

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Buildings around the world have been lit up with the blue-and-white flag of Israel in a show of solidarity following the shock attack by Hamas last weekend.

Landmarks in London, Brussels and Berlin were among those picked for the display, which comes after hundreds of people were killed by terrorists who crossed the border from Gaza.

Leaders including Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have expressed their support in the days following the incursion on Saturday morning.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Zelensky told Ukrainians in Israel to ‘take care of yourself and others around you’.

An accompanying message said: ‘Israel has the full right to defend itself against terror. As any other state. And it’s critical that the whole world responds to terror in a unified and principled manner.’

The deaths of two Ukrainian citizens in the country have since been confirmed, and an image of the Israeli flag was put on a large screen on a Kyiv street corner last night.

Bulgaria’s parliament in Sofia and the European Commission headquarters in Brussels were also illuminated by the flag and its Star of David.

Last night, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted an image of the flag being projected on Downing Street online, accompanied by a supportive message.

In a video, he said: ‘Now is not the time for equivocation, and I’m unequivocal.

‘Hamas, and the people who support Hamas, are fully responsible for this appalling act of terror, for the murder of civilians and for the kidnapping of innocent people, including children.’

Meanwhile, the US has already begun sending military supplies to Israel after several American citizens were confirmed to have died in the attacks.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser, four missile destroyers and a number of fighter jets were on their way to the country.

In a phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Joe Biden said: ‘We stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel.’

MORE : Airlines suspend flights to Tel Aviv after Hamas ‘targets Israel’s busiest airport’

MORE : Israeli student begs ‘Don’t kill me’ as she’s snatched by Hamas terrorists

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Passengers at Heathrow were rushed off a plane after reports of ‘unknown fumes’ on a British Airways flight from Barcelona.

Emergency services responded to the incident earlier today after the plane had landed in London.

Footage and photos posted online show several fire engines and police cars on the runway at Terminal 5, as dozens of passengers wait outside the plane.

No elevated chemical readings have been detected inside the aircraft, and no one is believed to have been significantly hurt in the incident, services said.

One person wrote they’d been ‘locked on a plane for an hour and a half’, while another tweeted: ‘Major police operation at Heathrow T5 tonight.’

Another passenger shared photos of crews wearing hazmat suits, writing: ‘Scenes at #Heathrow T5 as the BA flight from Barcelona has had its crew fall sick upon landing, and the passengers are being held on the runway.’

They continued: ‘No information other than smoke/fumes were detected in the cockpit and some cabin crew have been told to strip after falling ill.

‘We’ve all now been herded into some departure gates.’

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said that unknown fumes were reported in the aircraft, adding: ‘The chemical team did a sweep of plane and found no elevated readings.

‘It is unclear whether there are any injuries at this stage, but certainly not significantly.’

A Heathrow spokesperson said: ‘Our teams responded to an incident reported this afternoon. The incident has now been resolved.

‘We apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience caused. ‘

A British Airways spokesperson said: ‘The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority.

‘This aircraft landed normally at Heathrow following reports of a technical issue.

‘Customers disembarked the aircraft safely via steps, and we’ve apologised to them for the delay and inconvenience caused to their journey.’

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Police patrols in London have been stepped up amid reports of people celebrating Hamas’s attack on Israel.

The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of a number of incidents, ‘including those that have been shared on social media’.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the news coming out of Israel as ‘deeply distressing’, adding: ‘I condemn the terrorist acts of Hamas and my thoughts are with those affected and those who have lost loved ones.

‘Tragically, we know that violence in the Middle East can lead to a rise in hate crime in London.

Follow the latest on the Israel-Palestine conflict over on our live blog.

‘I’m in touch with senior officers at the Met and communities across our city. Let me be clear – hate crime in London will not be tolerated. Now or never.’

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she expects police to ‘use the full force of the law’ against displays of support for Hamas.

She wrote on X this morning: ‘Whenever Israel is attacked, Islamists and other racists use Israeli defensive measures as a pretext to stir up hatred against British Jews.

‘Yesterday I spoke with the Community Security Trust to ensure the government is doing everything necessary for the protection of our Jewish communities.

‘There must be zero tolerance for antisemitism or glorification of terrorism on the streets of Britain.

‘I expect the police to use the full force of the law against displays of support for Hamas, other proscribed terrorist groups or attempts to intimidate British Jews.’

On Saturday, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley shared video to social media of people waving Palestinian flags and sounding car horns in Acton.

Other clips shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed gatherings of people waving Palestinian flags, clapping, and holding signs reading ‘Freedom for Palestine’ and ‘end the siege’.

Rachel said: ‘I just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party.

‘Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world.’

A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an “emergency” demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli embassy.

A spokesman for the Met said: ‘We are aware of a number of incidents, including those that have been shared on social media, in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza.

‘The Met has increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities.

‘We remain in contact with partners and community leaders to listen to any concerns.

‘Anyone who experiences threatening behaviour or is worried about their safety is urged to contact police.

‘We are aware that the ongoing conflict may lead to protests over the coming days.

‘We will ensure that an appropriate policing plan is in place in order to balance the right to protest against any disruption to Londoners.’

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, said it has been in discussion with the Met Police and Government since Saturday morning to ensure the ‘appropriate levels of security and policing are in place in Jewish community areas’.

Dave Rich, director of policy at the charity said: ‘Experience tells us that as conflicts in Israel and Gaza escalate, we will see a spike in antisemitic hate crimes in Britain.

‘During the last big conflict between Israel and Gaza in May 2021, one of the things that caused the most anger and fear in Jewish communities was car convoys waving flags.

‘We hope what happened on Saturday night isn’t an indication that we’re going to see the same thing again as that would be extremely damaging to community relations.

‘We kind of accept it as normal that when there’s conflict, we see a rise in antisemitism in Britain, we shouldn’t accept it as normal, it should never be acceptable.’

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The Royal Parks Half Marathon 2023 returns to the capital this weekend, as around 16,000 runners will be participating, hoping to raise money for hundreds of good causes and charities.

The Half Marathon takes runners through four Royal Parks and past several of the capital’s iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and the Royal Albert Hall. 

However, for those not taking part, the half marathon can make travelling around central London tricky, and it’s best to plan your route in advance.

With that in mind, which roads are closed for the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2023?

Here is what you need to know.

When is the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2023?

The half marathon is tomorrow – Sunday, October 8, 2023.

What roads are closed for the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2023?

During this time, ongoing work and closures at Piccadilly Underpass will affect eastbound travel from Knightsbridge to Mayfair, with significant diversion routes around Hyde Park from Kensington Church St.

Travellers are advised to use the Piccadilly Underpass to make Westbound journeys from Mayfair to Knightsbridge, as one lane is open.

Hyde Park Corner will be shut (in both directions) from 7am until 12pm.

During the event weekend, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will remain open to the public as usual – however, visitors may be directed to different gates on the day of the run to access the park.

Full information is available on the Royal Parks Half Marathon website.

What is the route for the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2023?

The Royal Parks half marathon route is 13.1 miles long, starting and finishing in Hyde Park, but also travels through Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens.

The entire route is available on the Royal Parks Half Marathon website. 

MORE : Vernon Kay announces gruelling ultramarathon for Children in Need and he’s feeling the ‘pressure’

MORE : Oh sh*t you’ve got a London marathon place – now what?

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Narrowing down on that one special place to settle down is the most important decision new parents can make.

There are so many different factors to consider, like school OFSTED ratings, house prices, the number of parks, and crime rates. Get this balance right, and your little ones will have the best life possible.

But while it’s a big decision to make, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

This is because new research from ADT shows a formula to balance all these concerns to help you make an informed decision, as the company has taken into account all these various factors (and more) to calculate what is called the ‘family safety score.’

Where is the best place to raise a family in the UK?

To calculate this score, ADT’s experts cast the net all over the UK – and it was Waltham Forest, in North London, that scooped the top spot.

With a family safety score of 7.23/10, Waltham Forest not only ranked in the top 10 for low burglary and crime rates but also ranked seventh for schools – 82.8% of schools in the area have either a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ score from Ofsted.

Like most London boroughs on the list, the houses were a little on the pricier side – but this is perhaps evened out by affordable transport costs, with bus fares costing an average of £1.75.

Generally, the data shows that all the house prices in London were on the more costly end of the spectrum, with five of the six London Boroughs on the list having house prices upwards of £450,000. But given London Boroughs pretty much dominated the list with high ‘family safety’ scores, you could say that it’s a pretty worthy investment.

For instance, Havery, Bexley, Bromley, Hounslow, and Hillingdon all populated the top ten with similarly high family safety scores -showing that London as a whole is a prime location for those hoping to settle down.

However, Kirklees in Yorkshire and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne also had similarly competitive family safety scores and are perhaps more affordable for those who are looking to settle somewhere outside of the capital.

To see the ADT’s list in full, click here.

MORE : London ice rinks you can book now to visit this Christmas season

MORE : London airport wins unfortunate title of second-worst in whole of Europe for delays

MORE : Thrifty couple reckon they’ve found the secret to living in London ‘for free’

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Itching to get your skates back on?

After a long and (occasionally) hot summer, the nights are getting longer and there’s even a bit of chill in the air, which can only mean one thing – autumn is here, and Christmassy activities aren’t far behind.

Alright, it’s only October, but it pays to be prepared and some of these ice rinks are wildly popular, so booking now might save you disappointment later.

So without any further ado, here’s a list of some of our favourites you can already secure tickets for.

Glide, Battersea Power Station 

Dates: Friday November 10, 2023 – Sunday January 7, 2024

Price: £8.50 for children (aged 12 and under), £12.50 for adults, £36.00 for family (booking fees may apply)

Glide at Battersea Power Station has three whole interconnecting ice rinks to enjoy this season.

There’s also a Ferris wheel and carousel to take a ride on, and some private igloos you can hire to drink and dine on some artisan pizza (where it’s also a whole lot warmer). These have capacity for up to twelve people, with costs starting at £12.50 per person.

ICE at Kensington Palace

Dates: November 30, 2023–January 7, 2024

Price: Adult tickets from £19 and child tickets (under 14) from £16

Not only does this palace ice rink have room for 750 people, but there’s also a funfair plus a food hall where you can get some mulled wine and festive treats.

Naturally, there’s also going to be shopping to do with brands like Fortnum & Mason and Cecconi around to choose from, as well as a massive Christmas tree in the middle of the rink.

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

Dates: 17 November, 2023 – 7 January, 2024

Price: Adults/Teens from £19.00, children (aged between 3 and 12 years old) from £14, family ticket from £53 

Fancy skating with a backdrop of a Tudor Palace? Us too.

Not only does Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink come with historical charm, but it boasts its own café and bar too, where you can treat yourself to mulled wine, mince pies and hot chocolate.

The Queen’s House Ice Rink

Price: Adults from £17, children from £10

Dates: November 23, 2023– 7 January, 2024

This gorge open-air ice rink sits right in the middle of Greenwich’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The place offers great views of iconic architecture, Greenwich Park to the south and the sparkle of Canary Wharf at night to the north.

Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland

Price: Adults from £11.50, children: from £8.50, families: from £34.00

Dates: 17 November, 2023 – 1 January, 2024

No Christmas ice rink list could be complete without Winter Wonderland.

A London staple, the fairground’s rink around the Victorian bandstand is just the tip of the iceberg, with rides and games galore as well as the opportunity for the kids to meet Santa himself.

Be sure to check out other UK Christmas markets here, as well as the best European options.

Skate at Somerset House

Price: Adults £10 – £25, children £8 – £13

Dates: November 15, 2023 – January 14, 2024

The Somerset House ice rink is a yearly favourite in the capital.

Sponsored this year by Switzerland Tourism, expect DJs, a Shelter Boutique pop-up charity shop, and a stunning 40ft Christmas tree.

Do you have a story to share?

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

MORE : Best European Christmas markets you’ll want to book flights for now

MORE : ‘I’ve already cooked my Christmas dinner – I’ll start prepping next year’s on Boxing Day’

A high-flying businessman is locked in a battle with his neighbours over claims they are ‘torturing’ him with the noise generated by their wooden floors.

Sergey Grazhdankin, 42, and his wife, Maria, claim their lives in a £1m-plus apartment in a gated art deco development in West Kensington, London, became a misery after new neighbours moved into the flat above them.

The couple say they have since been subjected to a constant assault of noise- including kids playing and crying, creaking joists, footsteps and noisy conversations – from City banker Medhi Guissi and his wife and family upstairs.

They had previously enjoyed peace and quiet in their three-bed apartment, but the installation of wooden floors had shattered that and left them feeling as though they are in a flatshare, they say.

Mr Grazhdankin, who runs an insurance services company, is now suing his neighbours over the alleged ‘nuisance’ caused by the noise in a case which has run up around £250,000 in lawyers’ bills.

At Central London County Court, Mr Grazhdankin asked Judge Tracey Bloom to order his neighbours to tear up their floor and lay it again in a way which eliminates the noise.

But investment manager Mr Guissi and his wife, Meriem El Harouchi, are fighting the case, claiming that Mr and Mrs Grazhdankin cannot complain about the normal everyday sounds of a family in their own home.

They say their neighbours have become oversensitive to the normal day-to-day noise of family life, having lived for many years with only an elderly single lady as a neighbour above them.

Previously, the Grazhdankins had an elderly lady living above them and told the court that they very rarely heard noise from upstairs, other than the occasional banging of a door.

But after Mr Guissi and his wife bought the property, they began a major refurbishment of the flat, tearing out walls, changing the layout of the rooms and replacing the floor.

In a statement put before the court, Mr Grazhdankin said that, after a year living in Germany, he and his family had moved back into the flat in August 2020, but soon found the noise upstairs ‘unbearable’.

‘During the week, we are woken up daily between 5.30am and 7.30am by the noise from above and we can hear the floor making creaking sounds, walking sounds and the sound of moving furniture right above our main bedroom,’ he said.

‘On weekends we are woken up between 7am and 8am by walking, banging, jumping sounds, children running and voices.

‘During the day, throughout the whole week, there is a lot of noise of similar nature, beams creaking floor, walking, dropping things on the floor, moving objects on the floor, children crying, shouting and voices.

’Overall, living in our apartment feels like living in a shared apartment with another family. It is impossible to have our peace and live in our own rhythm.’

‘Living with this every day since we moved is torture,’ he added from the witness box.

His wife said the only time they are free from the noise above is after Mr Guissi and his family go to bed, which can be after 10pm at night, making the Grazhdankins dependent on their neighbours’ daily schedule.

‘We are automatically able to tell not only if they’re at home but also who exactly of the family is at home, which room they’re in and sometimes what kind of activity they are engaged in.

‘It feels depressing because I do not have a feeling of privacy, peace and quiet in my own home.’

Mr Grazhdankin said his wife had been more badly affected, now suffering from stress and insomnia, and feeling afraid as she tries to sleep as she is waiting to be woken.

Following complaints and a previous court hearing, Mr Guissi and his wife installed carpets, but the noise is still present and continues to affect the Grazhdankins, he said.

‘The problem is not the installation of wooden floors in itself,’ he said.

‘It is that these wooden floors were not fitted properly and, for a whole host of other reasons, the work was not “conveniently done” – that is, done with regard to their neighbours, because they did not install a proper floating floor which would have guarded against excessive impact and airborne noise.’

He continued: ‘Works must be done with regard to your neighbours – the basic principle is you treat your neighbour the way you expect them to treat you.

‘In this case, the reasonable reaction would have been for the defendants to go back to the company that laid the floor.’

But representing the neighbours, barrister Tom Morris said that what the Grazhdankins are complaining about is the sound made by acts of ‘ordinary residential occupation’ of a family home.

The acts ‘are not done maliciously or with the intention of disturbing the claimant, but reasonably and with proper consideration for the interests of the claimant,’ he said.

Even Mr Grazhdankin himself had written in an email that ‘what we are hearing on a daily basis is a product of a normal family life,’ said the barrister.

‘Mrs Harouchi even gave her downstairs neighbours two days’ notice of a celebration of her son’s birthday in 2019,’ he continued.

‘Accordingly, the noise complained of in this claim cannot as a matter of law amount to an actionable nuisance.

‘As to the complaints about creaking, the court is invited to prefer the evidence of the defendants’ expert that creaking is ‘not uncommon’ in buildings of this sort,’ he added.

Mr Grazhdankin is also the freeholder of the building, North End House Ltd, for nuisance and for breach of covenants in their leases.

However, all parties deny liability, with North End House barrister David Hoffman suggesting that the complaints are just about the ‘difference between having a family upstairs and having a single person upstairs.’

The trial continues.

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 gay couple were targeted by a gang who viciously attacked one of the men with a ‘wooden panel with nails in it’.

Callum Griggs was also punched and kicked in the terrifying assault in High Road, Chadwell Heath, east London at 5.30pm on Sunday.

The 23-year-old spent 13 hours in A&E as a result, where medics glued together a gash in his eye.

Mr Griggs had been walking along the high street with his partner Brad Balueta, when the pair were targeted by the gang, who were standing outside a fast food shop.

Mr Balueta said the six or seven youths, who he believes were aged between around 18 and 20, started throwing slurs at the pair, calling them ‘batty boys’ and ‘fags’.

The 24-year-old told Yahoo News: ‘Callum calmly asked them what they said, and one told him he knew where he lived, then named the street, and told him, “I will kill you”.

‘I am out and proud but in all my life I have never felt so scared. He clearly knew where my boyfriend lived, and was very aggressive.’

He said that one of them then broke off a wooden panel with nails in it and began threatening Mr Griggs with it.

While this was happening the couple noticed people inside nearby shops and on the street were watching but no one came to help.

One of the gang then took hold of Mr Griggs’ shirt, explained Mr Balueta, before another ‘sucker-punched’ him in the head.

‘I was terrified, they were piling on to him and it was three on one. They were punching and kicking him.’

He added that, still, no one came to their aid.

The assault went on for a number of minutes, before the gang fled. Mr Buelta said one of them laughed as he ran off, telling Mr Griggs he had his blood on his hands.

Two women who had been driving past saw that Mr Griggs was hurt and offered to drive the couple home.

From there, Mr Griggs, a teaching assistant and sports coach, called police but was told to go to hospital to get treated first and call them back afterwards.

After having his eye injury glued at A&E the pair returned home and phoned police as suggested.

According to Mr Balueta, they were told officers would visit them at 2pm on Monday, but no one came.

They were then informed on two more occasions visits would happen when they didn’t, before officers eventually arrived to take a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Balueta also wrote about his experience on X (formerly Twitter), and asked people to share his posts.

He said: ‘I [want] to show that this s**t has been happening to my community for a [long] time and is still happening in front of our very eyes today. Verbal or physical, homophobia/transphobia is a real thing.’

He also expressed his anger at the lack of help from bystanders, posting: ‘The fact so many people were watching on the high street and did nothing and just watched or ignored is appalling and just shows what society is like and has been like for so long.’

He thanked the two women who stopped their car, however, describing them as ‘angels’.

Jon Cruddas, the local Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, which covers Chadwell Heath, said he was saddened to hear of the attack.

He told Yahoo News he would be making representations to both the local authority and police to seek assurances that the incident would be investigated.

The Metro has contacted the Met Police for a comment.

The attack follows a homophobic stabbing on August 13, which saw two men knifed outside a nightclub on Clapham High Street in South London.

The pair, one aged in their 20s and the other in their 30s, were targeted by a man who knifed them before fleeing the scene.

The attack happened outside a popular gay bar called the Two Brewers at around 10.15pmas many people were heading home.

Also in August, a woman described how she was attacked by two men while walking her dog wearing a T-shirt that read, ‘My Girlfriend Bought Me This’.

The men asked why Heulwen Rowcliffe was wearing the T-shirt, before pushing her to the ground.

One man then hit her while the other kicked her in the back.

Home Office data published yesterday reveals that in the year leading up to March 2023, there were more than 24,000 hate crimes in the UK against people because of their sexual orientation.

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 and killed in whilst standing on a street in south-west London.

The victim, a man in his 20s, died on Shuttleworth Road in Battersea around 21.50 yesterday.

The Metropolitan Police has launched a murder investigation, but no arrests have been made.

They added the man is yet to be formally identified, but his next of kin have been made aware.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This is a tragic incident where a young man has lost his life whilst standing on a street in Battersea.

‘Detectives are working at pace to gather as much information as possible and I would ask anyone who was in the area and saw events unfold, or anyone who has captured this on phone or doorbell footage, to contact police immediately.’

Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland said: ‘This murder will come as a terrible shock to the local community.

‘I want to reassure them that experienced homicide detectives from the specialist crime command will be working tirelessly to find out who is responsible, and we will offer them all the support we can.’

She added there will be ‘an enhanced police presence’ in the area.

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 couple say they now live for ‘free’ after ditching their home for a canal boat and renting it out on weekends.

Rosanna Irwin and her fiancé Killian Connolly had been spending £1,700 a month on rent and bills and were keen to buy a ‘fixer-upper’ property of their own.

Despite a budget of £500,000 and spending six months scouring listings, they found themselves unable to afford a one-bed flat anywhere in London.

Exasperated by the tough housing market, they started to consider living on a boat.

The 28-year-old wasn’t interested in the idea initially, believing it’d be ‘tough and dingy’. But after she and her partner explored the inside of one, she decided it was worth a shot.

The couple bought a £100,000 boat, which measures 60ft x 12ft, last summer and haven’t looked back.

The vessel is one long room divided into a laundry room, a sitting room/kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom – proving to be a compact but multi-functional space.

Rosanna claims they now pay ‘ultimately nothing’ as their loan repayments are covered by weekend Airbnb rentals – when they stay in their campervan.

Even better, they manage to save around £20,400 a year.

Rosanna, currently moored in Hackney, East London, said: ‘We wanted to buy somewhere in London because we were sick of renting.

‘After looking at apartments, we realised there was no way we were ever going to be able to afford one.

‘One day we were out on the canal and we saw a canal boat go by, he offered us a look inside his boat.

‘For ages we had thought canal boats were a bit tough to live on and a bit dingy, but this was so gorgeous.

‘Living on the water, waking up and seeing the swans go by is pretty nice. It’s really lovely and takes off a lot of stress, but the best thing is the amount of money saved.

‘Ultimately we don’t pay any rent. We pay back a loan each month but it’s much, much cheaper than paying rent.

‘It was the only way we could purchase something of our own in London, there was no other way.’

They think their vessel is nicer than any one-bed apartment in London.

Rosanna said there are some less glamorous realities to boat living, though.

‘You need to be a certain type of person to live on a boat.

‘We don’t have a kettle or toaster, I don’t use a hair dryer or straighteners.

‘We just have a compost toilet, you need to be not-so squeamish. There are more jobs than a regular toilet, you don’t just flush and forget about it. It’s a separator toilet.’

The lifestyle suits the pair as both work remotely, so they have the time and flexibility to move their boat as necessary.

Canal & River Trust tells boaters they need to move every two weeks (or sooner depending on the mooring sign).

Along with their £100 boat licence, the pair spend just £2,500 a year in total, including on insurance and fuel, and see no reason to live in a house.

Rosanna said: ‘We generally stick in and around London but we’ve gone up to Watford and Stansted before.

‘I think it’s because they don’t want the same people to be taking up the best spots in London and so it disperses everyone every two weeks so everyone has a chance at getting a nice spot.

‘My friends and family definitely think it’s quirky, everyone does come on the boat and realise it’s much nicer than they thought it’d be.

‘My passion is tiny homes, I just find them so fascinating.

‘We live in a world where we have all built these massive houses for no real reason other than because they can.

‘I love seeing how much you can add into a tiny space. I love cabins, street houses and canal boats, they’re definitely so much cosier.’

Do you have a story to share?

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

MORE : Londoner now saves nearly £9,000 every year after ditching rental flat for a narrowboat

A man has been charged following an ‘XL Bully’ dog attack which left a mum struggling to protect her young son.

The 20-month-old was attacked by the dog near the Hilton Hotel on Catherine Grove in Greenwich, London on Monday morning.

His mum lost a shoe as she struggled to protect her son from the dog, which has since been put down.

There was blood pouring from the toddler’s leg, and he was airlifted to hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Thomas Ackah, 29, the dog’s owner, was arrested at the scene.

On Tuesday Ackah, of Old Kent Road, SE1, was charged with being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog. He was set to appear at Bromley magistrates court on the same day.

One witness described her horror at hearing ‘screams’ outside her home and running outside to find a powerful dog attacking the toddler.

A police spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 10:10hrs on October 2 to reports of a 20-month-old child bitten by a dog on Catherine Grove.

‘Emergency services attended. The child was taken to hospital where their injuries were assessed as not life-threatening.

‘The dog and its owner were located by officers. A man has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control. The dog has been seized and will be taken to kennels.

‘The boy’s injuries have been treated at hospital. They are not life changing or threatening fortunately. We wish the victim all the best with his recovery and thoughts with his family.’

The Met said the dog involved is thought to be an XL Bully, but further tests are needed to confirm this.

It comes just days after protests were staged across the country opposing the ban of the American XL bully breed in the UK announced by Rishi Sunak in September.

The plans to make the dog illegal by the end of 2023 have been met with mixed reaction, with some saying the owners are to blame, while others believe it’s the right move.

A ban was prompted after a spate of dog attacks by XL bullies, including a shocking incident in Staffordshire on September 14 in which 52-year-old Ian Price was mauled to death while trying to protect his elderly mum.

In the week before the fatal attack on Mr Price, an 11-year-old schoolgirl had been badly injured when an XL bully dog randomly attacked her as she walked through Birmingham, as well as two men who tried to intervene.

A boy, 10, had also been savaged by an out of control dog as he played football outside his house in Walsall.

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

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MORE : XL Bully which killed dad ‘savaged two other dogs’ before fatal attack

MORE : Boy, 4, nearly killed by XL bully in woman’s garden gets picked on for injuries

MORE : When will American XL Bully dogs be banned in UK and how will it happen?

The housing market in London is known for its high rents and high demand for properties – but it’s not just the UK capital that is seeing prices rise.

New analysis by Rightmove shows average rents outside of London have gone up 10% in a year – with Scotland seeing the biggest increases of 14.5%.

The cost of renting a home outside of London reached an average of £1,278 per month between July and September, meaning rents have gone up for the fifteenth consecutive quarter, according to Rightmove.

Some towns and cities have rent rises far above the average, however, with rents in Luton in Bedfordshire going up by 23.6% in the last year, to £1,263.

Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s director of property science, said: ‘Record rents and far more tenants looking to move than there are homes available means it will still feel very difficult for many tenants navigating the market. 

‘However, there are signs that some of the pressure between supply and demand is beginning to ease, with the number of new rental properties coming to the market now at its highest level since the end of last year. 

‘While it is likely that there is some way to go before this filters through to rental prices, if the improving trend between supply and demand continues, we could start to see the pace of yearly rent rises slow more significantly than it has been.

‘In the current market, tenants are having to do more to have the best chance of securing a rental property.’

Within London, average rents have gone up by 12.1% in the last year, to £2,627, while an average of 25 people are enquiring about each property, up from eight people per property in 2019.

In the north west of England, average advertised monthly rental costs have risen by 12% in the last year to an average of £1,105, Rightmove said. 

Meanwhile, in the north east of England, average monthly advertised rental costs have increased by 9.8% year-on-year to £856 per month. 

Wales has seen the smallest annual increase in advertised monthly rental costs, with a rise of 5.9% to £1,032 per month.  

The increase in enquiries is being driven by the ‘ongoing imbalance’ between supply and demand, with 41% more tenants looking to move than in 2019 and the number of homes available down 35%, according to the findings. 

Ria Laitmer, a lettings manager at Clarkes estate agents in Dorset, said: ‘The gap between high demand and a severe shortage of rental stock at the moment is just crazy. 

‘We’re receiving mounting enquiries for each property to rent from would-be tenants, with queues of tenants arriving to open-house viewings and the majority being left disappointed as there is just not enough properties on the market to meet the demand.’

However, the total number of available properties to rent is up by 14% compared with last year, while the number of new properties coming to the market to rent is now 7% higher than at this time last year. 

Rightmove said this was the biggest annual jump in new properties to rent since November 2022.

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 : How a £3,000 deposit can get you on the property ladder

MORE : Fed up with London renting but don’t think you can afford to buy? Think again…

MORE : The house from Sex Education is on the market for £1,500,000

Transport for London had to refund more than £10,000 in fines after a Ulez camera was found to be pointing in the wrong direction.

Exactly 927 drivers were issued penalty tickets from a camera at the Old Redding junction towards Common Road in Harrow, north-west London.

Local Conservative Party councillor Marilyn Ashton called the mistake a ‘total fiasco’.

The deputy leader and member for Stanmore said: ‘If you are driving down Old Redding in a non-compliant car, you shouldn’t have to pay a charge as those roads are exempt.

‘Since it went up on August 29, people thought, “I’ll go that way and not have to pay anything,” and had to pay the £12.50.

‘It’s not in London at all, which is partially why it’s a terrible idea to do this.

‘All that was wrong is that the cameras were facing these roads.’

The mum-of-two and grandma-of-two, who has lived in the area for five decades, claimed it took weeks to fix the error.

‘More than 900 and something people had to pay £12.50 and that’s terrible,’ Marilyn added.

‘It’s unacceptable, incompetent and disgraceful.

‘Once they realised what was wrong they should have sorted it out, but they waited for the best part of a month to remedy it.

‘People will get a refund but it’s not very nice; these people haven’t done anything wrong. This should never have happened.’

The ultra-low emissions zone was expanded to outer London from August this year, charging drivers £12.50 a day if their vehicle doesn’t meet emissions standards.

One of the new boundary lines splits the borough of Harrow into two – but the camera was installed the wrong way and has been incorrectly charging drivers travelling north through one junction, which falls outside of the zone.

Marilyn, who was against the most recent expansion, called on London mayor Sadiq Khan to apologise for the ’embarrassment’.

‘We’re not talking about half a dozen people, here: it’s hundreds of people,’ she added.

‘There was a woman at the hairdresser saying she didn’t understand it. It had happened to her four times.

‘I just think it’s blatant carelessness, incompetence and arrogance.

‘It wasn’t hard to crack it, it wasn’t exactly rocket science. I find it extraordinary, really.’

A spokesperson for TfL said: ‘We apologise for this error. Unfortunately this camera was incorrectly positioned.

‘It was switched off once we were informed of the error and has been re-positioned. We have refunded any charges that were wrongly issued.’

It added all cameras on the London boundary have been checked, and they are now correctly positioned.

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

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

Sometimes you’ve just got to feel lucky to be a Londoner.

This week we’re going on a breathtaking immersive voyage to Ancient Egypt, dining in some of the best Indian restaurants for Curry Week, marking Black History Month with a very special tour of the Natural History Museum and finishing off with free udon noodles.

Truly blessed…

The Slice’s Pick

Horizon of Khufu VR Experience

You’re drifting down the Nile on a royal barge, watching fishermen casting their nets into the reeds as you float towards a gleaming white temple at the base of a vast pyramid. But this isn’t Ancient Egypt – you’re in Westfield shopping centre, where with the help of virtual reality, you’re about to undertake an immersive expedition to discover the hidden secrets of the world’s oldest and only surviving ancient wonder, The Great Pyramid of Khufu.

With an enthusiastic digital Egyptologist and a giant talking cat goddess as your guide, crawl inside the sacred tomb of the Pharaoh – painstakingly recreated using data collected by a Harvard University team – soar above the necropolis, and even attend King Khufu’s funeral. There may not be quite enough facts to satisfy a true Egyptophile, but the sublime animation and infinitesimal attention to detail – the rising smoke of a funerary brazier, the shadows against the pyramid at sunrise, the sounds of modern day Giza humming in the distance – make this experience unmissable. You’ll need a head for heights, though!

WIN! A year’s supply of Wine PLUS exclusive tickets to the Naked Wines Winter Tasting Tour

Metro Drinks Club has joined forces with Naked Wines to give you the chance to WIN a year’s supply of delicious wine, plus exclusive tickets to the Naked Wines Winter Tasting Tour.

These aren’t any old wines. Every single bottle is made by a talented, independent winemaker. So whether you’re a fizz lover, Malbec nut or Sauvignon fan, you’ll get the perfect selection to savour.

5 lucky winners will also get tickets to the Naked Wines Winter Tasting Tour that’s hitting 5 UK cities (Leeds, Nottingham, Oxford, London and Ipswich) from 1st-5th November. Ticket winners will meet the likes of Carmen Stevens from South Africa, an award-winning trailblazer who gets a Beatles-style welcome at any tasting she attends.

Loved by over 330,000 UK wine drinkers, Naked Wines connects everyday wine drinkers with the world’s best independent winemakers. They support hundreds of talented winemakers, so they have the freedom to make the best wines they’ve ever made. In return, you get to enjoy better wine at insider prices.

You have until midnight on Wednesday 18 October to enter, so make sure you sign up soon!

Click here and fill in your details to enter. Good luck!

Watch the trailer here for a sneak preview.

Tickets from £39, Westfield Stratford City, 157 Montfichet Rd, Stratford.

Food & Drink

Tattu

Elevated high above Tottenham Court Road, Tattu doesn’t hold back its elegance. From the smell of incense that hits you on arrival, to the darkly lit Chinese courtyard under a beautiful cherry blossom tree, this is a chic place with all the extravagance you want for a bougie night. The cocktails are sweet and inventive, the dishes are beautifully presented (get the signature ‘Cherry Blossom’ dessert for a smoky show) and the Mixed Dim Sum in particular is delicious. We felt the sharing menus were pricey for what you get, but the set menu is very reasonable. The food isn’t the most adventurous, but the presentation and décor alone make this one a winner. 

Set menu £36 pp, Sharing Menus from £105pp. Outernet, Denmark Street, West End.

Marugame Udon – 10,000 FREE bowls of udon

To celebrate National Udon Day, Marugame Udon is dishing out an incredible 10,000 bowls of free udon this Friday. In what is their biggest udon giveaway ever, customers will get free udon bowl up to the price of £5.95, and for bowls over this price they will just pay the difference! The offer is just for Marugame Club Members, but luckily signing up is quick and free, just go to their page here. Marugame have sites across London, including Bond Street, Waterloo, The Strand and Canary Wharf – so sign up now, go to your nearest Marugame and eat your way to noodle nirvana!

Free. 6 October. Various locations. 

The 411

Nestled covertly in the shadow of Angel station, The 411 is looking to bring a slice of Americana to Islington High Street. Pitched as your new favourite after-work drinks spot, the bar has everything you’d want from a local go-to: solid, nostalgic beats, quintessentially American bar snacks (you’ll either love or hate their deep-fried pickles), and wide mix of crowd-pleasing cocktails. Prices are, perhaps, a touch steep – but the vibes are good and the broad range of events on offer, from nightly beer pong to Bottomless Pizza and Picante Saturdays, make it hard to resist sneaking back for just one more.

Cocktails from £11, burgers from £13. 411 St John Street, Islington.

London's best... curry nights

BEST EVENT: Spice in the City

Spice up your life and celebrate the 25th National Curry Week at Cinnamon Kitchen City this Friday. The special evening promises a unique menu crafted by five top chefs showcasing their favourite spice-infused dishes, from ghee roast crab with burnt cinnamon to  black pork belly curry. Tickets include a Q&A, canapés, wine, and four courses, with optional wine pairings for £48pp.

£95pp. 6 October, 9 Devonshire Square, Spitalfields.

BEST MENU: Gymkhana

The leaves have turned and so has our coffee order: one pumpkin spice latte please! Even better, Blank Street are putting on a back to uni deal so thirsty students can pick up a Pumpkin Spice Latte or the new Shaken Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew for 50% off.

£110pp, £100pp (v). Offer until 5 Nov. 42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair.

BEST VIBE: Masala Zone

As you step into Masala Zone’s new site on Piccadilly Circus you are immediately transported to the majesty of long ago, such is the beautiful décor of extravagant archways, plush armchairs and a glistening gold-mosaic ceiling. The food is priced a little steep, but the explosion of taste and the attentive staff make up for it. Make sure to try the glorious fish cake starter.

Small plates from £5.20, curries from £15.50. 224 Piccadilly, West End.

What’s on

Black History Month

Explorers Family Festival: Black Natural History

The Slice is celebrating Black History Month every week of October, starting with the National History Museum’s Explorer’s Family Festival. The museum is marking the occasion by hosting special tours led by Black scientists who will discuss their mission to achieve environmental and climate justice. During the day you’ll learn about some of the incredible work taking place at the Museum, as well as taking part in creative workshops that’ll help you connect with nature and the broader Black diaspora in a whole new way. Limited places will prioritised for people from racially marginalised backgrounds.

Free. 8 October, Cromwell Road, South Kensington

Music

S Club – The Good Times Tour

S Club is bringing all the nostalgia back with The S Club – The Good Times Tour. Join the fun, dance and sing along to the timeless pop hits as Bradley, Jo, Jon, Rachel, and Tina reunite at the O2 in London this weekend for the last few dates of their 25th anniversary tour. Get your tickets now to make sure you’re part of this two in a million event. It promises to be S Club Party like no other!

Tickets from £75. 27 – 28 October, O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, North Greenwich

Culture

Email is D̶e̶a̶d̶

Get ready to dive into the quirky world of email at the Design Museum’s latest exhibit, Email is Dead, running until 22 October. This funky and free exhibition, co-created by Intuit Mailchimp’s Wink and Something Special Studios, creatively examines how email helps shape our work lives, relationships, cultures and economies. Discover the sights, sounds, and yes, even the smells of email in this immersive experience which sparks a lively discussion about the future of communication.

Until 22 October, The Design Museum, 224–238 Kensington High Street.

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