A pair of 200 year-old trees have been cut down by Westminster Council who say they were too diseased to remain.

The iconic Berkeley Square in Mayfair was closed to pedestrians while work was carried out on the two London plane trees, which are thought to have been planted in 1789.

This week, the government's business minister, Vince Cable, announced to parliament that the coalition government will rapidly move towards legislating to give shareholders control over the 'excess of capitalism' and clamp down on the 'rewards for failure.'

Perhaps more than any other, my own constituency, the Cities of London and Westminster, benefited from the recent economic boom which came before the credit crunch.

Yet I had noticed long before the crisis a growing sense of despair and resentment among hard working Londoners.

Hundreds of family and friends gathered in Notting Hill to celebrate the life of one of the carnival's original organisers.

A crowd gathered outside All Saints Church on Thursday (26) morning, waiting for the coffin of Selwyn Baptiste, who died at home on January 5, to arrive.

As they waited, the sound of a steel band could be heard turning the corner into Clydesdale Road, and behind it was the hearse carrying Mr Baptiste.

The deadline for nominations for Westminster's civic community awards is Tuesday January 31.

The borough is full of people and organisations who dedicate their time to helping the community, and Westminster Council is looking for those who deserve to be honoured for their work and win a prize of £500.

More than 80 schoolchildren were invited to visit a newly refurbished cinema at Whiteleys shopping centre.

Odeon has just completed redecorating its screens at the centre in Bayswater, and invited youngsters from Hallfield School in Westminster to a free screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked 3D.

The work has meant full digital and 3D capability in all four screens, new premier seating, disabled access, and a refurbished snack area.

Speculation about who will be the next leader of Westminster Council began as soon as Colin Barrow announced he would be stepping down.

And just a few days later, bookies Ladbrokes were offering odds on who would be his likely successor, with Edward Argar, head of city management, way out in front at odds of 4/5.

A Marylebone day centre used by vulnerable homeless women has been given a new lease of life by a group of volunteers.

Paddington Waterside Partnership joined forces with Vodafone to help redecorate the Marylebone Project on Friday (20) to brighten it up for those who use it.

Kay Buxton, chief executive of Paddington Waterside Partnership, said: "A huge thank you to the team from Vodafone for redecorating the day centre lobby and waiting rooms at the Marylebone Project.

A set of books have been donated to Maida Vale Library in memory of avid reader Fred Berry, on what would have been his 98th birthday.

The Essendine Residents Association handed over the books last week in memory of Mr Berry who was a long-standing member and lover of libraries.

A spokesman for the library said: "Fred was an avid reader and a lifelong lover of libraries. Apart from using his local library in Maida Vale, he used the other Westminster libraries and, even when frail and with only a few weeks to live in his 98th year, he was still catching the bust to Swiss Cottage, Camden or Hampstead and returning with a backpack full of more stimulus for the mind."

A well-loved Bayswater man hung himself over fears he could lose his home, an inquest heard.

Juan Astobiza Coba, 69, was found at his Kildare Gardens home on November 9 by police, who were asked to check on him after he did not turn up for work the Friday before, Westminster Coroner's Court was told on Wednesday (18).

Education secretary Michael Gove enjoyed a tour of Westminster Academy where he unveiled a new support package for schools.

The MP met staff and students at the school in Harrow Road, which he described as 'fantastic,' on Wednesday (18).

He was joined by chief executive of Barclays, Anthony Jenkins, to announce a £1.2m financial skills initiative for academies and free schools, to help them get a better understanding of business and the global economy.