News

Book worms in Westminster will benefit from a library makeover which will include new computers and a revamped self-service centre.

But it comes at a price as Maida Vale Library will be closed for six weeks from February 13 so its first refurbishment in eight years can take place.

Around 30 young footballers from a grassroots club in Maida Vale put their best feet forward to try out for some of the country's top football teams.

Youngsters from Samba Street Soccer Club showed off their skills on the pitch to representatives from clubs including West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal, QPR, Charlton, Brentford and Barnet on Monday.

The youngsters play at Paddington Recreation Ground as part of an initiative set up in 2005 by ex-footballer Andrew Amers-Morrison, who has won praise from motivational charity ActiveWestminster for boosting the prospects of youngsters living in an area of high deprivation and unemployment.

Elderly residents in a sheltered housing complex are worried for their future after the council confirmed their homes could be demolished - a year after they were refurbished.

Pensioners living at Penn House in Lisson Grove were given hope when nearly £500,000 of work was carried out last year, but have now been warned the building could be knocked down within two years.

Historical campaigners have hit out at plans to build a Crossrail substation on the site of a Victorian coffee house.

The Victorian Society, the national charity fighting to preserve remnants of the era, has written to the firm asking them to reconsider demolishing the building, which now houses the Big Table bed company, near Westbourne Park tube station.

The 1901 coffee house is the last remaining purpose-built Temperance Bar built by the Great Western Coffee Tavern Company, which ran seven such premises for use by railway workers as an alternative to the pub.

A Pimlico primary school has just finished a project launched by a national charity to support children from deprived areas.

Families and Schools Together (FAST) has been developed by Save the Children to help parents and work with schools to help children to thrive in both education and at home.

During the eight week programme at Churchill Garden Primary School in Ranelagh Road, 29 families with children aged four to six took part in sessions including coaching parents to lead activities and encouraging them to play together and share family meals.

A community radio station is taking over the airwaves for the 16th year with a lively schedule of programmes.

The Avenues Youth Project's hugely popular in-house radio station, Avenues FM 87.7 is returning to broadcast live from February 6 until March 4 from the youth club in Harrow Road.

In the 16 years that Avenues FM has been broadcasting, it has given a voice to both young people and the wider community, and this year the station is giving the mic to a number of organisations, businesses, groups and individuals.

A main route through Maida Vale was shut for around 24 hours after an alleged shooting from a car.

But police officers were left scratching their heads after they found bullet casings at the scene in Kilburn Park Road, but no victim.

They were called shortly before 5pm on Sunday (29) after reports of shots being fired from a car, but when they attended, there was no one suffering from gunshot wounds, and no suspects remained at the scene.

A group of students from Paddington Academy had the chance to tour a nearby hotel and learn more about how it works behind the scenes.

The Year 12 students, studying a B-TEC in hospitality, saw first-hand the duties of individual staff at the four star Novotel London Paddington in Kingdom Street last week, and received a careers talk.

Among the highlights was a tour of the kitchens and a demonstration by chef Roni Salva, who will visit the academy later in the year to teach a cookery class.

Victoria was named among the safest nights out in London at an awards ceremony this week.

The district was given a Purple Flag award by the Association for Town Centre Management, which recognises that it provides a safe and enjoyable environment for both days and nights out.

It is one of just 24 areas to have been given the award, and one of just four areas in London to have Purple Flag status.

Police closed a busy main road in Maida Vale for more than 12 hours following a suspected shooting.

Officers were called just before 5pm on Sunday (29) to reports of a shooting from a car in Kiburn Park Road.