News in brief

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.

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.

Pupils from low-income families in Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster do better in exams than children in most other boroughs, according to think tank CentreForum.

The three boroughs are ranked in the top 10 in the country, with 61% of pupils from lower income families in Kensington and Chelsea scoring five A* to C grades at GCSE including English and Maths, 56% in Westminster and 51% in H&F.

Around 10 firefighters were called a blaze in a basement flat on Shroton Street, Paddington, on Tuesday (10) afternoon.

Crews from Paddington were called at 4.30pm and had the flames under control within half an hour.

A fire which damaged the basement of a coffee shop in the early hours of Wednesday (11) was caused by a cigarette.

Around 30 firefighters were called to the fire in Victoria Street at about 2.15am, and residents from the flats above had to be evacuated.

Visitors and residents in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea can enjoy free wifi access following a landmark deal between the councils and network operator O2.

The deal will result in the largest free wireless hub in Europe, making it available to millions of people.

Listen to, discuss and read about different genres of music at an event in Pimlico Library on Thursday January 12.

There will be a workshop with rapper and writer Lyndon Haynes, music performances from bands and rappers, and food and drink throughout the event, which runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Pimlico Nursery is holding an open day on Thursday, January 12.

Visitors can meet the nursery team between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

The government has chosen Queens Park as one of 10 neighbourhoods to pilot a scheme that will open up participation in public services.

The three traditional One Stop Services at City Hall, Church Street and Harrow Road have now closed.

New One Stop Express services are available at 19 locations, including all of the borough's libraries, and give free access to the council's website, allowing card payments, for example for council tax and parking permits, and providing more information about what is happening in the borough.