News in brief

FOR the first time in five years, Westminster City Council has been forced into using its gritting fleet in mid-March as the council's street teams battle ice and snow in the centre of the capital.

Gritting lorries were dispatched from a central site in Brent at 8pm on Sunday night (March 10) and will continue to treat roads, such as Oxford Street, Piccadilly and Whitehall, for at least the next 24 hours.

COUPLES who are struggling to conceive a baby can find out what medical options are available by attending an opening evening at Harley Street Fertility Clinic.

The centre at 43 Devonshire Street, Westminster, will have medical experts on hand to offer advice from 5.30pm - 8.00pm this Friday (January 25). Admission is free and open to non-patients.

PADDINGTON: Firefighters have warned about candle safety after a flat fire in Bishops Bridge Road on Sunday December 9.

A fifth floor flat was severely damaged in the blaze at about 1pm, but two women escaped and were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

Around 15 firefighters were called to a blaze in a terraced house in Clanricarde Gardens, Bayswater, on Sunday (1) morning.

Crews were called just before 10am, and had the fire under control within half an hour.

The Caxton Youth Organisation is holding a celebration of the life of Roy Hinton, who worked at the centre for 50 years, on Saturday July 7.

The memorial will be at the Caxton Clubrooms, in the basement of Tintern House, Abbots Manor Estate, Alderney Street, Pimlico.

An exhibition of behind the scenes photographs of the Stone Roses and the Happy Mondays has gone on display at Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater.

And on Tuesday (26) from 6.30-9pm, photographer Kevin Cummins will talk visitors through what it was like being on the road with the bands, stories from parties and all the people they met along the way.

Sue Ryder Care in Pimlico will be taking part in the national Ride for Ryder fundraiser from July 4-7.

There will be cycle events across the country to suit all fitness levels and the store in Warwick Way will be inviting shoppers to help them raise £250 or more.

This year's Montagu Square summer garden party is being held on Monday (25) from 6.30-8.30pm.

Hosted by Kay and Co in the square, it will be celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and will feature food from the Churchill Hotel, wine from Philglas and Swiggot and music from the Art Deco Swing Quartet.

A dramatic retelling of the Mutiny on the Bounty is being held at Westminster Reference Library on Wednesday June 27.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a journalist and broadcaster, is an expert on the Bounty who also has a family connection with captain Bligh. He will be exploring the truth behind the most famous mutiny of all time, and the real Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian.

Westminster Music Library has scooped the prestigious International Association of Music Libraries Award for Excellence 2012.

The award recognises the outstanding work of the library in putting on events, providing a variety of music and reaching out to the community.