News in brief

MAYFAIR: A moped gang smashed into a Vivienne Westwood store in Conduit Street shortly before midnight on Wednesday, making off with around 30 handbags.

Four people riding two Vespa-style scooters crashed through the door, before the two passengers ran into the shop and grabbed the bags.

NORTH PADDINGTON: A fire broke out at a three-storey house in North Paddington yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters were called to the house in Fernhead Road at 2.50pm and the blaze was under control by 3.30pm.

GREEN PARK: As part of a campaign to raise money for a memorial to honour the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who gave their lives in World War Two, members of the public are being invited to donate £20 or more to have their personal messages placed in a time capsule.

The capsule will be buried within the the foundations of the memorial, due to be built near Hyde Park Corner in late 2011, and will stand for thousands of years.

REGENT'S PARK: A first-of-its-kind study carried out at London Zoo has shown that zoos have a significant impact on improving children's awareness of animals and their habitats.

As part of the independent study, carried out by Dr Brady Wagoner of Aalborg University and Dr Eric Jensen of he University of Warwick, children aged nine to 11 were asked to draw pictures of animals in their habitats at the beginning of their visit to the zoo and then again directly afterwards.

WESTMINSTER: CityWest Homes, Westminster Council's housing arm, has been shortlisted from more than 250 entries to the 2010 UK Housing Awards.

The housing organisation is now one of five left in the running for the delivering effective repairs and maintenance category.

WESTMINSTER: On the same day as the Royal Parks half marathon, walkers are invited to tread the 13.1-mile course at a much slower pace.

This year sees the launch of the Hearts and Heritage Walk on October 10, setting off 40 minutes later than the runners, at 10.10am.

WESTMINSTER: From August 28, major changes will be made to bus routes 15, 159, N15 and N159.

Routes 15 and N15 will be shortened to start at Regent Street instead of Paddington Basin, and will continue to run to Blackwall via Trafalgar Square, Tower Hill and Commercial Road, with the route N15 continuing at night to Romford.

NORTH PADDINGTON: Dog socialiser Crissie Chambers has warned pet owners to leave their dogs at home during the Notting Hill Carnival, which takes place on August 29 and 30.

The loud music, crowds and other potential dangers could be intimidating for dogs, she warned.

She added that police officers were able to seize dogs, particularly bull breeds, if they are considered a threat to the public, or that the environment is a threat to the dog.

LISSON GROVE: Free cycle training session will be held at the Greenside Community Centre on the Lisson Green Estate, on September 2.

Anyone aged 14 or upwards is welcome to attend the Cycle Confident classes at 1pm, 2pm or 3pm with five of the new cycle hire bikes available to try out.

WESTMINSTER: One in eight emergency ambulance calls in Westminster is down to alcohol-related illness or injury, the highest in London.

New figures released show that in 2009/10, the London Ambulance Service received 5,844 emergency calls in the borough where alcohol was judged to be a major factor.