Paralympic update

The Paralympic Games opened last night with over 11 million watching part of the broadcast.

Paralympic GB are aiming to win a record 103 medals. Two British athletes, swimmer Jonathan Fox and cyclist Sarah Storey, broke world records earlier this morning. Di Coates, 58, was one of Paralympic GB's biggest gold medal hopes, but failed to reach the R2 air rifle final. British swimmer Nyree Kindred set a new Paralympic record in the S6 100m backstroke within the first hour of the Games

Paralympics News:

Havering's own Amy Marren will be making her debut for Paralympic GB in the Women's 100m backstroke event tomorrow (Friday). The 14-year-old, from Hornchurch, will be one of 20 GB swimmers in action at the Aquatics Centre, Stratford, between 9.30am and 12.15pm. Amy, who was born without her right hand past the wrist, also has swimming events coming up on September 3, 4 and 7.

Transport:

Please check www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/london before you begin any journey home after work. When serious travel delays are reported alerts will be uploaded to the website and intranet, but these cannot be continually updated.

You can also check www.GetAheadoftheGames.com before you travel.

If you usually travel on the Jubilee Line, the Central Line or the DLR between 7am and 9.30amor 4pm and 7pm, make sure you have planned how you will travel on Monday.

It will be much busier than it is currently because the end of the school holidays will mean lots of people will be returning to work.

Public transport routes serving Games venues will be particularly busy on Friday (31 August).

Central Line

This is expected to be very busy between 7.30am and 9.30am and between 4pm and 7.30pm. Holborn to Stratford is expected to be particularly busy.

Jubilee Line

Again it is expected to be very busy between the times above as it carries spectators to and from the Olympic Park in Stratford, ExCel and North Greenwich arena, especially between Waterloo to Stratford. Jubilee line trains passing through Bermondsey and Canada Water are expected to be particularly busy with spectators between 7.30am and 9.30am.

DLR

The DLR will also be busy serving the Olympic Park, ExCel, Greenwich Park and Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich. There are some changes to station operations along the route. These are: Custom House, Prince Regent, West Silverton, Pontoon Dock and Heron Quays. Cutty Sark station will be closed from 30 August until 5 September.

London Overground

This will be carrying large amounts of people from North London to the Olympic Park and is expected to be busiest between 8am and 11am, 4pm and 8pm and after 10pm. TfL recommends you avoid changing onto the Tube at Canada Water, Highbury and Islington.

Central London Buses

There may be some diversions and some bus stops moved or suspended. But more buses will run on many routes.

Roads

The Paralympics Route Network is already in operation. Roads including the A12 and A13 will be busier than usual and you should expect delays. In addition, drivers are suggested to avoid PRN routes and venues in the Olympic Park, around Stratford and on the A102 approach roads north and south of the Blackwall Tunnel.

Retirement health report

Female pensioners in England can now expect to live to almost 77 before experiencing serious health problems, according to research from the Office for National Statistics. It said that women in England who turned 65 between 2008 and 2010 could expect another 11.8 years of healthy life expectancy on average. They will then experience eight years of poorer health, until death at 85.8 years. Their male counterparts of the same age are not doing much worse: for them, another 10.3 years of good quality life await them, taking them to 75.3 years, before dying at the average age of 83.2 years. Source: Daily Telegraph, Page: 10

Paralympics

News:

It is the opening ceremony tonight and the Paralympic Torch will be making its way to Stratford via the six host London boroughs.

The ceremony is broadcast on Channel 4 at 8pm. Big screens are also showing the event in Trafalgar Square, Broadgate Circle near Liverpool Street, Potters Field by Tower Bridge as well as Woolwich and two in Newham.

You can also see the marathon and line the streets on September 9. The route is available here: http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/venue/marathon/

Paralympics News:

This is expected to be the best games yet. All 2.3 million tickets have been sold and more countries then ever will be attending. Team GB has 301 athletes and aims to beat the haul of 42 gold medals won in Beijing. Amy Marren, 14 years old and from Hornchurch, will take part in the 4 x100 swimming freestyle relay next Monday 3 September.

Transport:

Check www.GetAheadoftheGames.com before you travel.

Central Line

This is expected to be very busy between 7.30am-9.30am and between 4pm-7.30pm. Passengers should try to avoid changing lines between Bank or Holborn.

Jubilee Line

Again it is expected to be very busy between the times above as it carries spectators to and from the Olympic Park in Stratford, ExCel and North Greenwich arena. Try to avoid changing lines at London Bridge or Canada Water.

DLR

The DLR will also be busy serving the Olympic Park, ExCel, Greenwich Park and Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich. There are some changes to station operations along the route, these are: Custom House, Prince Regent, West Silverton, Pontoon Dock and Heron Quays. Cutty Sark station will be closed from tomorrow (August 30) until 5 September.

London Overground

This will be carrying large amounts of people from North London to the Olympic Park and is expected to be busiest between 8am-11am, 4pm-8pm and after 10pm. TfL recommend to avoid changing onto the tube at Canada Water, Highbury and Islington.

Central London Buses

There may be some diversions and some bus stops moved or suspended. But more buses will run on many routes.

Roads

The Paralympics Route Network is already in operation. Roads including the A12, and A13 will be busier than usual and you should expect delays. In addition, drivers are suggested to avoid PRN routes and venues in the Olympic Park around Stratford and on the A102 approach roads north and south of the Blackwell tunnel.

The Times reports that the Government has combined with Youth United – an umbrella group representing uniformed bodies – to bring scouts, guides, police cadets and other “uniformed” youth clubs to urban areas of England and Wales with the highest rates of crime and deprivation. The aim is to provide 10,000 more places for youths, disruptive schoolchildren, children in care and the unemployed. At least 2,700 adult volunteers will be trained to lead the 400 new groups in areas such as Birmingham, Hackney,Bradford, Manchester and Middlesbrough. Youth United is working with councils to identify areas where the groups should be located. Source: The Times, Page: 1, 6

Mayor's Charity launch

The Mayor of Havering at the launch of her charities, The Queen's Theatre Trust, St Francis' Hospice and RAGS (Romford Autism Group Support) at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchuch today.

Bank Holiday

Three free days of fun…

Happy Days are here again as 70s rock star Suzi Quatro performs at our three day celebration of pop, rock and family fun, this Bank Holiday weekend.

The free events kick off with Gareth Gates, Misha B, Jamie Archer and Alexa Goddard taking to one of the two stages at Hornchurch Live on Saturday 25 August, from midday until 10pm.

Things hot up at the Havering Show when a piece of the Paralympic flame makes an appearance along with 60s groups: The Searchers and The Merseybeats, on Sunday (26 August). Suzi Quatro will ‘Can the can’ on Monday (27 August). The event at Harrow Lodge Park, takes place from 11am to 6pm on both days.

Download the London political map London Councils, in partnership with the London Communications Agency, has published an updated political map of London, following the London Assembly and Mayoral elections that took place in May 2012. The Assembly Members, super-constituencies and borough leaders are detailed on one side, with London’s MPs and parliamentary constituencies on the rear.  Download the latest map