Local news

A school teacher from Addlestone has been given a lifetime achievement award from fellow teachers at a ceremony in Eastbourne.

Will Glover, head of economics and business studies at St George's College in Weybridge Road, was recognised for his outstanding contributions to education and for his work as a teacher, pastoral leader, academic and researcher.

He was given the award by Sir Clifford Fisher, life president of Brunel University and Barbara Fisher OBE, vice-president of the Yehudi Menuhin School in Cobham.

A 'callous' distraction burglar targeted a woman in her 90s in Addlestone early last week.

She was at home in Crouch Oak Lane at about 2pm on Monday (4) when a man knocked on her front door, claiming to have kicked his football into her garden.

The victim let him in, and he searched the house, taking her brown leather purse and more that £300 in cash, before running away from the area.

Luckily, the pensioner was not hurt.

The suspect was a white man, between 17 and 18 years-old, about 5ft 5in, of medium build and with short dark hair.

He was wearing a navy jumper with white markings on the front and dark trousers and shoes.

DC Nick Beer, who is leading the investigation, said: "Fortunately the victim was not hurt during the incident, but she has lost a significant sum of money and has obviously been left in a distressed state by the callous actions of this offender."

Police are now issuing advice to the elderly and vulnerable about not letting strangers into their homes.

Anyone with information about this incident should call police on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference RM/10/0075.

Refuse and recycling collections across Runnymede are still suspended due to the snow and ice.

The services were suspended yesterday (Wednesday January 6) and Runnymede Council has decided that the conditions on the roads are still too bad for collections to resume.

Bosses will monitor the situation over the next few days, and when services do start up again, extra collections will help clear the backlog.

Emergency calls concerning household waste can be made to 0800 096 2028, or emails sent to refuse@runnymede.gov.uk.

There will also be a restricted service at Runnymede's Civic Centre in Addlestone today, and the library is closed all day.

The council has also postponed meetings of its planning committee and corporate management committee this week.

Day centres are open as normal, and a restricted meals on wheels service is also running, but museums and leisure centres have restricted opening hours.

Please contact these centres directly for more information.

Check back here for up-to-date information on services in Runnymede.

Services at Runnymede Council have had to be cut due to the snow sweeping across the borough.

Staffing levels at the authority are down to 70% and some services are having to be temporarily cut while the bad weather is here.

Refuse collections, kerbside recycling and garden waste collections have been suspended, and as has the Dial-a-Ride transport to day centres.

But the meals on wheels service is still running using 4x4 vehicles from the council's depots and day centres are open to provide meals.

A spokeswoman for Runnymede Council said: "Road and weather conditions will be reviewed early Thursday morning, when a decision will be made regarding Thursday's refuse collections.

"Contact will be made with the users of the Dial-a-Ride service when it is resumed.

"The snow is due to get worse so we may have to let some staff who have travelled long distances leave early, so there will be a slightly reduced service from 3pm.

"Due to the current weather conditions and expected minus temperatures tonight, both leisure centres will be closing early tonight (Wednesday January 6) at 6pm."

Council chiefs will assess the services again when they have seen what the weather is like on Thursday January 7.

The following schools have closed today due to poor weather conditions:

Jubilee High School, Addlestone

Ongar Place Primary School, Addlestone

Southcote School, Addlestone

Sayers Court Primary School, Addlestone

The Grange Infant School, Addlestone

For more details visit http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/education/schools.nsf/webschoolsbystatusall?OpenForm&Start=88

Ambulance chiefs have declared a major incident in the wake of heavy snowfall across the area.

Patients are being warned to stay away from Accident and Emergency at St Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, and bosses at South East Coast Ambulance Service are warning people to stay indoors if they can.

Sue Harris, director of operations at SECAM said: "We are prioritising life-threatening calls above all others, and due to the adverse conditions, it is unlikely that we will reach patients with minor injuries and symptoms in worst hit areas.

"We urge people to stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary. Driving conditions are extremely hazardous and we want to reduce the risk of injury on the roads as much as possible."

A new mums and toddler group will be available at Darley Dene infant school in Garfield Road from Wednesday January 13.

Sessions are on Wednesdays from 9.15am until 11.15am.

Cost; £1 per family unit.

For more details call: 01932 847674

A TEENAGER is about to release her second single after a whirlwind journey of fame that began with the X-Factor two years ago.

Phoebe Brown, the 19 year old from Addlestone is living her dream after being signed by Universal in March.

Thisyear's poppy appeal looks set to be the most successful yet, despite the thefts of more than 30 collection tins across Surrey.

The Royal British Legion has already raised £524,428 through the sale of poppies and other items including poppy brooches and crosses, and is well on its way to reaching its target amount of £1 million by November next year.

But the totals could have been higher if thieves had not targeted 35 money collection tins across the county, each of which had unknown amounts of money in from charitable members of the public.

At 9.45am a parade will embark from the gates of Victory Park in Chertsey Road to St Paul's Church, in Church Road.

At 10.15am a service will start at St Paul's including the Act of Remembrance at 11am.