0:00:00 > 0:00:12We are back with the late news at 10.30 tonight -
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Good evening.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Welcome to BBC London News.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16I'm Claudia-Liza Armah.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Boxing Day sales have started across the capital,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20with retailers carefully watching the numbers to see if consumers
0:00:20 > 0:00:21are watching their wallets.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Many Londoners have felt a squeeze in income this year,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26so the sales are a welcome ease to household budgets.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Caroline Davies reports.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The UK's oldest shopping centre has seen its fair share of winter sales,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37but Brent Cross doesn't seem to have slowed down.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41I'm quite ashamed to say that we were here for about 8:15am,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43because we weren't sure about the traffic.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44It's been very good.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46There's always some good discounts at this time of year,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49so looking for a way to get the best deal I can.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Value for money.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51I've got a list.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53I'm doing it and I'm leaving.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54It's manic!
0:00:54 > 0:00:57Do you think you're going to be buying more or less in the sales
0:00:57 > 0:00:58this year than last year?
0:00:58 > 0:00:59Maybe more.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Not everyone was out first thing.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05I think people generally wake up a bit later than they used
0:01:05 > 0:01:09to in the old days, so not quite as many people at the beginning,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11but we know from previous years that people
0:01:11 > 0:01:14gradually come out with their families and friends,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16and it's a whole social thing.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20We fully expect to be extremely busy, but fun.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22But some had already picked up deals.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24You look like you've had some success already.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Can you show me what you've got?
0:01:26 > 0:01:27We've got matching hats.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Lovely!
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Can I see them on?
0:01:31 > 0:01:32Oh, that's fantastic!
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Are you planning to wear them together?
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Yeah.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38My wife and kids are shopping and I'm just carrying the stuff.
0:01:38 > 0:01:39So you're just the donkey today.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Exactly!
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Some things are not on sale that we wanted to be
0:01:44 > 0:01:47but it's all right still.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49And they weren't the only ones.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51If you didn't make it out to the sales today,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54this is what you're missing out on in the West End.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55Shoppers here are expected to spend £52 million,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58up from last year.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01We're seeing a trend generally where shoppers are spending
0:02:01 > 0:02:03more when they're here, but they are coming out less,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06so we have seen less footfall in the area but higher spend
0:02:06 > 0:02:09when they are here, which is obviously very important
0:02:09 > 0:02:11for retailers that spend is up and profit and margin
0:02:11 > 0:02:13also increases.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Crowds like these out for a bargain will reassure retailers that
0:02:15 > 0:02:21consumers are willing to spend, if it's the right price.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28A brief look at some other news now, and this is the moment thieves stole
0:02:28 > 0:02:29£1,000 from a pensioner in east London.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32The victim withdrew the savings from a bank in Ilford back in July.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36When the 69-year-old entered a lift, two men and a woman followed her.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38The men distracted her, while the woman took
0:02:38 > 0:02:39the cash from her handbag.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Anyone who recognises any of the suspects should
0:02:41 > 0:02:43contact the police.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47And a scheme that allows TfL to charge utility companies
0:02:47 > 0:02:49by the hour for digging up the capitals' roads
0:02:49 > 0:02:51is to be extended.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56They're charged up to £2,500 a day for carrying out roadworks.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59It was due to end in 2019 but, after seeing a 50% drop
0:02:59 > 0:03:02in disruption for drivers,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05it will continue.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Next, a tradition that started back in 2003,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09when a Tube worker at Oval Station decided to cheer up
0:03:09 > 0:03:11stressed commuters.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14He wrote an inspirational quote on the station's notice board.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17The response was so positive, staff have continued to write
0:03:17 > 0:03:19messages every day since.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Sarah Harris has the story.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26MUSIC: The Nutcracker Suite.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Every day for the last 14 years, staff at the Oval Tube station have
0:03:29 > 0:03:38written an inspiring quote on their message board,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40with classical music playing on their loudspeakers.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42This has started a trend at stations across the capital.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44A journey of 1,000 miles beginning with a single step.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48It was Tony's idea to spread a little bit of wisdom and calm
0:03:48 > 0:03:49to people's busy commute.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52The whole idea was a simple one.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55The thought was that stations need not be sterile places
0:03:55 > 0:04:01and it was an opportunity to welcome our customers and also
0:04:01 > 0:04:03to engage with them.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06The popularity of social media has meant the staff at the Oval have
0:04:06 > 0:04:10become recognisable faces all over the world.
0:04:10 > 0:04:18I'm famous in Australia, China, Malaysia, and lately it's Argentina.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Through good times and bad, the messages go up
0:04:21 > 0:04:23to reassure people.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25The station manager says it's stopped vandalism
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and made local people proud.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Travelling on the Tube is not easy.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35It's very busy, crowded, and people are always
0:04:35 > 0:04:37rushing from A to B.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41So I think whatever helps is a good thing.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Staff say they'll carry on spreading their little bit of positivity,
0:04:45 > 0:04:52adding some serenity to busy London lives.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Christmas might be over but could we be getting snow
0:04:59 > 0:05:00ahead of the New Year?
0:05:00 > 0:05:00Kate Kinsella has all the weather.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02Good evening.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04We are in for a rather wet and windy night.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07For some parts, the Met Office has issued a yellow
0:05:07 > 0:05:08weather warning for heavy rain.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10It's persistent, accompanied by quite a strong breeze,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13so not very pleasant at all and it could lead to a little bit
0:05:13 > 0:05:14of localised flooding.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17As the temperature drops towards dawn, we are looking at some
0:05:17 > 0:05:19of that rain turning increasingly wintry -
0:05:19 > 0:05:21sleet and maybe some snow
0:05:21 > 0:05:22over the higher ground.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Minimum temperatures down to 1 or 2 Celsius.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26The sleet, snow and rain will clear away
0:05:26 > 0:05:28through the course of tomorrow.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31It's still going to be quite breezy but, when it does clear,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33it's going to get pretty chilly, especially through the afternoon.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The maximum temperature, a cold 4 Celsius in central London.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Overnight, everything clears away, leading to temperatures dropping.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43A widespread frost with the risk of some ice for Thursday morning,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45but we will see the return of some sunshine.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49That's it from the BBC London team this Boxing Day evening.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Sara Orchard will be here tomorrow with the lunchtime bulletin.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56From myself and the rest of the team, have a good night.