26/12/2017 London News

We are back with the late

news at 10.30 tonight -

Good evening.

Welcome to BBC London News.

I'm Claudia-Liza Armah.

Boxing Day sales have

started across the capital,

with retailers carefully watching

the numbers to see if consumers

are watching their wallets.

Many Londoners have felt a squeeze

in income this year,

so the sales are a welcome ease

to household budgets.

Caroline Davies reports.

The UK's oldest shopping centre has

seen its fair share of winter sales,

but Brent Cross doesn't seem

to have slowed down.

I'm quite ashamed to say

that we were here for about 8:15am,

because we weren't sure

about the traffic.

It's been very good.

There's always some good discounts

at this time of year,

so looking for a way to get the best

deal I can.

Value for money.

I've got a list.

I'm doing it and I'm leaving.

It's manic!

Do you think you're going to be

buying more or less in the sales

this year than last year?

Maybe more.

Not everyone was out first thing.

I think people generally wake up

a bit later than they used

to in the old days, so not quite

as many people at the beginning,

but we know from previous years that

people

gradually come out with their

families and friends,

and it's a whole social thing.

We fully expect to be

extremely busy, but fun.

But some had already

picked up deals.

You look like you've had

some success already.

Can you show me what you've got?

We've got matching hats.

Lovely!

Can I see them on?

Oh, that's fantastic!

Are you planning to

wear them together?

Yeah.

My wife and kids are shopping

and I'm just carrying the stuff.

So you're just the donkey today.

Exactly!

Some things are not on sale

that we wanted to be

but it's all right still.

And they weren't the only ones.

If you didn't make it

out to the sales today,

this is what you're missing out

on in the West End.

Shoppers here are expected

to spend £52 million,

up from last year.

We're seeing a trend generally

where shoppers are spending

more when they're here,

but they are coming out less,

so we have seen less footfall

in the area but higher spend

when they are here,

which is obviously very important

for retailers that spend is up

and profit and margin

also increases.

Crowds like these out for a bargain

will reassure retailers that

consumers are willing to spend,

if it's the right price.

A brief look at some other news now,

and this is the moment thieves stole

£1,000 from a pensioner

in east London.

The victim withdrew the savings

from a bank in Ilford back in July.

When the 69-year-old entered a lift,

two men and a woman followed her.

The men distracted her,

while the woman took

the cash from her handbag.

Anyone who recognises any

of the suspects should

contact the police.

And a scheme that allows TfL

to charge utility companies

by the hour for digging

up the capitals' roads

is to be extended.

They're charged up to £2,500 a day

for carrying out roadworks.

It was due to end in 2019

but, after seeing a 50% drop

in disruption for drivers,

it will continue.

Next, a tradition that

started back in 2003,

when a Tube worker at Oval Station

decided to cheer up

stressed commuters.

He wrote an inspirational quote

on the station's notice board.

The response was so positive,

staff have continued to write

messages every day since.

Sarah Harris has the story.

MUSIC: The Nutcracker Suite.

Every day for the last 14 years,

staff at the Oval Tube station have

written an inspiring quote

on their message board,

with classical music playing

on their loudspeakers.

This has started a trend

at stations across the capital.

A journey of 1,000 miles

beginning with a single step.

It was Tony's idea to spread

a little bit of wisdom and calm

to people's busy commute.

The whole idea was a simple one.

The thought was that stations need

not be sterile places

and it was an opportunity

to welcome our customers and also

to engage with them.

The popularity of social media has

meant the staff at the Oval have

become recognisable faces

all over the world.

I'm famous in Australia, China,

Malaysia, and lately it's Argentina.

Through good times and bad,

the messages go up

to reassure people.

The station manager says

it's stopped vandalism

and made local people proud.

Travelling on the Tube is not easy.

It's very busy, crowded,

and people are always

rushing from A to B.

So I think whatever

helps is a good thing.

Staff say they'll carry on spreading

their little bit of positivity,

adding some serenity

to busy London lives.

Christmas might be over

but could we be getting snow

ahead of the New Year?

Kate Kinsella has all the weather.

Good evening.

We are in for a rather

wet and windy night.

For some parts, the Met Office

has issued a yellow

weather warning for heavy rain.

It's persistent, accompanied

by quite a strong breeze,

so not very pleasant at all and it

could lead to a little bit

of localised flooding.

As the temperature drops

towards dawn, we are looking at some

of that rain turning

increasingly wintry -

sleet and maybe some snow

over the higher ground.

Minimum temperatures

down to 1 or 2 Celsius.

The sleet, snow and

rain will clear away

through the course of tomorrow.

It's still going to be quite breezy

but, when it does clear,

it's going to get pretty chilly,

especially through the afternoon.

The maximum temperature,

a cold 4 Celsius in central London.

Overnight, everything clears away,

leading to temperatures dropping.

A widespread frost with the risk

of some ice for Thursday morning,

but we will see the return

of some sunshine.

That's it from the BBC London team

this Boxing Day evening.

Sara Orchard will be here tomorrow

with the lunchtime bulletin.

From myself and the rest

of the team, have a good night.