0:00:11 > 0:00:13Welcome to BBC London News.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15I'm Claudia-Liza Armah.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17New figures out today reveal that not only London universities
0:00:17 > 0:00:21have the worst drop-out rate in England.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24But those students are more likely to be black or from poorer families.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The University Partnerships Programme Foundation found
0:00:26 > 0:00:29on the whole, nearly one in ten drop out during their
0:00:29 > 0:00:31first year of study.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32Something it says needs to be tackled,
0:00:32 > 0:00:36as Sonja Jessup has the story.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Well, here in London, of course, we boast some
0:00:38 > 0:00:42of the world's top universities, such as here at UCL but it seems
0:00:42 > 0:00:45that across the capital, although we are very good
0:00:45 > 0:00:47at attracting students to university, we're really not
0:00:47 > 0:00:50so good at retaining them.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53In fact, one in ten drop out during their first year.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55We can find out more about these findings by speaking
0:00:55 > 0:01:00to the report's author, thank you for joining us.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Why do you think so many students are dropping out?
0:01:03 > 0:01:05I think there are three sets of factors.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10The first issue was about who's studying in London.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14We know the population of students there's actually a high of black
0:01:14 > 0:01:16students in most universities.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Other research tells us that black students are more likely
0:01:18 > 0:01:20to drop out than average.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22That is partly an issue of who is going into university.
0:01:22 > 0:01:28The second set of factors are around the institutions themselves
0:01:28 > 0:01:32so if you look at national student survey, you look at what students
0:01:32 > 0:01:34say about the universities they going to and the courses
0:01:34 > 0:01:37they are studying, you see a lower satisfaction score on average
0:01:37 > 0:01:39for London universities than for other universities outside London.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41There is an association between lower satisfaction scores
0:01:41 > 0:01:43and higher drop out rates.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46And then there's a third set of factors which are very important
0:01:46 > 0:01:49but probably harder to get to the bottom of, which are around
0:01:49 > 0:01:51the affordability of London.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55We also know that students who live in London also have to commute
0:01:55 > 0:01:58longer distances to go to university so they may be able to spend less
0:01:58 > 0:01:59time on their courses.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01So, what do we do about this?
0:02:01 > 0:02:02How do we address this problem?
0:02:02 > 0:02:05I think first point is to hold the government to account.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08So, we suggest there should be a target specifically
0:02:08 > 0:02:11on ethnic minority groups, so we bring that down to the average
0:02:11 > 0:02:13score in terms of dropout rates.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16We also think there's something the Mayor of London could do,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19so it might be around housing, it might be around facilities
0:02:19 > 0:02:21that universities have and the planning consent.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23It might be around transport connections.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26There's also a lot universities themselves can do.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29OK, thank you very much.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32So, lots of challenges for universities to consider if they
0:02:32 > 0:02:34want to address these issues.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37And if they want students not just to sign up but also
0:02:37 > 0:02:41to state on their course.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43More details are emerging on the cladding used
0:02:43 > 0:02:46on Grenfell Tower.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Burning cladding on the tower could have released 14 times more
0:02:48 > 0:02:53heat than a key government safety test allows.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54According to research by the University of Leeds,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57its plastic core would have burned "as quickly as petrol."
0:02:57 > 0:02:59The contractors who fitted the cladding and insulation say
0:02:59 > 0:03:04they both passed all regulations.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Hundreds of passengers landing at Gatwick Airport are being left
0:03:06 > 0:03:08stranded after the company they parked their cars
0:03:08 > 0:03:10with appears to have gone bust.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12Gatwick First Parking, is not an approved
0:03:12 > 0:03:15meet-and-greet parking company.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Police have been receiving reports over the last few days of people
0:03:18 > 0:03:19unable to collect their cars.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Ian Palmer reports.
0:03:22 > 0:03:28Frustration at the car pound.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30The baby was with us.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34He's an eight-month-old baby so trying to keep him asleep
0:03:34 > 0:03:36while we're waiting around at Gatwick at stupid
0:03:36 > 0:03:40hour this morning has been a tough 24 hours.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Gatwick First Parking is a meet and greet company.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45The firm went bust leaving customers stranded without their vehicles.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Libby, who went to Gatwick last Saturday, at 11 at night.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52She, her husband and twins had no way of getting home to Kent.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54Two screaming one-year-olds.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Hungry one-year-olds.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Finally, we decided we needed to get a taxi because we just
0:04:00 > 0:04:02needed to get home.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06So we got in a taxi, ?130 later we got home.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11Two hours almost later as well, got home at 2:30am.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15It is not known how many people are affected but Sussex police have
0:04:15 > 0:04:18told us they have at least 150 cars.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20People coming back late at night, they've got children,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22they want to get home, they've got long journeys,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25they ring this company to get their car back to travel home
0:04:25 > 0:04:26and, of course, there's no answer.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28The website's shut down.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31They can't get hold of anybody.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34And they are really stuck, what can we do at this time of night?
0:04:34 > 0:04:35Of course, they're calling Sussex police.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Whereas, as I say, this is a civil matter, and we're very hands tied,
0:04:39 > 0:04:40to a certain extent.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Anyone affected by Gatwick First Parking going bust is being advised
0:04:43 > 0:04:46to contact trading standards.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50We are working with Sussex police and Gatwick airport itself.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Hopefully to try and resolve this issue, get consumers their keys back
0:04:54 > 0:04:58and then hopefully they can return home safely.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00The Augustin family have a disabled daughter.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04They need their car because it has specialist equipment inside.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06This seat is for my disabled daughter.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Without it, she struggles to sit.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12In the end, this was just a car but the seat was what really
0:05:12 > 0:05:13she needs on a daily basis.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16So that's really bad.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Mr Augustin will now return home to Kent with the family car
0:05:19 > 0:05:23but there are flights arriving at Gatwick or the time.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28And on those planes will be more Gatwick First Parking customers.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Ian Palmer reporting there.
0:05:31 > 0:05:37The BBC has been unable to contact Gatwick First for comment.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Now, when's the last time you used a red phonebox?
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Well, a growing number of companies are renting them
0:05:41 > 0:05:43to use as office space, mobile repair shops
0:05:43 > 0:05:44or even coffee shops.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49There are already 20 in the capital.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52And it's giving firms a chance to be in prime parts of Central London,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55for a fraction of the price, as Nicola Ford found out.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58It's a shop in a prime London location but there's no place
0:05:58 > 0:06:01to make a cup of tea or go to the loo, and the customers
0:06:01 > 0:06:03definitely can't come in.
0:06:03 > 0:06:10That's because the shop is in a disused red telephone box.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13It's where Farwad spends 7.5 hours a day repairing mobile handsets.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16The advantage is you never bored.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Because you are sitting in the street.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Looking at people.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27The disadvantage is sometimes the noise and cars,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29and the pollution.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32This phone box lies on the old Brompton Road in between
0:06:32 > 0:06:33Harvey Nichols and Harrods.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36So, how does it feel to work in one of London's most
0:06:36 > 0:06:38recognisable landmarks?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41You start to be iconic as well if you work in an iconic
0:06:41 > 0:06:43place, you are iconic...
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Too!
0:06:47 > 0:06:51For the founder of the mobile repair company Love Fone it makes sense
0:06:51 > 0:06:53for them to work out of disused phone boxes.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I guess it's funny that, you know, obviously the mobile phone has made
0:06:56 > 0:06:57the phone box obsolete.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59So we are now bringing them back into service.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02It is the next revolution, the next form of life
0:07:02 > 0:07:05for these phone boxes.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08And with rent at ?300 a month, it is cheap compared to the average
0:07:08 > 0:07:10rent in Knightsbridge.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13But one question remains - what do they do when they need the loo?
0:07:13 > 0:07:21We have a good agreement with some local pubs.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Yeah, they let us use the loo.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29And we fix their phones for free.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Well, after the overnight storms and lightening,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39is today going to be a bit calmer?
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Here's kate Kinsella.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Good afternoon.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Well, the storms last night you'd have thought may have
0:07:45 > 0:07:46cleared the air somewhat.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Unfortunately, that's not the case.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Let's look at some pictures from last night.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Hundreds of flashes of lightning created some very beautiful pictures
0:07:52 > 0:07:55from our weather watchers.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59The post-storm pictures more like this.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Lots of standing water first thing this morning but it's been very warm
0:08:02 > 0:08:05so that's all evaporated away, bright spells this afternoon but it
0:08:05 > 0:08:08will remain pretty warm and humid.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10There is quite a lot of cloud, it's thinning,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12not necessarily breaking, though, so you may get some hazy
0:08:12 > 0:08:14brightness out there.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16If the sun comes out, the temperature will shoot up.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20In the meantime, temperatures between 23-26.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Just feeling very sticky, warm and humid.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Overnight tonight, looks like a dryer affair
0:08:25 > 0:08:27compared to last and.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Still the chance of one or two showers, nothing
0:08:29 > 0:08:32too significant but, again, it's going to be quite a warm
0:08:32 > 0:08:34one, the minimum around 17.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36So, a warm, humid start tomorrow, some showers moving through.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Now, these are a cold front and that gradually moves away eastwards
0:08:40 > 0:08:42through Thursday morning.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Behind it, it clears slightly, we get some brighter and sunny
0:08:45 > 0:08:47spells but it introduces some much fresher air.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51It will feel pretty cool tomorrow afternoon compared
0:08:51 > 0:08:54to today, around 23.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57For Friday, we've got some low pressure to the west of the UK,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00starting to fling some weather fronts towards us.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04That's going to make the weather changeable heading into the weekend.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Looks drier for Friday but then a showery regime as we head
0:09:07 > 0:09:09through Saturday and Sunday and it is going to feel
0:09:09 > 0:09:15quite a bit fresher.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19And there'll be more on last night's weather at 6:30pm.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22If you have any pictures or videos you can tweet them to us at BBC
0:09:22 > 0:09:23London News or email us.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25But for now that's it from the lunch team.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27Goodbye.