You have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lottery – and Thomas Fahmy knows this all too well.

Fahmy was returning to his car following a dental appointment when he was hit by the phenomenon in New York’s Staten Island on August 27.

Home doorbell camera footage shows Fahmy suddenly collapsing on the pavement in Castleton Corners as several loud bangs are heard.

The Congress caseworker told the US outlet CBS News that he felt ‘numbness, tingling and pain’ in both of his feet when he was struck.

‘I was beginning to scream, “Help, help, help,” because of just, I was so confused and I was so much in pain,’ he said.

‘I was very scared that I would be struck by lightning again… Just a harrowing, crazy, miraculous, every type of feeling emotion you could feel.’

Homeowner Stefanie Homan heard Fahmy’s pleas and came to the door, with the video showing her letting him inside.

However, emergency operators told her there wasn’t much she could do to help him, warning her that Fahmy must not touch water or eat food.

Fahmy added to WABC that he never fell unconscious and spent 12 hours in the hospital, having a series of blood tests before being discharged.

Doctors told him he suffered no injuries or burns and only had to drink some liquids when he got home.

Before heading home, though, Fahmy tried his luck on something with similarly low odds – the Mega Millions lottery – but didn’t win.

‘I won a second opportunity at life, that’s it,’ he said to CBS News.

According to the National Weather Service, the odds of being struck by lightning in any given year are less than one in a million.

Winning the Mega Millions jackpot, meanwhile, is one in 290,000,000.

Fahmy returned to work within a week of the incident.

Homan was honoured with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition by Representative Nicole Malliotakis, for whom Fahmy does casework.

The Republican politician said it was a local instinct to ‘run to help people’.

She said: ‘Always help someone in need and just spread the kindness of that.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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By MATT STRUDWICK, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 15:00 BST, 6 September 2026 | Updated: 15:49 BST, 6 September 2026

Migrants today scrambled on board a dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel to Britain, just days after Andy Burnham and Emmanuel Macron vowed to tackle the small boat crisis. 

Pictures show men, women and children wearing orange lifejackets wading through the water in northern France before climbing onto an inflatable rubber boat. 

Some of the migrants had children sitting on their shoulders as they walked into the sea from the beach in Petit-Fort-Philippe, Gravelines. It is not clear whether the vessel was intercepted and turned back.

Earlier this week, the Prime Minister and his French counterpart announced plans for a new ‘surge team’ to tackle migrant boats. 

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It comes hours after a balaclava-clad mob – linked to the hard-Right faction Patriot Platform – was condemned by politicians for blockading the Port of Dover in a ‘small boat’ protest yesterday. 

Hundreds of protesters – dressed in black and wearing balaclavas – descended on Dover in Kent, bringing the port to a standstill after catching police off guard.

Migrants today scrambled on board a dinghy in an attempt to cross the English Channel to Britain

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Pictures show men, women, and children wearing orange lifejackets wading through the water in northern France before climbing onto an inflatable rubber boat

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Roads in the town were gridlocked for hours in the morning, with four-mile tailbacks forming. Hundreds of holidaymakers missed their ferry crossings.

Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds were among the politicians to condemn the ‘intimidating’ group. 

Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills criticised police for their slow response to the ‘exceptionally well organised’ protesters. 

Mr Burnham said this week that ‘headway’ was being made on cutting both the number of people making the perilous journey and the number of overall crossings as he met the president on Thursday in No10.

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While the combined total number of crossings over the summer months has dropped to its lowest since 2019, smugglers appear to have started loading more people on to fewer, larger vessels.

The two leaders announced plans for a new ‘surge team’ of French police, funded by Britain, to tackle the growing use of ‘mega-dinghies’, carrying up to 230 migrants.

But government sources have admitted that it will involve just 45 extra officers and the Conservatives branded the plans a ‘joke’, arguing that rough weather was the main reason for the reduction.

Mr Burnham also used the meeting to press Labour’s case for a Brexit ‘reset’ that would draw the UK closer to EU rules and regulations than at any time since it left the bloc.

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During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Burnham reiterated that Britain’s decade of low growth ‘has been partly a result of Brexit’.

‘I do want a closer relationship – I will build on the work of my predecessor,’ he told MPs, ahead of a UK-EU summit later in the year.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage this week pledged to stop the boats and cut the cost of living in the first 100 days of a Reform government.

Migrants carry children on their shoulders as they attempt to board a dinghy in northern France

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Some of the migrants had children sitting on their shoulders as they walked into the sea from the beach in Petit-Fort-Philippe, Gravelines

 A migrant carries a child wearing a lifejacket on his shoulders as he wades through the water to board an inflatable dinghy from the beach in Petit-Fort-Philippe

The Reform UK leader will warn Parliament it could be forced to sit seven days a week to push through a blizzard of legislation designed to deal with the ‘national emergency’ facing Britain. 

The agenda for Reform’s first 100 days will include halting small boat crossings and scrapping green levies on energy bills to save the average household £250.

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The party’s Treasury spokesman Mr Jenrick vowed to use an emergency Budget to cut £80billion from public spending, half of it from the bloated welfare bill.

Mr Jenrick said the move would cut Britain’s debt interest payments by £28billion a year and free up cash for tax cuts to ease the cost of living and kickstart economic growth.

Some 15,897 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, down 43 per cent on the same time last year, and an 18 per cent drop from the same point in 2024.

This is despite a record 230 people making the journey from France to England in a single boat last month.

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Arsenal face Chelsea in Saturday’s Premier League blockbuster at the Emirates Stadium as both teams look to protect their perfect starts to the season

Gary Neville and Ian Wright got into a disagreement about the quality of the forward lines in the Arsenal and Chelsea squads. The sides go head-to-head in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, where both the Gunners and the Blues have a 100 percent record on the line.

Arsenal defeated Coventry City and Aston Villa in their first two Premier League matches of the season, while Chelsea earned wins over Fulham and Brighton.

Wright and Neville were part of Sky Sports’ punditry team for their coverage of Arsenal vs Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, and the duo got into a debate about the forward options available to Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta.

Neville suggested that he believes Arteta would prefer Chelsea’s attacking resources over the players currently at his disposal at Arsenal.

“If you say to Mikel Arteta: ‘Would you swap your forward line for Chelsea’s?’ He would swap,” Neville said.

“He’d put [Morgan] Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro up there in front of [Bukayo] Saka, [Kai] Havertz and [Ebere] Eze, he would. So it’s not the strongest part of Arsenal’s team, but what he’s done in defence and in midfield has become that good.

“If you don’t concede goals, you’ve got a great chance of winning nearly every single match. If you’re conceding goals, you’re going to lose more points.”

Wright, however, took exception to Neville’s view, with the Arsenal icon responding: “I’m not having that over Saka, Havertz and Eze. I’m not having that.”

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Neville then responded by saying: “You don’t think he’d [Arteta] pick Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro over those three [Havertz, Saka and Eze], Ian?”

Wright replied: “Not for me, no.” Neville then concluded the debate by saying: “Oh dear.”

Arsenal strengthened their attacking options this summer by bringing in Christos Tzolis, though they sanctioned the exits of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have also strengthened their forward line considerably, with Rogers being joined by Geovany Quenda, Danny Welbeck, Emmanuel Emegha and Dastan Satpaev in making the move to Stamford Bridge before week’s deadline.

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A Frenchwoman has described how migrants have made her terrified to stay in her home on the front line of the small-boat crisis, as she released CCTV of crowds swarming past in life jackets to catch dinghies bound for Britain.

Mother-of-two Héloïse Longuet, 44, said her 19th-century family farmhouse on the English Channel coast near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, was now surrounded by young men living in illegal squats.

All have been drawn to the once quiet corner of northern France by criminals charging them around £1,000 a head for a place on an overcrowded inflatable heading for England.

Ms Longuet told the Daily Mail: ‘The house is a holiday home which we were renovating, but it became surrounded by men trying to get to the beach.

‘They congregate outside checking their phones for coordinates supplied by the smugglers, and then they try to get to the beach.

‘In fact, there is no direct access to the beach across my land, but that did not stop at least three incursions.’

Ms Longuet said she has had to put up CCTV video cameras with warning signs, but makeshift camps have started to appear in the woods around the house.

Now the migrants make her fearful about staying in the area, especially as she has two young daughters, and protection from local police is minimal.

The problems have been likened to those experienced in Britain in areas where mainly male asylum seekers are housed.

‘It is very frightening,’ she said. ‘We see them in the forest, living in very unsanitary conditions. They leave all their rubbish behind.’

Ms Longuet often walked her dog, Maurice, on Hardelot beach, but was dismayed to see it increasingly being used by the smugglers.

They switched their departure points from Calais and Dunkirk to a more isolated area which is harder to patrol.

Its wide shoreline allows them to board men, women and children on to dinghies, with the migrants hiding in sand dunes beforehand.

Last month a man in his 30s died after a small boat capsized off the beach in a catastrophe which also saw six others, including a toddler, severely injured.

And in May two women died from cardiac arrest after being suffocated on a boat carrying upwards of 80 people that had set off from Hardelot beach.

Fights regularly break out between migrants and gendarmes and riot police, who use tear gas to try to restore order.

Tensions reached boiling point during the summer heatwaves when a series of fires broke out around Hardelot.

‘The situation is appalling, and the dangers are immense, but very little is done about it,’ said Ms Longuet.

‘I do not have Right-wing views, I just want to see the situation improved for everybody, including local residents.’

Ms Longuet met a number of migrants while working as an estate agent, and had an enormous amount of sympathy for them – but not the smugglers who were exploiting them.

She said: ‘Some Afghans were looking for a home after settling in France, and they told me that there had been up to a dozen of them when they set off from their home country.

‘By the time they got to France, only two or three were left, with the others dying on the road. This shows how perilous the situation is.

Ms Longuet released CCTV of hordes of migrants wearing life jackets rushing past her property near Neufchâtel-Hardelot to catch small boats bound for Britain

‘As a mother, I wouldn’t like to imagine the horrors they go through. I pity them.

‘The problem is bigger than domestic politics – it is a global problem which starts in the country which the migrants set off from.

‘In France, the biggest problem is the people smugglers – to them it is a business, and all they are interested in is the money.’

Ms Longuet, who now works in public relations, is permanently based in another part of northern France with her family, and visits to Hardelot beach are becoming a lot less frequent.

Paulette Juilien-Peuvion, mayor of Neufchâtel-Hardelot, said there could be as many as 600 migrants congregating in the town at any one time.

Many residents were complaining about being scared to go out at night, especially in wooded areas.

Ms Juilien-Peuvion said: ‘Some say that, ultimately, these people left everything behind for an adventure – it’s a tragedy. And others say, “We feel unsafe”.’

Hardelot beach is on a stretch of coastline that includes Le Touquet, where French president Emmanuel Macron himself owns a holiday home.

He bought it in the past two years with his wife, Brigitte Macron, after she sold another property in the seaside town that had been in her family for generations.

Gangs of migrants from all over the world are often seen congregating by railway stations, in commercial centres, and in open countryside.

In turn, French law and order authorities insist that the migrant situation in the area is improving thanks to more robust policing.

Officers have prevented ‘185 small boat crossings’ in the four months since a new Anglo-French agreement was signed in April, pledging some £660million of UK taxpayers’ money to the French, according to an Interior Ministry source in Paris.

Police say they have arrested an increased number of smugglers, and confiscated boats, engines and lifejackets, while deploying a dedicated 50-member riot squad.

Some 15,897 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, down 43 per cent on the same time last year, and an 18 per cent drop from the same point in 2024.

This is despite a record 230 people making the journey from France to England in a single boat last month.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: ‘Our new UK-France deal is already having a real impact, stopping crossings before they happen and disrupting the criminal gangs behind them.

‘People smugglers should be in no doubt, we’re taking down their operations, seizing their equipment and breaking their business model for good.

‘Through our joint work with France, we have stopped over 47,000 small boat crossing attempts since the election and we will not let up.’

The Prime Minister has been urged to make a major change

The Government looks increasingly likely to face mounting pressure to abolish the state pension triple lock over the coming year following confirmation from Andy Burnham that there were no plans to abandon the policy.

The triple lock guarantees the rate of the state pension rises every year in line with whichever is highest out of inflation, wage growth or 2.5%. However, this can – and frequently does – result in costly above-inflation increases.

And that appears set to be the case once again in April 2027, based on current projections. The latest wage growth figures of 4.1% sit above inflation.

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The rise to the state pension earlier this year was also based on wages. The full state pension is on course to climb by over £500 next year.

The triple lock is enormously expensive for the nation as increases are secured annually, as the name implies. Even if the amount surges in one particular year, it would still be required to rise again the following year.

It essentially leaves any government held hostage to pension increases. Calls are growing ever louder for the triple lock to be scrapped, but any decision to do so would represent a bold political move.

Burnham has acknowledged questions surrounding the triple lock but has said it would be “dangerous” to go against the Labour manifesto.

Leading economists maintain it will ultimately fall to a Prime Minister to make the defining decision.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is amongst influential bodies to call for reform. Mark Pemberthy, benefits consulting leader at Gallagher, said: “Andy Burnham has declared he has a plan, but we may need to wait a while before we know exactly what that means for pensions.

Angeline Ong, senior investments analyst at IG, said: “The OECD has added its voice to a growing chorus questioning the long-term sustainability of the triple lock, but politics remains the biggest obstacle to reform.”

Cambridgeshire County Council said the new crossing on Four Lamps Roundabout was designed to enhance ‘safety and accessibility’

Cambridge residents said they hope a new crossing will make a central road safer after one woman’s car door was ripped off its hinges by a speeding driver. The Maids Causeway side of Four Lamps Roundabout was resurfaced earlier this year but more works were scheduled to take place in summer to improve the crossing.

Cambridgeshire County Council said they’ve had to delay the completion of this project until September 18 due to difficulties getting new streetlights. A spokesperson said the dual crossing, with separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, has been built to reduce crossing time and improve safety.

Linda Carmichael said her car door was ripped right off as she was parked by a driver speeding down the parking bay beside Maids Causeway. The 63-year-old said: “It was very distressing – if I had stepped back, my grandchild was unbuckled and it would have been awful.”

The hinges of the back door broke, hitting the front door, and she said it caused several thousand pounds worth of damage. She said she hopes the work which has reduced the lanes entering the roundabout down from two to one will slow cars down.

A zebra crossing has been added across the road for bikes and pedestrians so cars will now have to stop before reaching the roundabout. Linda said it’s made the crossing much safer than before but that more could be done to prevent cars from cutting through the parking bay.

She said: “It’s very good – I’m glad they’ve made the crossing better because I have little grandchildren. There was no crossing before, you’d just have to take your chance, and hundreds of people would come across – it was dangerous.”

But she added that she would have liked speed bumps and signs to be installed in the parking bay to prevent speeding drivers using it as a rat run.

Christian Brady praised the council for doing the work quickly and communicating with residents throughout the process. The 53-year-old said: “It’s going to be really good if it stops people from being hit by cars.

“It was a four-lane road before so you’re going to get queues here, but ultimately it’s going to slow people down and that’s a busy crossing. I would be the first to complain, but I think it’s been reasonable – I think they’ve done a really good job.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the works at night were loud as the houses are old with thin walls but she understood why they had to be done at that time.

She said: “We’ve got two children and we crossed it fine before – we would use the crossing at the traffic lights on Maids Causeway.”

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “The recent redevelopment of the Four Lamps roundabout prioritises improvements that enhance safety and accessibility. The scheme was developed following extensive positive engagement with local residents and stakeholders, and a formal consultation which received no objections.

“The new crossing, with the adjusted single lane approach and wider footpaths, reduces crossing time and provides safer and easier access across Maids Causeway towards the city centre and Midsummer Common, for people walking, wheeling and cycling.

“The resurfacing work was originally planned to be completed alongside the crossing improvements. However, part of the resurfacing work was brought forward to address concerns from residents about the condition of the road surface.

“Completion of the works has been delayed as we await the supply of the new streetlights. This delay has been caused by an issue at the manufacturing plant. The outstanding lighting is due to be installed next week, with final completion of all works anticipated by 18 September, after which the crossing will be formally opened.”

“Helmsley did us proud once again” was the overriding message as the town celebrated the visit of the Tour of Britain with a packed schedule of events. (Image: George Jabbour)

The market was buzzing with people and families coming from near and far to watch the prestigious cycle race, mark the launch of the Heart of Helmsley Project and take part in many activities.

 Earlier this year, it was announced that the start of the fourth day of the 2026 Tour of Britain would be in Helmsley, which successfully hosted the finish of this bike competition four years ago.

 The occasion was also an opportunity to launch the Heart of Helmsley Project, an initiative with significant investment to deliver improvements to enhance the accessibility of the town’s facilities and make it a more inclusive and welcoming environment.

“Helmsley did us proud once again” was the overriding message as the town celebrated the visit of the Tour of Britain with a packed schedule of events. (Image: George Jabbour)

 Helmsley’s North Yorkshire Councillor, George Jabbour, said residents and visitors had a fabulous experience.  

“From watching the cyclists as they left Helmsley and listening to live music and the Bandamonium brassbands, to meeting local organisations and touring the town to view the decoration of the shops and streets, everyone had a brilliant time.

“Helmsley did us proud once again” was the overriding message as the town celebrated the visit of the Tour of Britain with a packed schedule of events. (Image: George Jabbour)

“It was a real delight to work with local volunteers, businesses and residents to decorate our beautiful town ahead of Saturday’s spectacular event.  Helmsley was absolutely stunning.  The enthusiasm and participation that we have seen from everyone demonstrated how excited the community was.  After the phenomenal success that Helmsley enjoyed at the 2022 Tour of Britain, a lot of effort had gone into ensuring that this prestigious cycling race would return.  Now that it has, Helmsley did us proud once again.”

 Heart of Helmsley Project Representative, Carolyn Frank, said: “We enjoyed welcoming the international cycling race again to Helmsley, and hope that people who came for the first time return to visit again.  For our community, this was a good opportunity to come together with voluntary organisations, businesses and residents all contributing and taking part together.  Helmsley was again simply the best market town in Britain, not just on Saturday and showed our famous community spirit.”

Many people will complain about this after having to hunt down their bins, but it can be prevented.

A binman has shared an easy and cheap tip to make sure your bin is returned to your house after the rubbish has been collected.

@theno1.binman The reason the binmen leave your bin down the road #Binformation #simplerrecycling #binmen #binday ♬ original sound – The No1 Binman

Easy trick to avoid losing your bin

The No.1 Binman on TikTok, Ashley, has shared why binmen often leave your bin down the road.

He said: “It’s probably because you haven’t got your number on your lid.

“No point putting it on the side because you can’t always see it.

“You want to be able to see it no matter where you are looking, you can always see the top of the bin.

“So get your number on top of your bin.”

While some people might paint the number of their house on the side of the bin, it is much easier to see if it is put on the bin lid instead.

If you have a house name instead of a number, this can also go on the top of the lid.

Ashley added: “You don’t have to your number, you can have your road name as well or your house name.

“It’s quite easy to do.”

By doing this “simple” trick, your binmen will find it easy to return the correct bin to the right houses.

He continued: “The binmen will put your bin outside your house, as long as you have a good binman.”

People took to the comment section to share their thoughts on the easy trick.

One person said: “Yessss I knew I wasn’t mad putting it on the lid!”

Another person said: “Mine has always been on the front, name and street, never had an issue.”

One person commented saying they did not mind walking up the road to get their bin.

They wrote: “My number is on the lid and it’s always 4 or 5 houses up the road.

“It’s not really an issue, I just collect it.

“Why are people so lazy, the extra steps will do us good.”

Will you be putting your house number on the top of your bin to make sure it does not get lost from now on? Let us know in the comments.

You might think living in Notting Hill, Chelsea or Maida Vale means you indisputably reside in one of London‘s finest postcodes.

Not for some. 

A new map has reignited the debate over the best places to live in the capital – with the ‘London squirrel’ preferring swathes of east London over more traditionally swanky areas to the west and north-west.

It comes a year after the ‘London banana’ sparked arguments across the city over where the most desirable parts of the capital lie. 

The yellow fruit shape highlighted the best areas to live – the north-west, south-west and central – while simultaneously dismissing swathes of the city outside of the zone as ‘horrible’. 

The new map, however, highlights areas such as Peckham, Stratford and Sidcup over more traditionally sought-after spots such as Knightsbridge.  

The London ‘squirrel’, which looks nothing like a squirrel, was posted by X user EwanBen, who wrote: ‘My contribution to London Banana Discourse: London Squirrel. Best place in the world bar none.’

The post was met with widespread mockery over its design and the areas chosen. 

The London banana, which went viral last year, was a map of the city with a hand drawn banana shape on top

Honey, 26, who works at a pie and mash shop in Greenwich, said the south-east London suburb is her favourite area in the capital

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One X user said: ‘Potentially the worst interpretation one could even fathom.’ 

Another said: ‘How the **** is that a squirrel?’ 

Others ridiculed the inclusion of zone five suburb Sidcup until the original user admitted he was from Sidcup. 

But those who live in the overlooked areas in the capital, that the squirrel highlights, have proudly argued their case against last year’s banana map. 

Honey, 26, who works at a pie and mash shop in Greenwich, said: ‘I did see the London banana. It completely misses south-east. Why you would ever want to live in north London I do not know.

‘Everyone is different and where you belong in London definitely depends on the type of person you are. South is for me.’ 

Honey moved to Greenwich several years ago from Wales and said it is her favourite area in London. 

She said: ‘The reason that I love Greenwich so much is that there is everything in one place. The whole area is just gorgeous.

‘It has got so much life and the people from here have got so much character. I love the culture and the history. Everyone here is just so friendly.

Robyn Moffat, 27, a nanny who recently moved to the area of Clapham from Scotland, says it is one of the best areas in London 

Peter Addiall, 32, argued that Stratford in east London deserves to be in the squirrel 

Cutty Sark sits behind the Gipsy Moth pub in Greenwich

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‘I have just become so at home here and I would never leave. I feel I can really express myself here.’

Niall Rowan, 60, who has worked in Greenwich Market for 14 years running an antique stall, said: ‘It’s a beautiful area. It is definitely the nicest in south-east London.

‘There is just so much to see. We have got a lot of history. Parts of it feel like the 17th century and other parts feel like the 22nd century.

‘It is London but low power London. It is much calmer and nicer than other parts. I think it has matured a bit recently rather than changed. There is something here for everyone.’

Over in Stratford, east London, residents also defended their spot in the squirrel – claiming that the area has improved since the 2012 Olympics held in the capital. 

Peter Addiall, 32, said: ‘Stratford absolutely deserves to be in the squirrel. A lot of people have been priced out of Hackney and Clapton, and they are coming out this way.

‘There is more nature and it is a lot more affordable to live. I am very passionate about the area.

‘I think there has been a lot of investment since the 2012 Olympics which has meant this area has improved from an infrastructure perspective and the vibe.

‘I feel it is a real celebration of multiculturalism. We have got people from all different communities living in harmony together.’

Jean Cristoph, 61, who has lived in the area of Clapham for 20 years says it is great for walking his dogs and definitely deserves its place among the elite areas in London

Reon Tyndale, 38, a police officer who has lived in Newham for three years says it is one of the best areas of London 

Reon Tyndale, 38, a police officer who has lived in the area for three years, added: ‘I would definitely put it up there as one of the best areas in London to come visit.

‘Certain parts of Newham seem to be forgotten about when it comes to the council spending money. Parts like Stratford look great. It makes sense because this is the part where tourists come.

‘Everywhere in London has its problems but Stratford is looked after. There is always security everywhere.

‘All the lower working-class people have been pushed out to other parts of London.’

At the convergence of the banana and the squirrel lies the affluent suburb Clapham. 

Robyn Moffat, 27, a nanny who recently moved to the area from Scotland, said: ‘I would agree, it is definitely one of the best suburban places to live in London.

‘I think it is a lovely place. It is definitely great for kids.

‘There are good local amenities and really nice restaurants. Clapham Common is gorgeous.

‘It is really safe out here. It gets bad press but I have never had any problems.’

Jean Cristoph, 61, who has lived in the area for 20 years says it is great for walking his dogs and definitely deserves its place amongst the elite.

He said: ‘It is really lovely. I really enjoy living here and when I go to other places in London, I realise just how great this is. I would prefer to live here than in Chelsea.

Niall Rowan, 60, who has worked in Greenwich Market for 14 years running an antique stall, said: ‘It’s a beautiful area. It is definitely the nicest in south-east London’

Common Cafe on Clapham Common high street

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Inside Clapham Common Tube station, which has an island platform

‘There is a real community feel in Clapham and lots of shops, bars, and restaurants. It is a very young area.

‘Despite a few stabbings recently it still feels relatively safe.’

Joan Greenbury, 70, who has lived in the area for 43 years added: ‘It is a lovely area. It is the common that attracts people.

‘There are lots of young people. You can see why people want to come here. It has got everything going for it really.

‘I feel very safe, I have never had any trouble. I am very lucky to live here.’

The London banana map sparked a viral debate last year about where the best areas  in London are. 

The post caused furious conversation online as famously proud Londoners defended their local area, while banana dwellers smugly sent the map to friends, family and colleagues. 

Unlike the squirrel, house prices are typically higher inside the banana, an indication areas are more desirable to homeowners, while crime rates outside of the very centre of London tend to be lower. 

• Are the places within the ‘London squirrel’ better than the ‘London banana’? Email: jamie.boys@dailymail.co.uk

Around 900 fish were found following the incident in September 2024

Anglian Water could face prosecution over a suspected pollution incident that led to the death of around 900 fish. The dead fish were found floating in the King’s Dyke area between Stanground and Whittlesey in September 2024.

At the time, the Environment Agency (EA) found there were higher levels of ammonia and lower levels of oxygen in the water. An investigation revealed a nearby Anglian Water pumping station had been discharging sewage for 23 hours due to a pumping failure.

After two years of investigation, the EA has confirmed its plans to prosecute Anglian Water for the “pollution incident”.

In a letter addressed to MP Steve Barclay, Sadia Moeed, area director for East Anglia for the EA said: “Following the conclusion of our investigation I can now confirm that we have made the decision to prosecute Anglian Water Services Limited in relation to the pollution incident that occurred at King’s Dyke, Stanground in September 2024.

“This has been communicated to the company today (August 28).” The EA said it is awaiting a magistrates court date.

Ms Moeed added: “We are committed to taking action against water companies responsible for pollution and to ensuring that environmental regulations are robustly enforced.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “Following a detailed investigation, we have taken the decision to prosecute Anglian Water in relation to alleged pollution of the King’s Dyke in Stanground, in Peterborough, in September 2024.”

Anglian Water did not wish to comment.

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