AN AMATEUR hairdresser won a national award less than year after first picking up her scissors.

Northwood student Deborah Keogh, 36, decided on a career change last summer but never imagined that in just nine months she'd win a gold medal in a UK-wide hairdressing competition.

A GRANDMOTHER will posthumously achieve her skydiving dream when her two grandchildren jump from a plane - while carrying her ashes.

Northwood Hills resident Kate Jiggens, better known as Bess, decided she wanted to take the plunge after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

WORK is under way to install £60,000-worth of new equipment at Wiltshire Lane playground.

Hillingdon Council has forked out the cash for a range of modern play facilities that includes a zip wire, after Northwood Hills Residents Association made a bid to the local authority.

Work should be complete by the end of April and the playground is due to be officialy reopened on Saturday, April 28.

PARISHIONERS held their own sporty charity challenge at the weekend - a 24-hour cyclethon that continued even through Sunday service.

While the congregation prayed, participants continued to pedal away on one of the six exercise bikes set up at Holy Trinity Church in Rickmansworth Road, Northwood.

A driver who was four times over the drink driving limit has been disqualified for three years.

Martin Dunmore, 46, of Iveagh Close, Northwood, was arrested on March 2 in Pavillion Way after failing to stop at the scene of a road accident in the car park outside Wickes in South Ruislip.

Hillingdon Council has placed High Street, Northwood, on a list of roads to be considered for a residential parking scheme.

A petition with 40 signatures had asked that the street be included in the Northwood Parking Management Scheme because of issues with commuters taking up too much space during the daytime, often making it difficult for residents to park.

At an Uxbridge Civic Centre hearing on Wednesday, Councillor Keith Burrows, cabinet member for transportation, agreed to add the road on a list for officers to examine.

Have you ever dreamed that you could have wings?

THE owners of an exotic dancing venue have vowed to stay in Northwood after a bid by residents to close it down failed.

The Olde Northwood Public House in Pinner Road has hosted lapdancing for 12 years but new government legislation forced it to apply for a Sex Establishment Licence - giving locals the chance to object.

AN MP has warned the sale of a community hospital will 'unleash hell'.

Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner MP Nick Hurd spoke out as the backlash began against NHS Hillingdon's plans to sell Northwood and Pinner Community Hospital in Pinner Road.

The PCT has included disposal of the site in its budget report, giving a deadline of September.

A NORTHWOOD fraudster jailed for a massive VAT con has had his record £92.3million confiscation order slashed - in the hope it might actually get paid.

Shakeel Ahmad, 39, of Astons Road, together with accomplice Syed Ahmed, 39, from Iver Heath, were key players in the huge 'missing trader' VAT fraud based around a company in Uxbridge.