What's On

UP TO 1,000 homes in Northwood are believed to have been left without gas this morning (17).

A large water main in Green Lane is said to have ruptured, blocking the gas supply.

Mike Wood, of Copsewood Way, Northwood, said: "I woke up this morning and noticed the heating was off - there was no gas.

"I have emergency 24 hour cover with British Gas so I called the switchboard at 9am and they agreed to send an engineer out, although by 1pm, no one had arrived yet.

"I was told that around 1,000 homes have been affected but they haven't been able to tell me why.

"My wife said it looked like a large water main in Green Lane had been ruptured and this could have affected the gas pipe.

"Several friends and neighbours in the area have told me they are suffering the same problems - but some of them are elderly and need their heating.

"It is very frustrating waiting around to find out what's going on."

More to follow.

Were you left without gas this morning? Contact Gazette reporter Siba Matti on 07788567259, email sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk or post a comment below.

TRADERS in Mill End have vowed to fight new proposals by Tesco to build an Express convenience store - just months after similar plans were rejected in the face of fierce public opposition.

Two applications by the supermarket giant to build a store, with eight and seven flats respectively, on the site of the former Happy Man pub in Berry Lane, have already been abandoned.

DOG owners and their four-legged friends are invited to join in a two-mile sponsored walk around Rickmansworth Aquadrome on Sunday, March 28.

Paws for Peace will help raise funds for The Peace Hospice, which provides palliative care and support for patients and their families across south west Hertfordshire.

Registration is at 10am and there will also be best dressed dog competition. For more information call Nicky Maxwell-Braithwaite on 01923 335365 or visit www.peacehospice.co.uk

Liberal Democrat frontbencher Simon Hughes answered questions from voters in Northwood last Monday (8) as he spelled out his party's vision for Britain. SIBA MATTI reports on an evening of heated debate...

YOUNG people were at the heart of the agenda when Liberal Democrat cabinet spokesman for energy and climate change, Simon Hughes, visited Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue.

TRADERS have won a year-long campaign to get a stop and shop parking scheme installed in Northwood Hills.

The scheme, backed by the local chamber of commerce, was officially approved by Councillor Keith Burrows, cabinet member for planning and transportation, yesterday (11), after the council carried out an informal consultation last February.

NORTHWOOD Business Club is relocating and future meetings, including the next on Monday (15) will take place at The Barn Hotel in West End Road, Ruislip.

The meeting will provide an opportunity to network over drinks and a buffet supper, followed by a presentation entitled The Power of Why by Mark Fritz and Annick Devillard.

A LUNCH time recital by AS and A level students at the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth Park will take place on Friday, March 19.

The concert will feature mezzo-sopranos, Rachel Lily and Florence Odumosu, and pianists Jun Lin and Gabriella Scanio.

Admission is free. Call 01923 773168 for more information.

NICK Hurd MP will be talking about the Sustainable Communities Act at the Northwood Residents' Association AGM next Tuesday, March 16.

The meeting takes place at Oaklands Gate Methodist Church at 8pm, with tea and coffee served from 7.30pm.

All residents are welcome and there are currently vacancies for membership of the executive committee.

NEXT Wednesday (10) is national non-smoking day and Riverside Pharmacy, in High Street, Rickmansworth, is one of four local pharmacies in Hertfordshire hosting events to help people kick their habit.

Visitors can drop in between 10am and 4pm and speak to one of the NHS Hertfordshire's stop smoking advisors, who have helped hundreds of other smokers to stub out cigarettes for good.

They will offer advice such as setting a date to quit, how to deal with nicotine withdrawal and how to get family and friends involved.

For further information call 0800 389 3998 or visit www.smokefreehertfordshire.nhs.uk

A SENIOR politician will address an audience at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue in the run up to the general election.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne MP, will visit the synagogue, in Oaklands Gate, on Monday, March 8.