Warning for people heading to Reading and Leeds Festival over 'vape spiking'

A festival goer has warned others about the dangers of ‘vape spiking’ that has been happening at music festivals. Hollie Till, known as @festival_hollie on TikTok, shared a clip of herself advising people to be wary of anyone who comes up to them offering a free puff of their vape.

In the 28-second video, Hollie said “please don’t take” a pull of a stranger’s vape for anyone attending Reading and Leeds Festival this weekend. She said: “If any of you are at the festivals and people come up to you offering a pull of their vape, please don’t take it.

“There were a couple of people at Download Festival and Isle of Wight Festival, I’m sure there are some other ones as well, where people were spiked with vapes. I don’t think it’s certain what is actually in the vapes, but a lot of people are saying it’s Spice.

“And it just won’t be a good experience for you. So if someone is coming up to you offering a vape, please do not take it. Make sure you tell your friends and just make sure you’re having a good time.”

Hollie’s video has racked up over 293,100 views, 20,600 likes and 395 comments, at the time of writing. Chloe Hammerton, 26, who works for South Central Ambulance Service, collapsed and fell unconscious as her girlfriend Natasha Ward screamed in terror at the Isle of Wight Festival last weekend, reported The Mirror.

The paramedic was left fitting and unable to move any part of her body after she was allegedly 'duped' into having a puff on a stranger's vape at the festival. Natasha said the man had allegedly approached Chloe and encouraged her to try his vape while the couple queued to buy food at the event.

But 'within a minute' of trying the vape, Chloe was reportedly left passing in and out of consciousness, unable to speak or move any part of her body, and was suffering fits as her pupils constricted to 'pinpoints'. Her girlfriend described how she was left begging and screaming for help as Chloe lay on the floor "terrified and unconscious".

Reading and Leeds released a list of their banned items at the beginning of the month. They posted a small collection of photos which read: “Please do not bring single-use disposable vapes as they may be confiscated on entry. They pollute the environment and incorrect disposal of these can be hazardous at waste centres.

“Campfires are no longer allowed anywhere at the festival, including the campsites. This is to support the air quality action plan and in consideration of local impacts as set out in our Green Nation Charter. Anyone seen creating or fuelling a fire will be evicted from the festival site.

“Disposable BBQs are no longer allowed anywhere at the festival, including the campsites. This is to support the air quality action plan and in consideration of local impacts as set out in our Green Nation Charter. Anyone seen creating or fuelling a fire will be evicted from the festival site.”

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Items not allowed in the festival:

• Aerosols over 250ml
• Air Horns / Megaphones
• All gas canisters of any size (including nitrous oxide)
• Animals (other than registered hearing dogs or guide dogs)
• Any goods for unauthorised trading with unauthorised Reading/Leeds Festival logos
• Anything that could reasonably be considered for use as a weapon including oversized lighters
• Blow torches
• Catapults
• Chinese / Sky lanterns / Paper Lanterns
• Clothing/Garments/Items which promote Cultural Appropriation
• Disposable BBQs
• Disposable vapes (refillable vapes are permitted)
• Drones and other flying devices
• Excessive amounts of food
• Fireworks/Pyrotechnics, Flares/Distress Flares
• Generators (unless in campervan)
• Glass bottles, jars, containers over 100ml
• Illegal Substances (drugs) and legal highs, herbal highs, new psychoactive substances and unidentifiable substances - including Nitrous Oxide
• Nitrous Oxide and any items associated with the taking of NPS and NOS (including but not limited to balloons, whipped cream dispensers, water crackers / CO2 dispensers)
• Petrol Burner
• Portable laser equipment and pens
• Sound systems (Small Portable speakers are permitted in Campsites)
• Spray Cans
• Unauthorised professional film or video equipment, radios or walkie talkies
• Unofficial tabards and reflective jackets

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Haim announce last-minute concert at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire week after All Points East

Haim have announced a new London tour date following their headline set at All Points East Festival. The American band, consisting of sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, will perform at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on August 31.

Tickets for the last-minute concert will go on general sale from 12pm on August 30 and the presale will take place from midday on August 29. The band will be supported by Nell Mescal.

This comes after Haim are set to take to the All Points East stage in Victoria Park this Bank Holiday Monday (August 28). Also on the line-up are special guests FKJ, Durand Jones and Paris Paloma.

READ MORE: Best hotels near London's The O2 from Holiday Inn to Hilton and Radisson Blu

How to get tickets

Tickets for the last-minute gig will be release on presale on Tuesday, August 29 from midday. The general sale begins at 12pm on Wednesday, August 30.

You can buy the tickets on Ticketmaster here but prices are not yet known. All Points East Festival tickets to see Haim's headline show started from £59.95.

Haim will be headlining All Points East (Image: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for LOUIS VUITTON x HAIM)

Haim's upcoming tour dates are:

• Monday, August 28, 2023 - All Points East Festival at London Victoria Park
• Thursday, August 31, 2023 NEW SHOW - London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
• Friday, September 29, 2023 - Dana Point California at Doheny State Beach

Announcing Haim's headline slot, All Points East said: "We’re so excited to announce the unstoppable Haim are heading to Victoria Park on Bank Holiday Monday 28 August for a European exclusive performance."

Haim haven't performed in London since the One More Haim tour at The O2 in July 2022. The band played one concert and then appeared at Glastonbury, and in Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, and Nottingham.

The trio's new album is a 10th anniversary edition of their debut album 'Days Are Gone', set to be released on September 29. Find tickets for the O2 show on Ticketmaster here.

Buy tickets through Ticketmaster, SeeTickets or LiveNation.

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East London council ordered to pay resident more than £5K for taking over 3 years to fix damp and mould problem

An East London council has been ordered to pay a resident £5,400 after it took more than three years to fix a mould and damp issue and failed to update them on repairs.

Newham Council told the resident to clean the mould and damp themselves and took too long to carry out repairs and arrange temporary accommodation, a report by the Housing Ombudsman found.

READ MORE: The corner of London that looks like a zombie apocalypse as highly addictive drug that eats people's flesh turns users into 'walking dead'

The housing watchdog found significant failings against the council and said the resident had been left to live among damp and mould for 'an unreasonable amount of time'.

Over the course of more than three years, the resident contacted and chased the council multiple times and asked to be kept updated on repairs however it had failed to do this.

While the council did fix a leak within a year of it first being reported, the damp and mould problem continued to wreak havoc in the tenant's home and was affecting the light fittings and the area around the fuse box. According to the resident, the council wouldn't carry out specific works on the damp and mould and instead told him to clean it himself.

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The ombudsman report noted: "Whilst the resident continued to complain about damp and mould, the [council] continued to fail in updating him on what was happening with his home and actions that could be taken to fix it."

Two years after first reporting the issue to the council, the resident had asked to be moved into temporary accommodation because his home smelt strongly of damp and believed a rat infestation was infiltrating his home because of the mould problem.

Having only been in temporary accommodation for a few weeks, the council told the resident the repairs were finished and he could move back however when he returned he believed the repairs were below standard.

After the ombudsman investigated the resident's complaint, the council was ordered to apologise to the resident and pay £5,400 in compensation which included some of the rent during the period of service failure.

Richard Blakeway, the Housing Ombudsman, said: "There were significant failings throughout this case which left the resident living with damp and mould for an unreasonable amount of time. On multiple occasions throughout the course of the complaint, a lack of proactive action and poor communication, both with the resident and internally, contributed to significant delays."

Mr Blakeway said the council took too long to arrange temporary accommodation and took ages to respond to the resident about his damaged belongings. He added: "Despite repeated issues with communications from its repairs team, the landlord did not change its approach and take ownership of the resolution of the issues.

"I welcome the landlord’s response to the lessons from this report and its extensive efforts to put in place a stronger and more proactive approach to addressing damp and mould." Newham Council said in a statement: "Our priority is providing safe, decent homes for our residents and dealing with any issues brought to our attention swiftly, effectively and with compassion. We apologise unreservedly for failing to meet our high standards in this instance.

"We fully accept the ombudsman’s findings and have acted on each of the orders made. We have also found alternative accommodation for the household involved and will continue to work with them to find a suitable permanent solution." The council went on to say that it has taken a "well-established, proactive approach" when tackling mould and damp issues across the borough and that it has invested in a "dedicated" mould and damp task-force.

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How drivers can swerve ULEZ £12.50 fine as charge to be expanded across London next week

London drivers with non-compliant cars may be able to avoid the £12.50 ULEZ fine initially. Transport for London (TfL) may decide to issue warning letters rather than a penalty charge notice (PCN) initially.

It comes as the AA said it is 'essential' that drivers are not fined 'until the system beds in' across the new ULEZ areas. From August 29, ULEZ will be expanded from the North and South Circular roads to cover the whole of Greater London.

READ MORE: New stealth speed cameras to be rolled out after catching thousands of drivers during trial

People who drive in the zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards are required to pay a £12.50 daily fee within three days. Failure to pay can lead to a PCN of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.

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TfL has sent out warning letters already

TfL has sent letters about the expansion to the owners of non-compliant vehicles previously detected by cameras in the new ULEZ area. But some affected drivers may drive in the zone without knowing they are required to pay a fee, such as those from outside London who do not drive in regularly.

There are fears that the refusal by some neighbouring counties to allow TfL to put up signage on roads approaching the new ULEZ area could also lead to people entering it by mistake.

TfL said in a statement: “TfL reserves the right to use discretion to issue a warning notice instead of a penalty charge notice. However, we would advise anyone driving a non-compliant vehicle in the zone to pay the charge to avoid the risk of being fined.”

The ULEZ is set to expand on August 29 (Image: Richard Baker)

How to pay the ULEZ charge

There are various methods of paying the ULEZ charge, including online, over the phone, through an app or by signing up to an automatic payment system.

AA president Edmund King said: “It is essential that TfL sends out warning letters to drivers not complying with the ULEZ until the system beds in.

“We know that there is a widespread lack of signage outside the current zone in areas such as Hertfordshire, so fining drivers who don’t even know they are in the zone would backfire.

“Drivers need fair warning of when they are about to enter the Ulez or when they are on a road that will take them into the zone if they stay on it.

“If TfL do not send out warnings they will be deluged with complaints from drivers.

“If they turn down appeals to have fines cancelled, huge numbers will take their complaints to the traffic penalties tribunal.”

On the day that Birmingham’s emissions-based charging scheme was introduced in June 2021, the city’s council announced that the £8 daily fees for non-compliant vehicles would not need to be paid for the first two weeks as part of a 'soft launch'.

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Live Blackwall Tunnel updates after 'serious motorbike accident' closes Thames crossing

The Blackwall Tunnel in East London has been closed this afternoon following a serious crash involving a motorbike on the northbound side.

The A102 has been closed at the mouth of the tunnel exit to the A12 / A13 with queues forming as a result.

According to travel tracker Inrix the crash happened at the Poplar exit of the tunnel at around 11.30am this morning.

As a result congestion is building to the A2 at Blackheath, at the Sun in the Sands. Onlookers are also queueing on the A12 from Bromley by Bow, and the A13 queueing into town from Leamouth Road.

Traffic is being diverted onto the A13, where there are also delays after a 'drunk driver' crashed into a broken down car earlier this morning.

MyLondon has reached out to the Met Police for more information on the incident.

Did you see what happened? Get in touch at dan.wiggins@reachplc.com

For more live updates on this story follow our blog below.

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EastEnders actor Jack Ryder pays strange tribute to former co-star Natalie Cassidy with new photo

Former EastEnders actor Jack Ryder has shared a strange post about his former co-star Natalie Cassidy on Instagram. The former actor starred as Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders from 1998 until 2002, during which time he had a close relationship with Cassidy's character Sonia Fowler.

The 41-year old posted a throwback image of his character Jamie kissing Sonia during a scene on EastEnders. He captioned the post: "To this day she is still my greatest and favourite co-star. Thank you for the memories @natcass1."

Many EastEnders fans couldn't help but take to the comments section to react to the post. One follower exclaimed: "Aww really do miss Jamie, such a brilliant partnership Jamie and Sonia loves young dream the UK's answer to Jack and Rose xx."

READ MORE: EastEnders and Call the Midwife star Jane Whittenshaw dies as friends pay tribute

A second commented: "I miss this. You two were one of the best couples on @bbceastenders. You've done so much since leaving EE." A third typed: "Best Eastenders days! Where do the years go! Still devastated they killed Jamie off!"

A fourth said: "To this day I still have major hatred towards Martin and Spencer for running you over when all you were doing was minding your own business & going about your evening buying flowers for Sonia."

During his last scenes on Albert Square, Jamie Mitchell was killed off when he was involved in a car accident. Since moving on from acting he is now an established film and theatre director and published his first children's book in 2020.

After his exit, Jack Ryder married soap star Kim Marsh in August 2002 but later divorced in 2008. He recently welcomed a daughter in 2021 with his long-term partner Ella, and he spends his time between London and France.

Do you have a story you think we should be covering? If so, please email whatson@mylondon.news or alexandra.bullard@reachplc.com.

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