River Island shoppers love 'statement' faux fur coat that is 'so dreamy' and 'gorgeous'

Coats are undoubtedly a winter must-have - but they can make or break an outfit. So if you're still on the lookout for the perfect addition to your seasonal wardrobe, now would be the time to invest in a piece that not only helps you keep warm but is also stylish.

River Island has recently shared items of their new collection on Instagram and the Panelled Faux Fur Coat seems to be a particular hit with fans. Available in sizes XS to L, it's currently on sale at £95.

The jacket comes in cream, black and grey. It features a big collar, panelled long sleeves and button fastening.

READ MORE: M&S 'versatile' cardigan that is 'a must for your wardrobe' just £19.50

Although the coat can be worn with any kind of outfit, as shown in the video, it'd particularly look great with the £19.99 New Look Crinkle Mini Dress and a pair of fleece tights. And shoppers were quick to share their thoughts on Instagram.

A user wrote: "I need the coat, omg," "Such a gorgeous coat," another added, while a third commented: "Oh wow I need this in my life." "Coat of the SZN!!!!" reacted the influencer featured in the video.

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There are no reviews available on the River Island website but it's currently one of the retailer's best sellers. Alternatively, there's the £79 Marks and Spencer Faux Fur Textured Short Coat.

It has a 4.9-star rating from 17 reviews. A buyer said: "This coat is soo soft and cosy, perfect for nights out or lunch. Great price too, don’t think twice go for it!"

You can shop the £95 River Island Panelled Faux Fur Coat here.

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'I let my toddler scribble all over the walls - now he's a talented artist at just 4'

A woman who let her son scribble on walls as a baby believes it turned him into a talented artist - at just four years old. Young Santiago Daniel Peña García started drawing when he was just ten months. The tot would scrawl around the family home and draw on walls in every room.

Mum Adianée Peña García never stopped him and the four-year-old now paints every day and produces new pieces daily. Some of his paintings even include a version of Starry Night by Van Gogh.

READ MORE: 'I had to move 75 miles out of London because it was too expensive for me as a disabled woman'

Adianée said: "I had just bought some coloured pencils and I didn't want him to ruin them, so I got him crayons. He started to draw all over the walls but he seemed so happy that I couldn't stop him."

Santiago Daniel's drawings were such that the family even had to re-paint the apartment before they moved out. But Adianée thinks it was worth it because she raised an artist.

Adiane Pea Garca's son, Santiago Daniel Pea Garca, now paints for more than an hour a day

Santiago Daniel's scribblings weren't everybody's tastes and Alianée's brother, who lived with the pair at the time, didn't like it.

Alianée said: "At the beginning, my brother didn't like it because it wasn't our house, but then he saw how much Santiago Daniel enjoyed it. He basically painted every wall in the house. Our bedroom, the hallway, the kitchen and the living room were covered.

"The landlord saw it too when we left and he looked so shocked, but we were already painting over it so it was fine."

Alianée believes that stopping the tot would have stifled his passion for art and says other parents should follow her lead.

She said: "I think if he had done it and I had taken away his crayons it would have killed his passion for creativity. I've seen parents do that and their kids just don't enjoy painting like Santiago Daniel does. I would recommend other parents let their children be.

"They probably won't all be artists because they scribbled on the walls but they shouldn't limit something that could help their growth, their creativity. They shouldn't see it as naughty thing. Walls can be re-painted and kids are kids."

Santiago Daniel has been drawing on the walls at home when he was a toddler

The little boy now dedicates at least 40 minutes a day to painting.

His inspiration comes from cartoons. His favourite things to paint are The PJ Masks, Disney's Luca or Mickey Mouse.

Adianée said: "He will sit watching TV and then say: 'mum, I want to paint that!' It depends on the painting but it varies from 40 minutes to an hour or so.

"I don't make him do anything so he gets distracted and goes to play with something else and then comes back later. He's only four."

Adianée says that scribbling on walls was a major factor in her son's journey but think she also inspired him. Adianée is a passionate artist herself and would often make toys for her son.

Adianée moved to Peru from Venezuela in 2017 with no money, forcing her to make the toys herself. The single mum said that she could see him learning from her as she worked.

She said: "I made him books, teddy bears, I made a chimney for us one Christmas, so we could have a classic Christmas. Santiago Daniel would lie next to me and watch while I painted them, he would grab at my paintbrushes too.

"He's been so smart since he was a baby I could see that when he held my paintbrushes he used the same grip as me. Of course sometimes he would hold them in his fist like a normal baby, but he tried to do it correctly."

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Peaky Blinders star and poet Benjamin Zephaniah dies aged 65 as devastated family leads tributes

Peaky Blinders star and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died aged 65, with his devastated family sharing heart-breaking tributes. Zephaniah's death was announced in a statement posted on his Instagram account on Thursday morning (December 7).

It read: "It is with great sadness and regret that we announce the death of our beloved husband son and brother in the early hours of this morning. Benjamin was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago.

"Benjamin's wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he passed. We shared him with the world and we know many will be shocked and saddened by this news".

Benjamin Zephaniah as Jeremiah Jesus and Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders (Image: BBC)

The family added: "Benjamin was a true pioneer and innovator, he gave the world so much. Through an amazing career including a huge body of poems, literature, music, television and radio, Benjamin leaves us with a joyful and fantastic legacy. Thank you for the love you have shown Professor Benjamin Zephaniah."

Born Benjamin Obadiah Iqbal Zephaniah in Birmingham in 1958, the star published many collections of poetry as well as five novels and seven plays. In 2008 he was ranked one of Britain's top 50 post-war writers by The Times.

He was actor on screen and played the street preacher Jeremiah Jesus in the BBC series of Peaky Blinders between 2013 and 2022. He had also appeared on The Bill and was a panellist on QI in 2020.

Benjamin Zephaniah has passed away aged 65 (Image: John Stillwell/PA)

Tributes for Benjamin Zephaniah have already started to pour in with Loose Women's Charlene White writing on X: "Thank-you for everything Benjamin Zephaniah", followed by a love heart and heart broken emoji.

Nadine White stated: "Iconic writer & poet Benjamin Zephaniah has died, a statement from his family confirms. Very sad news". Michael Rosen said: "The tragic terrible news has come to me that Benjamin Zephaniah's family have announced that Benjamin has died. I'm devastated.

"I admired him, respected him, learnt from him, loved him. Love and condolences to the family and to all who loved him too". While another added: "Rest in power Benjamin Zephaniah. A hero. A role model. An inspiration."

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Mum shot dead in Hackney named and pictured for the first time

A 42-year-old woman killed in an East London shooting has been named and pictured for the first time. Lianne Gordon was shot dead in Vine Close, Hackney while protecting someone, nearby residents claim.

The shooting happened at about 6.30pm on Tuesday (December 5) as neighbours heard "four of five gunshots" as emergency services rushed to the scene. Lianne sadly died at the scene, police have confirmed. Two other people, a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, suffered injuries in the attack and were taken to hospital.

The Met says their wounds are "non-life threatening". Flowers have been left at the scene in Vine Close, with a tribute calling the victim "a beautiful soul" that has "gone too soon". So far there have been no arrests in the murder investigation.

READ MORE: Mum shot dead in Hackney 'protecting someone' and 2 others including boy, 16, injured

A neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he does not feel safe living in the area following the shooting. He said: "I heard gunshots. I think pretty much everyone heard them. Next thing I know, we looked out the window and everyone was outside screaming, saying someone had been shot.

"We heard the gunshots but we assumed it was fireworks. There was a lady shouting. After it happened, I do not feel safe. Especially living here be so close to it. You do not think it would happen so close to your house [...] It was very dark."

Floral tributes have been left at the scene (Image: Callum Cuddeford/MyLondon)

A third neighbour, Mahr, said Lianne was protecting somebody at the time of the incident. They said: “She was very nice lady very. We are devastated. She was trying to protect someone that what we heard. She was not the target.”

A police source has reportedly confirmed that officers do not believe the woman was the intended victim, and investigators think the shooter had come for someone else at the address.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting, or has information about what happened, is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 5811/05Dec. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Woman, 24, diagnosed with rare cancer after optician sent her to doctor after eye test

As a 24-year-old getting reading for a night out the energy is high and you are looking forward to the night ahead. But for Sara Titchen, something she noticed as she was prepping for her evening with friends earlier this year changed her life forever.

After noticing one of her eyes was droopy, Sara booked an appointment at the optician's for May 9, 2023. There she was told that her vision was fine but her pupils are different sizes and was referred to a GP.

Concerned about the wait she took herself to Moorfields Eye Hospital that day and after several tests was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Sara told MyLondon: "That morning I found out it was cancer. I went from a 9am opticians appointment to a 1am diagnosis, it was incredibly fast.

READ MORE: Santa's grotto Londoners travel 3 hours to visit faces being shut down over planning row

One week after her chemotherapy started Sara started to lose her hair (Image: Sara Titchen)

"It was terrifying really because I did not see it coming at all, I was very well. I'd been out that weekend.

"There were no drastic symptoms so it did cause a massive shock. I was terrified because I didn't know anyone else my age who had cancer or anything about lymphoma."

Sara's care started with fertility treatment, something that wasn't on her radar at the time. "All of a sudden having these kinds of conversations abut your future is very overwhelming," she said.

Sara then had 16 rounds of chemotherapy at UCLH and remembers the first time going to collect her medication as an overwhelming experience. She added: "I was on the teenage and young adults ward which was very sad being in an environment seeing other young people with cancer."

Exactly one week after starting chemo Sara's hair started to fall out. "It's something you try to prepare for but nothing can really prepare you for it.

"It's just heart breaking. I think until my hair started falling out and I didn't think I looked like a cancer patient, I was almost pretending everything was OK.

Sara revealed that losing her hair was a difficult part of her journey (Image: Sara Titchen)

"As soon as your hair falls out it feels very real. It was very emotional. It's the fact you have no choice. It just happens so quickly."

Sara explains that the beginning was the scariest time because of the unknown. "As time goes on, and you do all of these scary things you get a lot stronger and it makes you definitely feel a lot more grateful for what you've got.

After Sara's hair fell out she got a wig from The Little Princess Trust, who provide real hair wigs for young people with cancer. In October she was given the all clear.

Now, she is hosting an event raising money and cutting hair for the charity after they helped her with her journey. The Big Chop takes place at The Depot in Shoreditch on January 6, 2024.

The day will include hair cutting, a DJ, an auction and raffle as well as speeches from the charity about the work they do. Sara said: "It's going to be a positive event bringing people together to potentially discuss something that they've never thought of before.

Sara has been raising money for The Little Princess Trust (Image: Sara Titchen)

"It's nice for girls to cut their hair because it's also kind of getting on board emotionally with my journey. The most common age of girls that donate is nine years old.

"Which is incredible, but I think as older girls we should also be setting an example because of course hair is important but it won't be short forever." Tickets are £20 and this includes a free optional haircut if you wish to donate as well as two welcome drinks.

They can be purchased here. Sara has already raised over £7,000 for The Little Princess Trust and further donations can be made here.

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Heaving London Underground trains stopping at extra station to create more space would ‘only make things worse'

Sadiq Khan has rejected a suggestion to stop busy London Underground trains at an extra station in order to create more capacity on the line for customers. The Mayor of London, who is also Chair of Transport for London (TfL) slammed the idea - which is supported by a petition and was proposed by Conservative member of the London Assembly, Nick Rogers.

Mr Rogers said: "A petition is circulating in Chiswick calling for the Piccadilly line to call at Turnham Green during the day during times of disruption on the District line. This seems an eminently sensible suggestion and would ensure residents would continue to receive a reliable service at the station. Will you look into whether this is feasible and if it is not, please let me know why?"

READ MORE: The sickening number of times London Underground staff have faced violent and sexual offences

It has been proposed that Piccadilly line trains stopping at Turnham Green could ensure more pleasant journeys for customers (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Khan, however, said, in his view, the move would only exacerbate the situation. He replied: "Piccadilly line trains can only call at Turnham Green before 7am and after 10.30pm, as the service frequency at those times is sufficiently low to enable it to do so. If Piccadilly line trains were to call at Turnham Green between those times, it would cause delays and disruption to the Piccadilly line as a whole.

"Turnham Green is signalled for ‘through running’ on the Piccadilly line, rather than being signalled for trains to stop, so the signals are a long way apart and it would severely limit the line capacity if trains were to stop there. It is the intention for trains to call at Turnham Green after the line has been re-signalled under the Piccadilly line upgrade, though this is not currently a funded project as TfL is yet to receive any indication of funding for its capital projects from HM Government."

The Department for Transport says it is up to Sadiq Khan to make sure finances are on a sure footing. To support this, it says it has provided more than £6 billion to TfL since 2020, on top just under £1.2 billion in capital grant funding agreed in August last year lasting until the end of March 2024.

This is in addition to the around £1 billion per year in retained business rates, continued at the last spending review. The Government adds that this is enabling almost £3.6bn worth of critical infrastructure projects, matching the Mayor's own pre-Covid capital spending plans.

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The London train station that's one of the busiest in Europe even though it's not where it says it is

A historian has shared his insight into why Clapham Junction is actually in Battersea - and claimed it's "a bit rubbish". Anyone who's travelled into London from Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire has no doubt experienced the sprawl of Clapham Junction station.

Encompassing 17 platforms, it's one of the busiest railway stations in Europe as its six junctions provide connections across Southern England. But take a stroll through the station today and you'll find Clapham Junction is not exactly well-laid out.

Compared to the delightful scenes of Paddington, the station bridge isn't exactly a glamorous way to change platform. But first-time viewers struggling with this fact will be shocked when navigating the dingy tunnel below the tracks.

READ MORE: Man in his 20s is pronounced dead at the scene after falling from bridge and being hit by lorry

The rare sight of a not-so-busy Clapham Junction platform (Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

It become an urban hell on rush hour, bank holidays or match days at Stamford Bridge and Twickenham as fans cram onto packed trains. Unfortunately this becomes unavoidable if you're using the Grant Road exit.

In a video released on TikTok, @ali.unoriginal revealed why the station is loud out in this confusing manner, along with why it's named after a place 1.4 miles away. Summing it up, Ali puts it down to "bad planning, history and capitalism."

He explains: "There has been a railway there since 1838. By 1963 five different railway companies were using the interchange. That year, five companies got together to build Clapham Junction. It’s been a complete mess since then.

"They knew the area was definitely Battersea. Clapham used to be lovely, while Battersea wasn’t. It was a rural farming stead which the Victorians turned into a more working class area.

"Clapham was affluent, rich, hip and trendy. The station was named after Clapham to bluntly to attract people"

Addressing why it's a "bad station", Ali adds: "It’s one of the busiest in Europe - one of the main entries into London from the south. Six different junctions and 17 platforms are crammed into one space. That’s the issue - there’s tonnes of legacy systems and history here.

"It’s a major point of dependency on the southern England railway network. While there is a rebuild plan, TfL are terrified of the disruption it would cause."

Check out the full video here.

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