Recently by Dan Coombs

A YOUNG couple have told of their terror at the moment they woke up and saw a burglar standing over them.

The burglar who was dressed all in black fled after being disturbed by their screams, but he took an expensive laptop with him.

The break-in took place last week in Bridge Road, Uxbridge. It is thought he gained entry to the property through a window which was left ajar.

York Road will close while a crane is used for work at Coca-Cola headquarters in Bakers Court.

The road affected is between George Street and Belmont Road junctions from 10pm on Saturday, January 28 to midnight on Monday, January 30.

THE appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a Lidl supermarket was heard last week.

A planning inspector is now expected to decide within the six weeks whether the store can be built in Cowley Road, Uxbridge.

He visited the site last week to see for himself the traffic issues which persuaded Hillingdon Council to refuse the original application.

Mic Singh, who runs G&T News in Cowley Road and petitioned against the proposal, said: "He came down and had a good look.

"It is just a case of waiting now."

Cowley Road is already a busy route in and out of Uxbridge and opponents of the store claim it will make the traffic worse.

UXBRIDGE College received a royal visit from Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.

The Countess was at the college in Park Road, Uxbridge, this morning to officially open the new £5 million IT and media block.

Students have been using the 15-classroom block since September, which contains high-tech computers and CGI film equipment.

The Countess, born Sophie Rhys-Jones, married the Queen's youngest son Prince Edward in 1999 and the couple have two children together.

She spent the morning having a tour of the block and meeting staff and students.

FOR the fourth year in succession, Uxbridge is to get an ice rink in time for Christmas, and advanced tickets are now on sale.

Booking opened on Monday (21/11), with the rink opening to the public on December 2.

It will stay open from 10am to 9pm every day until New Year's Day, closing only for Christmas Day.

A CONTROVERSIAL continental market will open in Uxbridge town centre tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday - but its organisers has branded a decision to only let it run for two days 'a disaster.'

The council's licencsing sub committee approved the market at a meeting on Friday, but for only half the days the company behind it, Savoir Fayre of Northwood, had applied for.

For the second year running the market was only granted permission for two days. It will sell a range of European produce, and is expected to open between 9am and 7.30pm both days.

Drivers will be banned from turning right at a busy junction, subject to a consultation.

MORE THAN 700 people have signed a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing to be renamed after a road crash victim.

The family of Lisa Clubb, who died in August crossing Hillindon Hill, Hillingdon on foot, have called on the council to rename a crossing at the scene after her.

A council contractor has issued more than 740 on-the-spot fines in only six weeks to litterbugs and dog owners who have let their pet foul the street.

Hillingdon Council has employed XFOR Local Authority Support Ltd whose staff can be seen patrolling Uxbridge High Street.

So far £34,830 worth of fines have been issued. Between September 13 and October 22, 444 of the 744 ticket total have been paid, bringing in £22,720.

A total of 1,395 enthusiasts have signed up to Hillingdon's Swim School.

The centre is based at the Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Centre at Gatting Way, Uxbridge.