Useful Info

The re-elected Surrey County councillor for Ashford has created a neighbourhood watch for her area.

Cllr Carol Coleman, of Nelson Road, decided to set it up after a burglary happened in the road in May, and is in the final process of sorting out the paperwork.

The aims are to keep the residents vigilant and make them feel safer by notifying Surrey Police when they see suspicious behaviour.

Visitors to the Ankerwyck Estate can get a taste of spring on Sunday, March 15, from 11am-1pm.

Visitors have the chance to join a National Trust warden to explore both the wildlife and the history of the beautiful grounds at Ankerwycke Farm in Magna Carta Lane, Runnymede.

The day costs £4 for adults, £3 for senior citizens and £1 for children. For more details call 01784 432891 or visit runnymede@nationaltrust.org.uk

Framework, the framing shop in Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, is to close on Saturday, March 14 after 21 years.

Owners Jim and Mary Cowell, who began framing in 1985 in a unit in Tilly's Lane in Staines before moving to Ashford three years later when Two Rivers was built on that site, are retiring when their lease comes up for renewal.

Blood donor sessions take place on Sunday, March 8 at Ashford Community Centre in Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, from 9.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm.

Volunteers need to be between 17 and 60 years old, in general good health and weigh more than 7st 12lbs.

For more information call 0845 771 1711 or visit www.blood.co.uk

A selection of directories covering Spelthorne and dating back more than 200 years have gone on public display.

The documents, which are equivalent to today's telephone directories, are available to view at Spelthorne Museum in Elmsleigh Road, Staines.

When Ken Willis spotted an 'extremely rare' shrub found in Cornwall being lauded on the BBC, he was shocked to find it was the same plant he had been growing in his Ashford garden for 10 years.

The Colletia Paradoxa - which is known as the Aeroplane or Crucifix Tree because of its shape and extremely sharp thorns - was featured on BBC2's Gardeners' World and in the Daily Mail last month.

A prolific criminal from Ashford is on the run from police after failing to return to prison.

Thomas Barlow, 26, of Beards Road, was convicted of offences including burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage, driving while disqualified and two counts of obstructing a police officer in 2005 and jailed for four years.

They are as different as chalk and cheese but two relics from Staines and Ashford's manufacturing past have attracted attention from collectors.

A Doctor Who rubber dalek toy made in Ashford in 1965 was bought for more than £1,500 last week, while a Lagonda sports car built in Staines in 1931 is expected to fetch more than £50,000 at auction later this month.

Spelthorne Council has called a special meeting to review the proposed polyclinic at Ashford Hospital.

Borough councillors want to establish exactly what services the GP-led health supercentre will provide and the effects it will have on the availability of local services.

Tesco is planning to enlarge its store in Town Lane, Ashford, by building on to the car park.

The supermarket giant hopes to increase floorspace by extending the south side of its building. It admits some car parking spaces will be lost but does not think shoppers will be inconvenienced.

An exhibit with details of Tesco's proposals was viewed by 400 shoppers earlier this month.