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There are worries the London 2012 Olympic Games may go over budget. The London organising committee says it now needs more than twice the number of security guards it originally estimated.

The operation to clear up after a fire at Tilbury power station could take days, said firefighters. The blaze at the station broke out on Monday morning and was brought under control by the afternoon.

Union leader Len McCluskey defended his stance that targeting the London Olympic Games for industrial action was justified. McCluskey said his union represented London’s 28,000 bus drivers and staff, who are also negotiating over extra payments during the Olympics.

Town centre businesses in Horsham needed to be evacuated because of a fire at a nearby sub-station. The West Sussex County Council offices on North Street and the Royal Sun Alliance building were both evacuated this morning (Tuesday).

Chelmsford staff chose not to join in protests over the closure of local and enforcement vehicle licensing offices.

It has been announced this week that a processing centre in Romford, Essex, is expected to close by the end of September with a loss of 212 posts. The part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group told the unions involved whose members were affected.

London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow Navin Shah is backing drivers in a dispute with Brent Cross bus garage.

About 1,000 jobs are on the line in Essex after at a refinery owner said it would be filing for insolvency. The Swiss owner, Petroplus, said talks with its lenders had broken down and it had appointed a receiver to the UK refinery.

A man has pleaded not guilty to the theft of a memorial plaque from a Lewisham church. Paul Kelly (aged 42) of Lewisham, south-east London, made this plea this week. He will appear at Inner London Crown Court at a date to be confirmed.

Big City of London firm Lloyds Banking Group saw its shares slump when its boss Antonio Horta-Osorio stepped down two months ago amid fears that his leave could become permanent.

Fire crews were called to Warden Park School in Cuckfield on Friday (January 6) afternoon following an incident on the ground floor of the campus.

Kent County Council needs to make £97 million budget savings for the financial year 2012-2013 out of its total annual budget of more than £2.2 billion. Savings required are more than last year when £65m worth was made.