People

A mum-of-four's petition to curb firework usage during the Diwali period has had a positive impact upon inconsiderate firework users.

Although Meena Hans was dreading the 'festival of light', which was celebrated on October 28 by Hounslow's Sikh community, she says her petition has really made a difference.

.A Heston resident has been awarded for helping shut down a crack house.

Laura Wood tackled drug usage and dealing on her estate by gathering vital information on dealers' activity and bravely attending court to give evidence against a nearby crack house.

A sharp shooter who learnt her stuff at a Hounslow rifle range has set her sights on the Olympics after striking gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Sheree Cox, who practises at Heston & Hounslow Rifle Club, in Green Lane, Hounslow West, won the 50m rifle event and took bronze in the 50m prone rifle last week at the prestigious championships which took place in India last week.

The Heathrow head chef sacked for going home to look after his children has won back his job.

Virgilio Teixira, of Heston, spent a penniless two and a half months waiting for the verdict on his dismissal from Compass Catering but will now be reinstated as the top chef at Arora International.

A Heston singer will compete tonight for a place in the final of a national talent contest.

Bandana Gill, 28, has already fought off hundreds of competitors to make the regional finals of Idol 2008 with her rousing rendition of The Pretenders' I'll Stand By You.

Hounslow Hawks basketball team got some expert advice yesterday at a Wembley Arena festival.

The Culture8 Festival was at Wembley from 3 - 8pm on Sunday and included a 'sports zone', part of the London Development Agency's Summer of Sport programme geared towards London 2012.

This year the Territorial Army is celebrating its centenary in its present form. Down the ages there has long been a band of men, and indeed women, who have volunteered to assist armies at times of crisis and war.

In order to regulate this, the Army Reserve Act of 1803 was introduced to Parliament by Lord Addington, who was concerned at the shortfall in army recruitment. 30,000 men came forward for the new Volunteer Army, spending their time at work in the week, and training with the military at the weekend.

He may currently be wowing the West End with his rousing performance as King Arthur in Monty Python's hit stage musical Spamalot, but noted comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar insists he still thinks of Heston as home.

The star of shows including The Kumars at Number 42 and Goodness Gracious Me was born in Ealing and grew up in Heston where the family lived above a launderette Sanjeev's father had bought, and he lived there until he moved away to study at Hatfield Polytechnic, now the University of Hertfordshire.

This is the faithful sheep-dog who saved her owners' lives by waking them after arsonists torched their pub.

The Old George, in Heston Road, Heston, would almost certainly have been destroyed had four-year-old Polly not alerted managers Duncan and Catherin Townsend.

Reports of Heston's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

That was the message as scores of people turned out to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Heston Residents' Association (HRA) last Wednesday.

The village recently made the top 10 in a nationwide study into the decline of community life across Britain.