WHATS happening to the borough? Over the last couple of years we have reported waves of crime in Wanstead and Woodford.

Amidst all this crime, we have featured residents complaining about lack of policing and the closure of police stations in the area. We have also suffered a failure to win funding for a CCTV.

But now the crime wave seems to have stepped up to another level and, over the past three weeks, we have reported a series of gun attacks.

Unless extra funding is given to our police force, surely it's only a matter of time before the crime increases. We appeal to our MPs to make representations to the Government for more police and CCTV funding to ensure this remains a nice place to live.THE surprise retirement party for the owner of Ely's Toyshop in Woodford Green is a happy story, but is also tinged with sadness.

While it's heartening to see how well regarded in the community the owners are, it's regrettable that they have been forced to close owing to lack of trade.

No matter how loyal we would like to be, and how much we like the corner shops, we're almost all guilty of deciding to pop down to Sainsbury's or Tesco's to see if they've got a bigger selection or if they're cheaper.

Ely's, regrettably, is a casualty of this trend and the shop will be sadly missed by its many local customers.

We wish the owners well in their retirement.But for us to receive what we want, we produce casualties along the way.