WHALE TALE: Thousands of people lined Greenwich Pier on Saturday to watch rescue workers attempting to return the Thames Whale to sea. The 18ft northern bottle-nosed whale, which died around 7pm on Saturday, was seen by Woolwich Port of London Authority early afternoon last Thursday swimming through the Thames Barrier west, towards central London.

STREET SHOOTING: Police are appealing for information following the shooting of a 42-year-old man between Tudway Road and Kidbrooke Park Road, on the Ferrier Estate, Kidbrooke. He was approached by two black men on January 20 and shot in the arm when he refused to hand over jewellery. Call 020 8217 7381.

EXAM SUCCESS: Greenwich pupils have bucked the national trend at GCSE level, government league tables reveal. More than 45 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades last year, compared to 40.3 per cent in 2004. The five per cent increase is almost twice the national average of 2.6 per cent.

PLACES FOR PUPILS: Time is running out for parents to apply for a primary school places for children who are due to start school in September. The new system allows parents to list their chosen four schools in order of preference on a single form. The deadline for applications is January 31.