In December, spurred by a new highly contagious strain of coronavirus, Epping Forest, Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Harlow became some of the worst affected areas in England.

Infection rates in the four areas ranked consistently in the top 20 in England across the month, with Epping Forest became the second worst area for new infections, behind only neighbouring Brentwood.

As cases spiralled, the areas were placed in Tier 4 restrictions – essentially another lockdown.

Outer London borough councillors claimed healthcare was suffering because more NHS money is being spent in inner east London.

A committee of councillors from Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking & Dagenham and Essex County questioned why inner east London has “nearly three times” more acute beds than their areas.

A recent report on NHS investment in north east London lists £87.1 million worth of plans in inner boroughs and £47.5 million in outer boroughs.

In the run up to Christmas Day, an accidental kitchen fire left a family temporarily homeless.

The fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault with a halogen cooker, caused such severed damage to their home in Pear Tree Mead, Harlow, that they have had to find temporary accommodation while it is fixed.

The family of four were safely outside the terraced house when fire crews arrived on the morning of December 18. Their smoke alarms were not working but they were alerted by a carbon monoxide alarm.

Police called for Redbridge Council to revoke the licence of a shisha lounge after an illegal party where customers were allegedly celebrating the murder of an officer.

The owner of the Basement Shisha Lounge in Goodmayes Road, Goodmayes, was ordered to close for 20 days and fined £1,000 after a party for more than 70 people held on September 26.

Officers claimed they were barred from entering by hostile men and had a fire extinguisher sprayed at them when they tried to force their way in.

In documents sent to Redbridge Council’s licensing committee, police constable Matt Brown claimed some patrons “said they were celebrating the murder of Matt Ratana” the previous day.