A look back at the stories this week 60, 40 and 20 years ago

Romford Recorder: 40 years ago.40 years ago. (Image: Romford Library)

1958: Details of a buy-your-own house scheme was shortly going to be delivered by rent collectors to tenants of the town’s 4,000 Romford Council houses.

The proposal, agreed by Romford Housing Committee, would tell them the council was prepared to consider applications for mortgage advances of up to 90pc “for the purchase of houses other than council houses”.

The scheme also extended to the 1,800 applicants on the “waiting list”, subject to the proviso that no applicant for a mortgage must have owned other property.

The housing committee hoped this offer would leave more council houses available for waiting list applicants who could not or did not wish to buy.

Chairman of the committee Councillor Arthur Latham said: “A couple of our tenants came along who wanted to do this and the finance and general purposes committee agreed in principle since this would release housing accommodation.

“If there are others who want to purchase private houses, the committee will be willing to give their applications favourable consideration - I am doubtful there will be many.”

1978: The hunt for a hooded sex attacker switched to Romford but police warned that the man may be “violent”.

He was wearing a balaclava helmet with eye slits when he attempted to rape a 15-year-old girl from Clacton.

The attacker, who had a black panther tattooed on his right forearm, threatened the girl with a knife.

Police believed the man was staying in the central Romford area. Det Insp Ray Cade of Havering’s Regional Crime Squad said: “Members of the public should not approach this man as he may be violent – this was the act of a maniac.

“We have carried out a number of searches in the Romford area and information suggests he could be staying here.”

1998: A new online guide highlighting the opportunities for funding, jobs, education and training in Havering was launched.

The guide, designed to improve trade links between Havering, the rest of east London and the continent, also gave details of the £150m worth of European funding that had been invested in the area.

Havering’s Euro MP Carole Tongue took centre stage to launch the guide at a presentation held at the Europa Centre, The Walk, Hornchurch.

She was supported by MPs, Havering Council representatives and others from the business and social communities. The guide, called London East and Europe, was produced by the London East European Forum in conjunction with the London East Training and Enterprise Council.