In the summer time

The festival season is upon us. But some of us aren't convinced.

For some, simply hearing the word Glastonbury, conjures up images of waking up in a mud-sinking tent with the prospect of a day's swamp fishing for their worldly belongings.

If you're one of those people, then perhaps London's festivals are more appealing. You can see your favourite artists before catching the last tube home and wake-up fresh faced after a decent night's sleep.

Here's my BBC guide to the biggest and some of the more bizarre festival offerings this summer.

Art attack

My exclusive story on how police in riot gear were sent to raid a central London gallery after it put a fake bomb in the window.

Bronson art on Tube

A victims' charity has said it is "astonished" artwork by notorious British criminal Charles Bronson has been put on display on the Tube.

The drawing, which depicts a head with three faces poking out of a straitjacket, went on display at Angel station in north London in April.

Here's my BBC News exclusive.

Gangs of London Fields

London Fields has in recent years become a destination for east London's young, fashionable, arty crowds to congregate.

On a Saturday in May, people flocked to the Hackney park, to make the most of one of the hottest days of the year so far, be it to sunbathe, drink cider, meet friends or people watch.

Then, in the middle of the afternoon, two gunshots were fired that ended the festival atmosphere.

Pitched up in Parliament Square

London's Parliament Square, home to the statues of Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill, is a popular attraction for visitors to the capital.

Tourists gather to enjoy the sights and take photos of the Gothic towers of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

But, over the past two weeks, its green and pristine lawns have steadily been transformed with a sea of peace protesters' tents and flags into what has been dubbed Democracy Village.

I went to take a look for BBC News.

Election 2010

Here are a couple of the BBC features I wrote for the general election:

Mayoral question for East End

Bangladeshi battle in Bethnal Green