Neighbours campaigning against plans to turn a set of playing fields into a caravan site received support from a national sports organisation in May.

Sports England backed a community campaign to save Broadfields from being redeveloped, stating it was against the loss of any playing fields which could still be used by the community.

More than 2,300 people signed a petition against the plans from Harrow Community Sports to redevelop the fields into a caravan site.

The site’s owner maintained the fields were not viable for sport and the development would be a benefit for the area.

However the plans for the site were withdrawn by the owner later in the month after officers from Harrow Council’s planning department recommend the proposals be refused.

May was also the month of a major split in Harrow council’s ruling Labour administration.

Nine former Labour councils defected from their party to form the Independent Labour group and set up their own cabinet.

The group was formed after Cllr David Perry was elected leader of the authority's Labour group at its annual meeting in April, seizing control from Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar, who had led the council for only five months.

Independent Labour took control of the cabinet with support from the Conservative group, whose leader Cllr Susan Hall said they were giving Cllr Idaikkadar the chance to prove himself.

Political tensions flared during the annual council meeting, with members of the Labour group refusing to stand for the new Mayor Nana Asante, who was part of the breakaway group.