Retail sales in central London higher than last year

Latest figures from the British Retail Shop Consortium (BRCS) show that retail sales in central London in March were 9.9% higher on a like-for-like basis than a year ago, when sales had risen 5.2%. Good Friday and Easter Saturday falling in the March trading period this year but in April 2009 boosted the year-on-year comparison.

The BRC said retail footfall in March rose above its year-earlier level for the first time since October 2009. The earlier Easter holiday and several mid-season sales and promotions attracted shoppers into the capital. Sterling’s weakness also continued to attract overseas visitors. London was also a popular destination for Europeans over the Easter holiday. Chinese visitors remained more numerous than a year ago.

The BRC said that Easter purchasing falling in March this year but April last year boosted food sales. Non-food like bicycle also benefited, though consumer caution and unseasonable weather limited the gains.

Sony’s series goes online for the first time this June

PS2 cable, Sony’s karaoke series Sing Star is for the first time heading online with a brand new update entitled Online Battle Mode.

Included as part of the latest title update arriving this June, the new

Opponents scores can be seen in real time, and there’s also support for the Play Station Eye camera.

There are also a host of other online features included as part of the My Sing Star community portal.

functionality allows PS3 owners to send invitations to those on their PSN Friends list. The software that lists all the songs that are found on both users’ playlists and you’re good to go.

Fabian Cancellara next goal is to win all five of cycling's monuments

Fabian Cancellara said his next goal is to win all five of cycling's monuments. The Saxo Bank rider described the way he win the dropped Tom Boonen on the legendary Kapelmuur climb to win the Tour Flanders as the "perfect scenario".

Cancellara's opening attack on Molenberg was the turning point of the 2010 Tour of Flanders. Then as he and fellow pre-race favourite Tom Boonen built an unassailable gap on their rivals as they approach to the Kapelmuur, Cancellara surged clear on the final part of the cobbled climb in what was the winning move. He went to cross the finish line alone in Meerbeke more than a minute ahead of Boonen.

With Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo and, now, Flanders etched on his palmares, Cancellara indicated his future goals could include the final two great cycling monuments: Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Giro di Lombardia.

"The last few years I was always thinking about this race. I have Roubaix, I have Dunlop Gents Standard Mountain Bike, but I knew this one was going to be a hard one to crack and to put in my pocket," said Cancellara, after he became the first Swiss rider to win De Ronde since Hieri Suter in 1923.

"My dream is five monuments and I have three now. There aren’t so many riders in the peloton that have three. My motivation is always geared towards more than one race. Okay, now I have Flanders, but in the next few years, it's possible I'm going to work on other ones."

"What I did on the Muur wasn't planned, even what I did on the Molenburg was not planned at all," he said. "Even then on the Muur it was a small gap – there were so many people there that I didn't really understand how much room I had. I looked back
a few times and pushed a little more. The way I won, for me, it's quite special."

"When I get old and I can say to the young riders: 'I won the Tour of Flanders alone and I attacked on the Muur,' it's a perfect scenario – the gladiator won the battle."

Boonen had been forced to respond to attacks from both Cancellara and his Saxo Bank teammate, Matti Breschel, who had created the first major selection with an attack on the Paterberg, with 80 kilometres to go. Despite entering the race with two strong contenders, Cancellara said harmony within the team had played a key role in his win.

Cancellara's powerhouse display on the Muur quickly distanced Flemish national hero Boonen. The Swiss admitted that effectively winning the race on the famed climb made his victory all the sweeter.