The town hall was drawing up secret plans to transfer ownership of Islington’s 42,000 council homes to its own private company.

It was a fightback against government moves to allow private landlords the opportunity to take over council estates for profit.

Cllr Maurice Barnes, Islington’s housing leader, said: “We are having to look at all the options in view of the government’s determination to break up council estates and raise rents.”

In other news, fire crews were called to Highbury Grove School after pranksters started a blaze in a cloakroom.

On the last day of term, a match was lit in a cupboard. It was promptly discovered by a teacher and firefighters were called to extinguish it.

Meanwhile, Archway lollipop man Bill Potter was forced to hang up his stick.

Bill had been looking after Hargrave Park Primary School pupils for five years. But cops wouldn’t let him continue at the age of 75.

He wasn’t too upset, though. “I’m going to enjoy doing nothing,” he said.