TOM CRUISE angered residents of a town when he and thousands of other Scientologists rocked up for their annual Patrons Ball.
The weekend bash at the Church of Scientology HQ in East Grinstead played havoc with the roads — and locals weren’t too pleased that the Top Gun actor arrived, as usual, by helicopter.
One person from the West Sussex town, who asked me not to be named, said: “It’s like the circus coming to town when it’s the Patrons Ball.
“It’s an endless stream of people and so much noise — the infrastructure isn’t built for it so it ends up being chaos.
“Then you’ve got Tom flying over in his chopper and it causes a right old racket.
“To top things off, a minibus packed with Scientologists ended up having an accident with another driver, which meant one of the roads ended up being closed.”
Locals also vented their anger on Facebook, with one writing on a forum: “Tom Cruise flies over our garden, low, in his helicopter, scaring the animals, only to come back again, first a fly past to wave at his mates. Good grief.”
The bash is held every year at Saint Hill Manor — the Church of Scientology.
It failed once again to get planning permission for a 45,000sq ft marquee to put everyone in.
Last year the Mid Sussex District Council issued a Planning Contravention Notice after they erected a similarly massive structure to host the gathering — and advised they should apply for one this year.
But those in the know said the church failed to do so.
Former Scientologist turned activist Alexander Barnes-Ross told me he’d turned up to protest.
He added: “Over the weekend, the event caused severe disruption to East Grinstead – and it’s clear residents are getting increasingly frustrated by Scientology’s clear lack of regard for their small town.”
I’m sure a hearty donation from the church and Tom to some local good causes would smooth things over a bit . . .
LILY THROWS SHADE AT EX
LILY ALLEN looked like butter wouldn’t melt after setting fire to the bin that has become ex-husband David Harbour’s life.
She spent the weekend with friends at a Halloween party at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles.
Lily made a pointed reference to her new album, West End Girl, with her outfit.
She dressed as children’s book character Madeline – which also happens to be the name of the woman referenced in her cheating diss track Tennis.
As Lily was spotted packing up and leaving the Chateau, David gave his first interview since the album was released.
David told Esquire magazine: “You accept your path completely and realise that even the pain and the slip-ups and the mistakes are all part of the journey, and that there’s truth and growth, wisdom and deeper empathy and connection in all that.”
What a load of guff.
SCHOOL’S ED BOY IN £28,000 DONATION
IF you still need convincing that Ed Sheeran is an all-round good egg, I’ve been told he helped donate £280,000 to his old school.
The Azizam singer’s Suffolk Music Foundation handed over the funds to the Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham, Suffolk, last year to give it a makeover – including the music department.
Ed, above, attended the school in the Nineties.
A report in the charity’s annual accounts read: “Further grants were given to Thomas Mills High School, to continue to provide students and teachers with top-class learning resources.
“The main focus of this year’s increased grant has been the refurbishment of the changing rooms.
“We have also invested in maintenance and upgrades to the music department Mac suite, an immensely important asset to the department and school.
“The art department continues to thrive, and as a result of the grant has been able to continue trips and events otherwise not available, offering exceptional artistic opportunities to our pupils.”
Ed’s charity also donated £35,000 to a music trust that brings the arts into schools and old people’s homes in the area.
LEONA OVER THE MOON
LEONA LEWIS looked like she was getting ready to walk down the aisle again at the first night of her Las Vegas residency, A Starry Night.
The Bleeding Love singer wore an OTT white gown as she got up on stage at Voltaire inside the Venetian Hotel.
During the show, where Leona belts out Christmas classics such as Winter Wonderland and Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town, she also sings from a mechanical moon.
It is suspended from the ceiling and she invites fans on to the stage to serenade them with You Are The Reason.
Leona said: “I’ve been wanting to fly on a giant moon for ten years but production would always tell me, ‘We don’t have the budget for that’. But it finally happened.”
LOUIS TO BE BELL OF THE BALL
CAPITAL’S Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard is to take place at London’s O2 Arena on December 6 and 7.
Tomorrow and Thursday, Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby will confirm my exclusive tale about Ed Sheeran and Louis Tomlinson playing the event, along with announcing other acts on the line-up.
Tickets for the concerts go on sale on Friday.
Jordan said: “The UK’s biggest Christmas party is back and this year’s line-up is next level.
“We’ve got some absolutely huge names, massive surprises and more festive sparkle than ever.
“We can’t wait to tell you who’s playing – it’s going to be huge.”
SABRINA CARPENTER was a Dancing Queen for Halloween – as she and a pal dressed up as ABBA’s Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad.
They wore the pop stars’ famous cat dresses, which were originally made for a 1975 TV special.
Sabrina was a dead ringer for blonde Agnetha in this replica.
She has spoken before about being a massive fan of ABBA.
Sabrina met the band’s Bjorn Ulvaeus in April during a day off in Stockholm.
I’m sure the ABBA ladies will be flattered by this homage.
WE’VE all watched Love Actually about 100 times.
But Keira Knightley admits that she has only watched the 2003 Richard Curtis romcom once, despite being in it.
She told Scott Mills on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show: “I saw it at the premiere and I have never seen it [since].
“Over 20 years ago I saw Love Actually.
“It’s not a particularly lovely experience watching your own face back at you.
“It’s very strange.”
Keira also revealed she is a Celebrity Traitors super-fan, and said she is cancelling her work commitments to make sure she can watch the final on Thursday.
And her favourite moment of the BBC One series so far? “Celia Imrie’s fart,” Keira said.
“I mean, the best moment on British television that I have ever seen.”
I’m with you, Keira.
ZOE BALL joined celebrity dating app Raya when she was single – but gave up when she couldn’t work out how to use it.
She said on her Dig It podcast: “I remember trying to go on Raya, whatever it’s called, and I couldn’t understand it.
“It just kept sending me people in LA and Denmark who looked totally unsuitable for someone like me.”
