WORCESTER magistrates may be given new powers to control thugs who terrorise their neighbours - after they come out of jail. The move is an attempt to breathe new life into the Anti-Social Behaviour Order initiative, which has so far failed to make an
SOME council tenants in Worcestershire are too "poverty stricken" to afford to heat their houses adequately, a report has revealed. And in some parts of the county the amount of tenants who cannot afford to pay fuel bills is bordering on 25 per cent.
A DYING woman's wish to restore a historic Worcestershire chapel has been granted, thanks to a £15,000 donation from Severn Waste. The waste management company donated the money to the Throckmorton Chapelry fundraising campaign, bringing its total up
TORY MP Peter Luff today hailed the House of Lords overwhelming vote in favour of allowing hunting with dogs to continue under strict rules. The Mid Worcestershire MP said the 366 to 59 vote in favour of the "middle way" had thrown the Government into
THE Evesham and Pershore Divisions of SSAFA (the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) Forces Help raised nearly £50,000 during last year. Those in need include the aged and young families with special needs. "Not all problems are of a financial
YOUNGSTERS sat twiddling their thumbs this Easter holiday can pop along to a theatre near Bromgrove for a chart-busting musical extravaganza. The Palace Theatre in Redditch will host two hours of fun and entertainment with a line up of tributes to Britney
A TALENTED young artist has used her gift to help children at her school find new friends. Emma Hilton, a Year Three pupil at Kempsey Primary School, has designed a special bus stop for the school's playground where children who are alone can stand and
TOWN residents are being urged to take part in a summer event at a popular Bromsgrove park. The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity, in Wildmoor Lane, is looking for teams of six to join them in their It's a Knockout competition in Sanders Park on Sunday
A WEALTH of glamour was evident on the catwalk as Worcester school pupils strutted their stuff in a charity extravaganza. Students from Alice Ottley school flaunted their colourful Material Girl collection in their three-day fashion show. The event, sponsored
A MULTI-MILLION pound canal restoration project has been 'unlocked' in the Spa this week bringing new jobs, increased economic spending and hundreds of extra visitors to Droitwich each year. The massive £9.5m restoration project was unveiled yesterday
PERFORMERS, creators and crafters in Droitwich are being urged to get their skates on if they want to take part in the county's biggest local talent showcase. Skills on Show 2002 will take to Worcester's County Hall in October and will exhibit work from
BROMSGROVE'S Tory MP Julie Kirkbride will award the winning poster design for a safer cycle campaign, at a high school near Bromsgrove this Friday. Youngsters at Woodrush High School, Hollywood, have taken part in a campaign launched by Bromsgrove and
PEOPLE look set to flock to a beauty spot near Droitwich when it reopens this weekend for a new season. Hanbury Hall, in School Road, will open its doors to the public on Sunday. The hall and gardens offer a wide range of activities from exploring the
DERELICT flats on a Hereford estate are being renovated to re-house homeless people from the county. Herefordshire Council made the announcement yesterday to scotch rumours the blocks, on the Newton Farm estate, had been earmarked for asylum seekers In
FIND out more about the Gunpowder Plot when the Throckmorton family open the doors of their ancestral home at Coughton Court for the year on Saturday March 23. The 16th century Tudor house is set in 47 acres near Alcester and as well as its Gunpowder
THREE Droitwich teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of the arson attack at the Spa's Lido Park on Friday, March 8. The boys were arrested on Saturday, March 17 and were later released on police bail. They are due to return to Worcester Police Station
KIND-HEARTED people in the Spa are being urged to volunteer for a new role aimed at helping youngsters who need extra support. Worcestershire Mentoring Scheme now offers a service in Droitwich thanks to an £80,000 grant from the National Lotteries Fund
A WOMAN working in a garage was threatened by a group of men as she worked alone. The woman was working in the Shell garage in Chester Road North, Kidderminster at 1.30pm on Monday, March 18. Town police said three men walked into the shop and began to
THREE homes for the elderly across Worcestershire have been praised for providing a high standard of service. The three residential homes in Timberdine Close, Worcester, Howbury House, Malvern and The Grange, Kidderminster, have been awarded the charter
A DAIRY company, with a branch in the Spa, has been awarded for its citizenship. Robert Wiseman Dairies, which has a major depot on the Stonebridge Cross Business Park, has been awarded highly commended status at this year's Scotland Plc Awards, held
I WRITE with reference to your front page article (Advertiser, March 13) concerning the possibility of the closure of Forge Mill Museum because of its operating costs and falling visitor numbers. The reason may be its narrow base of interest - being a
I CANNOT agree more with Simon Preston and the pensioner who are outraged at the increase in our council tax, which increases every year while services decline (Letters, March 6). The council seems to think residents have a bottomless purse yet it is
I NOTE with interest your article headed ''Delight at new staffing plans'' (Advertiser, March 6). I work as a teaching assistant in a Redditch school. This new career structure for teaching assistants looks very impressive on paper but the county council's
HOW refreshing to hear the voice of the authentic Redneck bigot Dennis Taylor (Letters, March 13), even if it comes all the way from Australia. Is this the first sign of spring? I thought the ''string up the do-gooders'' had become extinct years ago,
AFTER last year's foot and mouth epidemic caused the meeting to be called off and the gale last week forcing the event to be postponed, the Harkaway Hunt point-to point at Chaddesley Corbett finally got underway on Saturday. The Shropshire trained Karzhang
THE Bromsgrove and Redditch Table Tennis League saw more whitewashes last week, including division one's Newton Works A 10-0 defeat of West Midlands Phones. Droitwich A had to field a weakened team against Barnt Green A and went down 9-1. Captain Mark
A BROMSGROVE snooker player has made it through to the semi-final of the Worcestershire Singles Competition. Kevin Ellis beat Kevin Franklin of Stourbridge 3-2 in an exciting quarter-final match. It is the first time Ellis has beaten Franklin in four
CHESS and draughts player George Miller raised £21.75 for Macmillan Cancer Relief with a charity challenge. Mr Miller took on 18 opponents simultaneously at chess and draughts, winning all 18 chess contests and 16 draughts matches. The event, on Thursday
A PLANNING application to build homes on Winyates Green Triangle was withdrawn at the eleventh hour. The application by English Partnerships looked set to be refused by Stratford Councillors on Thursday because the council had decided the 12-hectare greenfield
A PROTEST meeting against controversial plans to create an open-air venue on part of Alcester's Ragley Estate is being staged in Cookhill on Sunday. It is hoped the meeting at Cookhill Village Hall will result in residents forming a pressure group to
Work has started on traffic calming measures along the A435 near the Dog Island in Mappleborough Green. The speed limit is being reduced to 40mph and signs being installed. All work will be complete by June.
WORCESTER City boss John Barton has been handed £10,000 to plough into players for a title challenge next season - thanks to generous fans. The club's share issue scheme has been a huge success and Barton has already targeted two quality players to boost
WE understand what's prompted the move to control youngsters being filmed playing in football matches across Worcestershire. But we have an uneasy feeling about the thinking of officials who want to stop images ending up on "inappropriate internet sites
JOHN Barton is chasing two summer targets who he believes will significantly boost City's title challenge next year. The moves are being financed by the club's share scheme so hats off to all supporters who dug into their pockets and let's hope Barton
BROMSGROVE Rovers extended their unbeaten run to five Midland Alliance games last night (Tuesday) with a hard fought 2-1 win at Ludlow Town. The match, played at Blakenall FC, started well for Rovers but they were unable to break down a hard working home
FAIRFIELD Villa Ladies picked up another three points with a 3-0 win at Villa Aztecs. Several chances had already been squandered when Sarah Lewis charged down a clearance for Kelly Godfrey to side foot home for 1-0. On 35 minutes, Fairfield got their
AUSTIN Ex-Apprentices stretched their remarkable unbeaten run to 22 games with a 3-2 win over Mayfly. Top of the Redditch & South Warwickshire Combination premier division, Austin went behind on two minutes when a loose ball fell to Steve Duncan who
Fixtures and results 2001/02 HOME, away (Midland Alliance fixtures unless stated) Sat Aug 11 Oldbury United 3-3 (McHugh, P Moore, M Moore pen) Tue Aug 14 STRATFORD TOWN 0-1 Sat Aug 18 KNYPERSLEY VICTORIA 3-2 (Ford pen, P Moore, Coppin) Tue Aug 21 Halesowen
BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome is set for Hollywood glamour next week when Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard begins a six-week run. The show is based on the classic Oscar-winning movie starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden, telling the story of a once
TWENTY-FIVE years after TV's Great Soprendo made his grand entrance, the man behind the legend brings his new one- man show to the Palace Theatre on Friday. "It certainly wasn't the normal way to start a TV career," says Geoffrey Durham "Twenty-five years
COMIC female double act The Weird Sisters are set to play a host of strange yet colourful globetrotting characters at Worcester's Swan Theatre on Sunday. The duo's new show, The Weird Sisters Get Around, introduces theatregoers to characters including
A BARNARD'S Green children's home is to be demolished and replaced with a new £1 million facility if plans are approved by Malvern Hills District Council. Worcestershire County Council has applied for planning permission to knock down the 30-year-old
WORCESTERSHIRE race ace Matt Neal was again in fine form in the final test session before the start of the British Touring Car Championship season. The former Independents champion from Hanbury, near Droitwich, clocked the third fastest time at Brands
Pershore Town suffered another Midland Combination Premier Division defeat at Tally Ho last night losing 2-1 to West Midland Police. The visitors took the lead in the seventh minute when Lee Tustin's drive from 25 yards took a wicked bounce in front of
Pershore 'B' lead Hallow 'A' by four points in the Nationwide Doors & Windows Worcester Snooker League Division One. The highest break, of 30, was made by D Meynell for Division Two side Suzy Q 'A'. Division One St Johns 'G' 2, Suzy Q 'A' 3 (C Shaw
NORTH Midlands Cup holders Bromsgrove Rugby Club Firsts have signalled their desire to win the Midland Two West championship by withdrawing from the ompetition at the semi-final stage. The Finstall Park club were due to travel to Malvern on Sunday for
HAVING been more a fan of the Bay City Rollers than Demis Roussos back in the 70s I approached this CD with half-remembered visions of kaftans and flowing beards and the feeling that I was in for a laugh. And at first I was. The voice of this Greek god
HAVING stormed the charts with her debut single, Whenever, Wherever, Columbian export Shakira is inevitably drawing comparisons with that other Latin lovely, Ricky Martin. Except female. Of course. But her debut album, which she produced herself under
A NEW hour-long exercise class which "revitalises mind, body and spirit" starts next Thursday. The Pilates class, starting at St Augustine's Sports Centre, combines the suppleness of yoga with the strength of a workout in the gym and is led by a qualified
A SMASH hit musical is making a come back to a theatre near Bromsgrove. Following a sell out visit in September, Willy Russell's Blood Brothers is returning to Malvern Theatres in Grange Road, Malvern, for six nights. The award winning musical tells the
MADNESS and mayhem are on the agenda this week when The Chuckle Brothers appear at a Birmingham theatre. The popular comedy duo, Paul and Barry, will be performing Raiders Of The Lost Bark at The Alexandra Theatre, in Station Street, on Sunday March 24
IT'S dark and they're wearing shades but the Blues Brothers are still ready to hit it on stage at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham from now until Saturday, March 23. Catch them while you can - this is reckoned to be the last tour of The Official Tribute
FISHING on the River Avon this winter has been quite good with plenty of Roach and Chub making a welcome return, especially in the Charlton, Fladbury and Pershore areas. But Thursday March 14 saw the annual Rivers Closed Season come into force until June
WHILE Brendan Murphy spent long periods of time on the Harriers' bench failing to make his Football League debut, teenager John Danby got his lucky break on Saturday. The 18-year-old had to fill Stuart Brock's boots after the keeper's controversial red
GOAL-hungry Kidderminster Harriers Ladies hammered Shifnal 6-1 on Sunday, a week after thrashing Atherstone 9-1. Louise Holmes scored Harriers' first goal in the 14th minute, lobbing the keeper from the by-line. Then a well-worked corner routine set up
DEAR EDITOR - Through you, the residents of Droitwich Spa should understand that the proposal to put a waste incinerator on the site of the former sugar beet factory in Kidderminster, poses a serious health hazard to them also through the meteorological
Dear Editor - With reference to your front page headlines 'Jobs Boom', shouldn't this really read Bromsgrove set for major job losses. I think the plight of workers at UEF Garringtons has been swept under the carpet and is out of site out of mind. Well
DEAR EDITOR - Having read T Grindrod's letter printed under the heading "Reveal Hidden Motives" in the Advertiser on February 27 I felt, probably, like many others that this was one I could have written myself. As a resident of Droitwich who enjoys shopping
DEAR EDITOR - The staff and committee of Sidemoor Pre-school Group would like to say a big thank you to Dave and June and the members of Millfield Club for supporting our bingo evening, together with all the local businesses for providing us with prizes
DEAR EDITOR - I often think how lucky I am to live in Stoke Prior. My only regret is that I now appear to live on the wrong side of the lane. Neighbours and myself living on the Bromsgrove side of Shaw Lane are still reeling from the news of a 27% increase
Dear Editor - The public lavatories in Market Street have been a disgrace for years. No amount of huffing and puffing will convince people otherwise. It should not be beyond the wit of the district council to pay someone a sufficient wage to keep the
DEAR EDITOR - I am writing to thank you for your kindness when my cat Reggie was lost. Your paper advertised my missing cat free of charge and I am happy to say someone saw the ad in "lost and found" and my cat is now at home safe and well after three
TOWER All Stars reached the rare landmark of exactly 500 as they beat leaders New Raiders by 19 pins in Wednesday Division One of the E & E Engineering/ Banks's Brewery Worcester Friendly Skittle League. Division One Tower All Stars 500 (16) T.Simmonds
KIND-HEARTED students at a Wythall school may have saved lives after collecting £850 for LEPRA. Woodrush High School pupils collected the money in break and lunch times after LEPRA made a presentation about the plight of leprosy sufferers across the world
THE Candle of Friendship was lit by president Shirley Jones when she welcomed members to the February meeting of the club, at the Raven Hotel, Droitwich. New officers elected for the forthcoming year 2002/3 are president - Marion Neale, secretary - Margaret
IN response to your correspondent Barrie Humphries (You Say, March 12) the straw poll on the BBC Where I Live website for Worcestershire and Herefordshire about Worcester City FC's proposed stadium was described on the website as exactly that, a straw
IT was a cold but fine evening when members of Sandhills Green WI gathered in the Friends Meeting House for their meeting. President, Valerie Adams, opened the meeting and welcomed members and visitors, apologies were taken, the minutes read by Peggy
WHY am I not surprised that Paul Griffiths refers to websites in cyber space in reply to my questions on Europe? Isn't one of the hallmarks of the Europe debate the fact that those driving this disaster won't answer questions in the public domain? Is
THE president, Maureen Smith welcomed the members to the meeting. There were several visitors who were warmly greeted and welcomed. We were happy to give a special welcome to a new member, Shirley Ingram. Maureen was pleased to inform the meeting that
THE Bard joined the Beatles for a rocking Romeo and Juliet at a Bromsgrove school this week. Fab Four songs backed Shakespeare's love story in a musical written specially by staff at Aston Fields Middle School. A total cast and choir of more than 30 children
A Couple's £162,000 dream home has turned into a nightmare after a poor drainage system has left them wading through several inches of water every time it rains. Catriona Adams and Dr Julian Hall moved in to the four bedroom detached home in Sedge Drive
CREATIVE children from a village near Bromsgrove have been exploring their artistic streak. Stoke Prior First School pupils enjoyed a week of visual and performing art thanks to financial support from Bromsgrove District Council, the Artists in School
A CONCERNED 83-year-old grandmother from Bromsgrove has lashed out at yobs who have vandalised her home and garden and driven her seven-year-old grandson to despair. Jessie Drake, along with her daughter, Lynette, and son-in-law, Charlie, of King George
A TOWN civic leader has stepped up a campaign to stop eye clinics and equipment, some of it bought by readers of the Advertiser/Messenger, being removed from Bromsgrove and Redditch hospitals. Fears that equipment at Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Community
FORMER Bromsgrove GP, Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the Lockerbie plane bombing, says he will continue his fight for an inquiry into airport security despite last Thursday's rejection of a bomber's appeal against conviction. Dr Swire, from
A BROMSGROVE woman was the first patient through the doors at the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital, which opened on Saturday. Deborah Tiplady led the 231 patients who were transferred from Ronkswood Hospital, in Worcester, to the state-of-the-art facility
LAST week was not the most pleasant I've had in management and was dominated by the Darren Bullock incident despite a fine win at Newport County. His footballing ability is not in question but that cannot deflect from what he did at Stafford, and there
WILL it be third time lucky for residents of the traffic-troubled Stoneyhill area who have until Friday to voice how they want the problem resolved. Plans to put 27 speed humps and a 20mph limit in Fordhouse, East, North, West and College roads were revealed
VANDALS attacking lampposts in Rubery are risking their lives, warns a local civic leader. Bromsgrove district councillor Peter McDonald (Lab, Uffdown and Waseley) says youths are trying to uproot street lights and are tampering with electricity boxes
A SUPPORT service helping parents deal with their "worst nightmare" of losing a child is expanding into Bromsgrove and Droitwich. PEAL (Parents Experiencing Adult Loss) has recently been given £134,000 by the Community Fund to spread across the county
By Helen Clarke ALCESTER police are educating vulnerable rural retailers following an increase in burglaries at businesses throughout the area. Police are becoming increasingly concerned about an increase in robberies, often armed, where criminals are
DISTRICT councillors met with about 30 protesters when they viewed a rural Bidford site earmarked for industrial development. Three councillors made their first visit to the Marriage Hill site as villagers gathered with placards and banners urging them
FOR the 27th consecutive year, Alcester will be the proud host for the Heart of England Town Criers' Competition on Saturday, March 30. Alcester Town Crier Keith Tomlinson will be master of ceremonies for the prestigious event, which takes place at Malt
CREATIVE crafts were on show at Ragley Hall at the weekend when its first event of the year took place. The historic house hosted the annual craft fair on Saturday and Sunday and the Terrace Tea Rooms also opened for business. The fair was the first of
YOUNGSTERS from Alcester schools are taking part in a three-day Easter extravaganza at Coventry Cathedral this week. Children from Dunnington, Wootton Wawen and Coughton primary schools are among those involved in Mystery in the Cathedral. The spectacular
Alcester Amateur Operatic Society is seeking new recruits to tread the boards in its November production of Me and My Girl. An open evening is being staged at the Greig Centre on April 11 from 7.30pm. For more details, call chairman Jeff Gill on 01789
THE number of false alarm calls received by Redditch fire crews has dropped due to improved technology which helps track hoax callers. New figures reveal 110 false alarm calls were made from October to December last year, down from 145 in July to September
WE would like to say a very large thank you to the students and staff of Alcester High School who invited us to judge their talent show. We read of so many criticisms of young people that it was a sheer joy to see so much talent and enthusiasm in a very
Two men were hurt after a comment directed towards a girl in a pub was misinterpreted, Worcester Crown Court heard. Martin Avery needed 10 stitches in a head wound and Stuart Anslow suffered a swollen cheekbone and forehead cuts. They were attacked in
THE naming and shaming of youths who have been given Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) should stop, according to a county youth media group. Image Download made the comments after the recent naming and shaming of Redditch teenagers Christopher Anderson
POLICE are still trying to trace witnesses nearly a month after a man was kicked in the face and stamped on the head. He had been dragged off a bus and onto the floor near Winyates Centre in the nasty attack, which happened at about 8.30pm on Friday,
A professional burglar who specialised in post office break-ins has been jailed for three-and-a-half years - to follow a four-year sentence he is already serving. Gary Bailey, 31, of Bridsland Road, Tile Cross, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown
Police are investigating an incident in which someone dressed as cartoon character Bart Simpson was pushed to the ground in the Kingfisher Centre. The victim was promoting a No Smoking Day initiative in the centre when the incident happened. Police were
DROITWICH Spa Rugby Club Firsts got off to a first minute flier against Earlsdon and never looked back, running out 31-13 winners in Midland Four West (South). Spa were a try to the good before the visitors had even touched the ball as Rob McClean went
Chipping Norton U13s 5 Bromsgrove U13s 67 The visitors scored 11 tries and six conversions. Mike Penn and Tom Hughes both got two tries while Aron Mulligan, Simon Roberts, Jon Cadman, James Allen, Ben Raybould, Tom Hinks and Ben Barrett got one each.
A MOVE to give Bromsgrove borough status was overturned by district councillors. The motion failed by one vote to get the necessary two thirds majority in the council chamber. CHANSON D'AMOUR by Manhattan Transfer was riding high at number one in the
A RECORD 101 blood donors turned up when the mobile unit visited Bromsgrove recently. Red Cross nurses took care of bandaging the donor's, while WVS volunteers kept them supplied with cups of tea. RESIDENTS who wanted street lamps in Stoke Prior would
AMONG the tenders accepted by Droitwich Board of Guardians for the supply of goods and services to the workhouse for the next 12 months were: Haircuts and shaving paupers, Mr Beddoe £2 for six months, milk 8d (3.5p) a gallon Jabez Dunn, Hampton Lovett
AT the meeting on February 21, Celia Wilkie gave a demonstration entitled Influences Past and Present. Celia gave an interesting and enjoyable demonstration, creating six very different arrangements using flowers or containers which have had an influence
THE March meeting was chaired by president Hilary Taylor. It was reported members are to attend the annual council meeting. The quiz team had enjoyed the county quiz event, although they did not make it to the finals. The coffee morning at the home of
AT the March meeting, Mr H Cresty gave a talk about the life and times of Stanley Augustus Holloway. From fairly humble beginnings in the East End of London, Stanley Holloway progressed to become an important singer and reciter of monologues in music
ON February 26, speaker Dennis Wilkins gave a talk entitled Mono Forever. As the title suggests, Mr Wilkins is a photographer who specialises in black and white and he showed a selection of excellent landscapes, taken at all times of the year, and also
AT the March meeting, the speaker was a volunteer from the Acorns Children's Hospice in Selly Oak. His illustrated talk showed that the hospice was not a place of doom and gloom but a happy, caring environment where parents and children benefit from respite
THE "guitarist's guitarist" Gordon Giltrap brings his licks to the Palace Theatre on Saturday - and a whole lot more besides. The consummate musician, who has been an underground phenomenon for years, has won numerous accolades for his style and was voted
WOODRUSH High School students are set to meet Julie Kirkbride MP on Friday when she announces the winner of the Safer Cycle Campaign. Redditch and Bromsgrove police launched the campaign earlier this month after Wythall teenager Ryan Pettigrew died following
A 52-year-old man died in a road accident at Mappleborough Green on Wednesday. Christopher Towers, of Erdington, Birmingham, was driving a silver Vauxhall Vectra which was in collision with a 16-ton box van on the A4189 at about 9.20am. Mr Towers was
A GARDENER had the fright of his life when his rhubarb patch unexpectedly turned up a live grenade while he was digging. On Saturday afternoon Roger Bourne was moving his rhubarb to another part of his garden in Broad Green, near Tardebigge, when he got
BIG-hearted Studley Operatic Society members organised a raffle to help children with cancer. Pearl Taylor, who has suffered from the disease, plays the lead role in the society's production of Hello Dolly at the Palace Theatre next month. The group recently
AFTER nearly a year, the scaffolding surrounding St Stephen's Church spire has finally come down. But the project to restore the 160-year-old building will continue into April as contractors now focus on deteriorating stonework around the porch and east
REDDITCH police are appealing again for witnesses driving on the A435 between Wythall Island and the Maypole after a 25-year-old man died on Thursday, February 28. Steven Charles Groom, of Haslucks Green Road, Shirley, Solihull, died at the scene when
COMPLAINTS about offensive and unusual smells in Redditch have been flooding in to mystified environmental health officers. Scores of residents have called officers based at the town hall complaining about a smell of cat urine in Matchborough and a smell
Poppy sellers from Wythall and District branch of the Royal British Legion are celebrating after boosting their collection by more than £1,000 this year. The collection totalled £8,868 by the end of February - £1,149 up on last year. The women's section
Jobless figures in the two counties released today show that unemployment has risen in Worcestershire but fallen in Herefordshire. Worcestershire's rise - of 45 people - is out of kilter with the rest of the country, with total unemployment falling by
TOURISM businesses, caterers, restaurateurs and food producers are getting ready to converge on the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford for the annual Spring Tourism Forum. The event, which takes place next Tuesday, is expected to attract tourism and catering
Cat owners in the Woodrow area can have their pets neutered for free thanks to the RSPCA. For more details, call 01905 360277.
PROUD parents cheering their children as they play football will have to ask permission to use camcorders as part of a clampdown on perverts. Worcester City Youth Football Club Under 12s wants to control filming from the touchline to save young players
SKATEBOARDERS on a Worcester estate are able to practise their sporting moves closer to home now that a youth group has bought a new truck. The Angels in Exile group was using a double decker bus to bring portable ramps to St Peter's on a weekly basis
The phone number of an alleged firebomber's girlfriend was found by police on another youth's phone bill, a jury heard. A call was made to Jody Boulton at 3.46am on August 2, last year. The prosecution claim Sajad Hussain phoned Miss Boulton - the mother
A SEVENTY-one-year old widow has vowed to boycott a major city supermarket because of the way she says bosses treated her when her purse was snatched. Thelma Oldham claims she has had nightmares and cannot sleep properly after the incident at Sainsbury
A BARMAN who caused a fire at a Worcester pub after he suspected his bride-to-be was cheating on him has been spared jail. David Hill sprinkled petrol on an external door at The Drakes Drum in Tudor Way, Dines Green, and set it ablaze. Hill, who suffered
IT looks cute but, thanks to pollution and its deadly enemy the mink, the water vole could be extinct within five years. The tiny rodent, forever remembered as Ratty in the Wind in the Willows, is one of many mammals across the country which faces a bleak
PUPILS from Bromsgrove North East Worcestershire College had the opportunity to show off their creative flair and talent at an art exhibition this month. Artistic students who attend the part-time recreational courses in art, design and watercolour painting
POETRY fanatics are in for a treat next month when a popular and well-respected poet pays a visit to the town. Wendy Cope will read and discuss her poetry in the conference room of L G Harris & Co Ltd in Stoke Prior on Friday April 19. The discussion
PEDESTRIANS could be put at risk following changes made to a Worcester car park, claims a city councillor. Aubrey Tarbuck fears improvement work to the Copenhagen Street car park has made the access road too narrow for vehicles to safely pass. "I've had
FIRE brigades across the country have been warned about the possible disaster which faces them when attending car fires after Droitwich firefighters came within minutes of a "potentially horrendous" explosion -- a report has revealed. In the Hereford
Thursday March 21 Film: The Man That Wasn't There (15), cinemac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, 6pm. Show: Slide show on Ancient and Modern Greece, Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, 7.30pm. Tribute:The Sabbath, The Robin, R'n'B club 1, Merry
CONFIRMATION that a £9m partnership plan to restore Droitwich's canal network will start next year is the realisation of a dream for campaigners. The Droitwich waterway is one of nine restoration projects to benefit from a £500m revamp of Britain's canals
WALKERS in a village near Droitwich, have been reassured Cutnall Green Common is open, thanks to the Advertiser, despite signs still in place saying it is closed due to foot and mouth. According to the signs, which were left up thanks to a Worcestershire
NIGHTINGALES have flocked to Strensham Water Treatment Works after a landscaping scheme created the perfect habitat for them - by accident! The struggling songbirds were once common in woods and thickets in south Worcestershire but over the last 20 years
A SPA parish council looks set to fold later this year after its members refused to sign a compulsory code of conduct. Salwarpe Parish Council voted unanimously at a meeting last week not to sign the Government's new Parish Councils (Model Code Of Conduct
THE beat will go on for dancers brought to a stop by the closure of Newton Works and Social Club. After 40 years, the club has reached its end because of the UEF factory shutdown. But anyone who wants to keep on dancing can go to the Spadesbourne Suite
AN 'improving' Wychbold school has received a helping hand after being given money to buy new equipment to help it get back on track. Youngsters at Wychbold First and Nursery School, in School Road, which was placed on special measures by Ofsted chiefs
WORRIED city councillors have called for Worcester's Swan Theatre to revise its business plan in a bid to get the theatre afloat. During a review of the theatre at a Community Services Policy and Review Committee meeting, councillors discussed what needed
STARS of the soil Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock will be drawing the crowds to the Spring Gardening Show in Malvern. TV and radio gardeners will be out in force and Roy Lancaster, Pippa Greenwood, Nigel Colborn and Jekka McVicar will be in the Celebrity
TWO young Worcestershire sisters have made St John Ambulance history for being the first cadets to receive bravery awards in more than a century. Tamie and Charlene Kellard, aged 15 and 13, were honoured during a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace
A carpenter who had sex with a drunken 14-year-old schoolgirl in a tent near a Hereford park has been warned to expect a prison sentence. Gavin Cooper admitted groping the top half of the victim's body but claimed alcohol affected his recollection of
HORSE enthusiasts around the Spa are being urged to saddle up and join like-minded riders for a new woodland pleasure ride. Droitwich riders are welcome to go along to the ride on Sunday, April 7, organised by Croome Pony Club Parents' Association. The
YOUNGSTERS at a Droitwich school are urging town businesses to dig deep and donate cash for their end of year prom. Students at Droitwich Spa High School, in Briar Mill, are looking for businesses to help sponsor their Year 11 leaving prom, which is set
THE ninth shop in aid of St Richard's Hospice is due to be opened in Upton-upon-Severn in May. The Old Street shop, next door to Change of Direction, will stock books, bric-a-brac, small items of second-hand furniture and clothes chosen with boats in
THE theatrical days of rock band Genesis will be born again at Huntingdon Hall in Worcester on Saturday, April 6. The 1970-75 era of Peter Gabriel is faithfully recreated by the tribute band Regenesis, who play material from Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Selling
THE Spa's MP has vowed to fight on after his hopes of preventing a ban on hunting suffered a hammer blow in the House of Commons. Mid-Worcestershire Tory MP Peter Luff, who has been a prominent supporter for the Middle Way compromise, failed to win enough
THERE are sometimes when you get home from a hard day at the office and simply don't feel like the task of preparing a meal. In fact, in an ideal world you would probably like to crash on the sofa with an instant meal and perhaps put on some music. Well
THE leader of the town's Labour group this week called for a park warden in Droitwich after the playground at the Spa's Lido Park was vandalised by firebugs. Cllr Peter Pinfield (Lab, Droit.West) urged Wychavon District Council to provide a warden following
THE leader of Wyre Forest District Council has been honoured for his outstanding services to Poland. Mike Oborski, pictured, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by president Alexander Kwasniewski. The award is
COMMUNITY-MINDED Spa sixth form students are embarking on an innovative citizenship project after winning a £500 cash grant. Pupils at Droitwich Spa High School, in Briar Mill, are planning to use the cash to create a campaign to reduce the amount of
STAFF monitoring closed circuit televisions helped the police in Bromsgrove to make more than 200 arrests last year. Controllers and officers liaised over more than 1,700 incidents caught on camera during 2001, averaging nearly five incidents a day. Most
WHILE Brendan Murphy spent long periods of time on the Harriers' bench failing to make his Football League debut, teenager John Danby got his lucky break on Saturday. The 18-year-old had to fill Stuart Brock's boots after the keeper's controversial red
WORCESTER Warriors lost 44-5 to a strong Harlequins outfit last night at Sixways. The Worcester side, featuring a number of youngsters and trialists, found it difficult to cope with the power and pace of the Premiership team. Steve Vile scored Worcester's
Conservative Councillor Gavin Smithers' rant about council tax is full of inaccuracies and half-truths. He endeavours to mislead the people of Redditch. Firstly, by far the largest part of council tax collected is paid to Worcestershire County Council
I DO agree with the views of Mr M Underwood (Letters, February 27). Residents who live south of the Centrepoint Club have long been cut off from the amenities he lists, and also from the town centre. It is worse now that the car park in Plymouth Road
I write to give my support to GH of Hollywood (Letters, March 6). I agree totally the line painting around Becketts Farm Island is ridiculous. I enter this island every morning from Middle Lane. Since the line painting has been completed, it is impossible
By Jacqui Smith MP I VISITED Ipsley Middle School last week to see how the school is coping whilst building work is completed expanding the school. There have already been a lot of changes and brand new classrooms will replace temporary ones after Easter
BROMSGROVE Olympique Cycling Club's youth riders put in excellent performances in the opening event of the road season last weekend. The British Schools Cycling Association races were held at West Park in Wolverhampton and were well supported. The opening
A BROMSGROVE Rally Driver' hopes of success with his new car were dashed by six inches of snow. Nathan Crewe and co-driver Chris Clifford made their debut in the new MG ZR at the second round of the raceandrally.com 1400 Championship in Cockermouth, Cumbria
THE U16s Colts rugby team from Bromsgrove School has crowned a remarkable run of results with a double cup triumph. The team became North Midlands champions after beating Old Swinford Hospital School 19-0 in the final at Worcester Rugby Club, a result
DELYTH Draper's second hat-trick of the season kept Droitwich Ladies' Hockey Club Seconds on track for the county Ladies division three promotion with a convincing 6-0 win at Bromsgrove Thirds. Spa now need to beat Upton on Saturday and Bromsgrove on
RESIDENTS are being asked to get involved in Redditch Council's new decision-making structure starting in May. In a drive to make the process as democratic as possible, residents are also being asked about what they think would be the best method of their
REDDITCH businesses will be getting a slice of a £14 million European grant. Worcestershire County Council has been given more than £14 million by the EU Objective 2 scheme, which has been earmarked for the county's "technology corridor". The county council's
REDDITCH Council is recruiting tidy Abbeydale residents to help with a spring clean on Saturday. The council is inviting anyone from the area to get involved in the litter pick event, which will also be an opportunity to dispose of large items of rubbish
Tuesday, March 19, 2002 BROMSGROVE Rovers defeated Ludlow Town 2-1 to maintain their title challenge and record a fifth consecutive victory at the Red Lion Ground last night. The game survived an afternoon pitch inspection and the heavy pitch caused both
AVONCROFT Cricket Club's pre-season net practice has moved to Friday nights with immediate affect. The first session takes place on Friday March 22 and all youngsters aged between eight and 16 years old are welcome. Sessions are at Bromsgrove School Sports
BROMSGROVE Rovers joint manager Gary Hackett does not want his players to get carried away after thumping Oadby Town 5-1 at the Victoria Ground on Saturday. Rovers underlined their aspirations with four second half goals but Hackett knows the performance
DROITWICH Sports' winning streak came to an end when they were beaten 1-0 at Midland Combination division three runaway leaders Halfords. Sports, with 4-0 and 10-0 victories under their belt of late, were forced to change their system due to lack of fit
BROMSGROVE Town picked up three points with a 2-1 win over Victoria Barnt Green despite being forced to play leading scorer Carl Gray in goal. Town were so short of players due to injury for their match that they even called on stalwart Rob Perry, who
CHAWSON Old Boys stay top of the Bromsgrove Advertiser and Messenger Distirct League division three after a 3-0 over Stourport Town. Old Boys took the lead in the second half when Darren Middleton finished off a good move down the left. Five minutes later
FAIRFIELD Villa lost their third game on the bounce after going down 4-1 at lowly Thimblemill Rec in Midland Combination division one. The game started with both sides playing open attacking football and after 20 minutes the home side took the lead through
SECOND half goals from Peter Kings and Dave Fox gave Fairfield Sunday a 2-1 victory over Sherwood Rangers. Fairield started brightly, knocking the ball around and created a couple of half chances through Richard Hammond and Dave Fox. Against the run of
A MUSICAL of traditional Zulu cultural vibrancy is being staged at Malvern Theatres this week as part of a national tour. The Mighty Zulu Nation presents Africa Africa, a kaleidoscopic blend of rhythm, song and dance telling of the powerful unifying forces
THE infamous Chuckle Brothers will be embarking on an adventure in Egypt at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre on Sunday. Raiders of the Lost Bark sees Paul and Barry go to Egypt to find an old statue of a dog, left to them by a distant relative. As they
WORCESTER City boss John Barton has been handed £10,000 to plough into players for a title challenge next season - thanks to generous fans. The club's share issue scheme has been a huge success and Barton has already targeted two quality players to boost
WORCESTER Warriors lost 44-5 to a strong Harlequins outfit last night at Sixways. The Worcester side, featuring a number of youngsters and trialists, found it difficult to cope with the power and pace of the Premiership team. Steve Vile scored Worcester's
Malvern Rugby Club have been given a walkover into the final of this season's North Midlands Cup. This follows the withdrawal of Bromsgrove, the defending champions, from their scheduled semi-final against Malvern at Finstall Park this Sunday. Telford
BROMSGROVE Rovers defeated Ludlow Town 2-1 to maintain their title challenge and record a fifth consecutive victory at the Red Lion Ground last night. The game survived an afternoon pitch inspection and the heavy pitch caused both teams problems as they
Worcester Athletic Club's senior men's cross-country team finished the Birmingham League season in fine form with a magnificent display on a gruelling course on Chase Common, Malvern. Only 160 athletes managed to complete the toughest course of the year
COULD it have been a chance or inspiration that Astwood Bank Operatic Society chose to perform Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer at the end of winter when its message of love and adoration is but a perfect prelude to spring? In this production director
SAME old same old, really. The art in putting together a compilation is find a slab of music to keep you addicted right the way through but this offering - like so many other compilations - is background music. The big names are all here - Kylie, S Club
FOR the uninitiated, Spaced was a recent comedy hit for Friday night Channel Four viewers and again for the uninitiated, it comes highly recommended. Written by and starring Jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg (of Big Train fame), you get the feeling they
A LITTLE piece of pop history or a cunning plan to net even more cash while flogging the proverbial dead horse? The video charts Will Young's meteoric rise to fame via the Pop Idol machine which had the nation hooked for weeks on end and culminated in
The Redditch branch of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) will be holding an "as new" sale on Saturday to help boost funds. On offer will be a range of maternity wear as well as children's clothes, books, toys and equipment. The event will take place
THE Kingfisher Centre is now officially a no- smoking zone. In line with National No Smoking Day last Wednesday, the centre invited Redditch Mayor Dot Dudley to launch the initiative. The centre also called upon the help of the children's favourite bad
LES Palmer wrote himself into the Bromsgrove Rovers history books after scoring the fastest goal ever seen at the Victoria Ground. Palmer's opening strike during his side's 5-1 mauling of Oadby Town on Saturday was timed by referee Glenn Aston at SIX
DRUMS will be beating in the Malvern hills on Friday night when the town's Festival Theatre plays host to Africa Africa. This is the story of traditional Zulu cultural vibrancy - a kaleidoscopic blend of rhythm, song and dance, and telling the story of
BROMSGROVE Hockey Club Ladies' Seconds lost a tough battle 1-0 at home to Stourport. Stourport wasted a chance to put the ball away in the first five minutes and despite many chances from both sides the score line remained 0-0 at the break. Ten minutes
DEAR EDITOR - So Bromsgrove District Council believe they are justified in increasing the council tax by a preposterous 27%. The Government has made it quite clear that although some increase is inevitable, large increases are totally unnecessary. For
DEAR EDITOR - I refer to a letter in your edition of the Advertiser on February 27 from Mr C Johnson, of Severn Court in Droitwich Spa. He states the site in question was a disused warehouse, near the Kidderminster Road. He obviously has not visited the
DEAR EDITOR - Reference the article regarding improving the central heating for tenants with inferior systems. How typical of the Tories to try and take credit for this. The Labour Group has raised this issue many times and it has consistently been voted
DEAR EDITOR - Regarding the public toilets in Bromsgrove, we wouldn't go in them, apart from four years ago when my dear mother went in and she said she was nearly sick and wouldn't go in again and we never did. They are vile, smelly and when you go past
A BARNT Green man who conjured up a wizard of an act is set to receive a prestigious award at a Birmingham venue this week. Marc Dominic, of Cofton Lake Road, will collect his award at The British Society's Annual dinner in Sutton Coldfield on Saturday
DEAR EDITOR - I'm writing to you about an article in the Droitwich Advertiser (dated February 27) on the front page. It's about a lady Rebecca Gervie of Charland Court, Shepherds Way. I don't know the lady or her family in question, but I myself used
Dear editor - I am writing to add my voice to the growing number of complaints about the quite unacceptable behaviour of individuals employed by the clamping firm Midlands Parking Contracts. My son saw a friend of his about to leave his car parked on
HUNDREDS of campaigning residents on a Droitwich Spa estate are celebrating a hard-won victory this week after controversial plans to build a fish and chip shop on their doorstep were thrown out. But the reprieve may only be temporary as the aggrieved
CLASSICAL music fanatics can enjoy Kidderminster Choral Society's rendition of J S Bach's composition, St John Passion. The concert will be held at Kidderminster Town Hall, in Vicar Street, on Saturday. The choir will be joined by five top soloists and
THE movement of staff from Kays, The Tything, and the Worcester Royal Infirmary, Castle Street, is well underway. No more will you see the many hundreds of workers from these establishments shopping and grabbing a snack during the lunch break and again
WITH reference to M Simpkins (You Say, March 9) I would make the following comments. Worcester Carnival Charitable Trust is, indeed, a charity. Charitable Status was granted five years ago, following an application by the present committee members. These
THE Inner Wheel Club of Bromsgrove meets in Rotary House, Droitwich, and at our January meeting we welcomed Sheila Clutton, our overseas district officer, and speaker Maureen Hartridge. Maureen gave an interesting talk on the work of Traidcraft, who fight
N TAYLOR is probably quite right - England I think, may be dangerously over-populated. However, Mr Taylor's final sentence is utterly ludicrous (You Say, March 11). He states: "We are rapidly destroying an England that has remained largely unchanged for
NEARLY 50 members and friends were welcomed to Chaddesley Corbett village hall by President Sylvia Beardshaw. The occasion was gardener's question time which featured Reg Moule and Mike George from Radio Hereford and Worcester. The questions put to the
REGARDING your article (Evening News, March 2) headlined "Treated foully by the Bishop", your use of the word "condemned" in the first paragraph is unfortunate. Although Christian Watch is deeply concerned at the Bishop's failure to uphold the scriptural
PUPILS at a Bromsgrove school made sweet music in their annual music and arts festival. Over 400 pupils, between the ages of 13 and 18, took part in South Bromsgrove High School's Eisteddfod on Friday, March 8. The event, held at the Charford Road school
A DILAPIDATED fence alongside a busy road is a hazard for unwary pedestrians and is no barrier to keeping out inquisitive youngsters who could be harmed by rubbish being dumped in a field. Now Conservative district councillors husband and wife, Alan and
A VULNERABLE 91-year-old woman from Bromsgrove has been targeted by two bogus plumbers. The Birmingham Road resident a knock at her door at 11.45am last Friday from a man who claimed to calling about a water leak. He entered her home and promptly took
TWO hero binmen helped save the life of an 82-year-old Bromsgrove man who had collapsed in his garden and spent a night lying helpless in the cold. Refuse collectors Trevor Brookes and Dion Taylor discovered William Whitehouse when they called on their
ROAD signs that once stood beside the giant freeways in America may soon be added to a Bromsgrove man's unique collection of highways memorabilia. A recent story in the Advertiser/Messenger sparked a flood of coverage in the national press which has led
POOR visitor numbers could mean Bromsgrove's museum and tourist information centre being closed on Bank Holidays in future. On five occasions last year a total of only 11 people visited or rang the heritage museum and tourist information centre which
A BROMSGROVE man who groped a five-year-old girl after drinking has been spared a jail sentence. Robert Hollis, aged 58, began acting in "a strange and over-friendly" way as he sat on a sofa with the child, said Peter Tooke, prosecuting at Worcester Crown
THE Lifeguards of the Household Cavalry will be taking over Bromsgrove Rovers football stadium for a spectacular concert as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. The world-famous band - complete with horses - will be at the Victoria Ground
RUNNING 26.2 miles through England's capital city may not be everyone's idea of a good time but for some, the London Marathon marks a personal achievement in their lives and gives them a chance to help others. The 22nd Flora London Marathon takes place
IMAGINE waking up in the morning, unable to recognise a familiar face or admire the view from your bedroom window. This is the heart-breaking reality for one Bromsgrove woman who suffers from a devastating eye condition called Age-related Macular Degeneration
A COUPLE who won a hi-tech dream home on a TV show are still trying to sell it - eight months after it first went on the market. Kath and Chris Tinsley have knocked £15,000 off the asking price to tempt a buyer for the state-of-the-art three-bedroomed
SAFETY improvements at a notorious Salford Priors roundabout dubbed "suicide island" will be carried out by the end of the year. MP for Alcester John Maples revealed last week he has received assurance from the Highways Agency that recommendations to
AN Alcester pupil has been chosen to receive the prestigious Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for her outstanding contribution to the community. Rebecca Warmington, a Year 9 student at Alcester High School Technology College, was selected for the
Free tax and National Insurance advice will be available in Alcester. A mobile advice centre will be at Bulls Head Yard car park from 9am-1pm on Friday. The team will also offer advice on Self Assessment, Working Families and Childrens and Disabled Persons
INFORMATION on a Crooks Lane couple who lived in Alcester in the 1950s is being sought by a relative. Alison Elvins is appealing for townspeople's help in finding out about Charles (Charlie) and Gladys Rose Elvins, who lived in the town from 1947-63 and
RESIDENTS are being asked to submit objections or representations on the first deposit draft of the Stratford-upon-Avon District Local Plan Review 1996/2011. There are clearly divisions in the town as to whether 400 houses should be built on the land
THE closure of the Greig Centre due to lack of Stratford District Council funding would be a sad day for this small town. But can the finger also be pointed at the Greig Centre trustees? I refer to the reported comments of Bill McCarthy, district council
RUNNING 26.2 miles through England's capital city may not be everyone's idea of a good time but for some, the London Marathon marks a personal achievement in their lives and gives them a chance to help others. The 22nd Flora London Marathon takes place
BROMSGROVE Rovers joint manager Gary Hackett does not want his players to get carried away after thumping Oadby Town 5-1 at the Victoria Ground on Saturday. Rovers underlined their aspirations with four second half goals but Hackett knows the performance
MEMBERS were told of forthcoming outings and Jubilee lunch. The speaker was Yvonne Partridge from Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, along with Barbara Morne and her dog Chloe. The organisation was started in 1982 and is on a par with Guide Dogs for the Blind
THE March meeting was the usual yearly Fellowship. President Valerie Pickering welcomed the Mayor of Redditch, Dot Dudley, chairman of No 6 District Teresa Marklew and Rtn president Ken Smith, together with members and guests from various towns in the
THE president welcomed the new speakers secretary, Ken Dudley, and also stated he was the speaker for the meeting. Mr Dudley's subject was making mistakes. He explained that in his opinion, mistakes were either incorrect ideas or opinions, or actions
Members of Redditch Art Circle were entertained on March 6 by John Hutchins, a former police artist . He demonstrated the different facial features that make up the average person. He showed members how to go about sketching another person by description
THE society was formed in 1997 and now has 350 members. The principal aims are to help everyone in the whole community to understand and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Ireland, to bring comfort and help to any disadvantaged members of the community
THE March concert given by The Czardas Duo - Ian Watson, accordion and Matthew Forbes, cello - proved a great success. The duo combined fine musicianship with technical wizardry performed with charm and sensitivity. Beginning with a sonata by Vivaldi,
AT the March meeting, Mrs Shacklock gave a talk on Desires, Disasters and Delights in Creating a Cotswold Garden. The problems she faced when she first moved into the property with her husband were overwhelming, but they overcame these to create a colourful
Thursday, March 21 Welsh National Opera: La Clemenza Di Tito (Mozart). Birmingham Hippodrome. Tickets from 0870 730 1234 or groups on 0870 730 4321. Friday, March 22 Geoffrey Durham - The Magical One Man Show. Palace Theatre, Redditch. Tickets from 65203
A BROMSGROVE band are in high spirits after a biker's gig went down a storm last month. Members of the band Easy entertained crowds at UEF, formerly known as Garringtons, in Aston Fields, with a selection of rock songs, penned by the lead singer Baz.
CCTV cameras could be put in Redditch buses to improve safety of passengers and drivers. The idea was one of many put forward at a high-level meeting between First Midland Red bosses, Redditch MP Jacqui Smith, police chiefs and county and borough councillors
REDDITCH police are concerned for the safety of a 71-year-old man who has been missing from his Mount Pleasant home since Thursday. Eamon Dawson, who disappeared at about 10.30am, said he was going shopping and is believed to have recently been depressed
CELEBRITY spotting was the name of the game at a Redditch school on Monday. Woodfield Middle School was visited by an Olympic star and a well-known TV weather presenter. Athlete John Regis, who won medals at the Olympics, the world and European championships
A REDDITCH doctor accused of indecently assaulting a female patient panicked and altered her medical records shortly before being interviewed by police, a hearing has been told. Dr Javid Akhter Hakeem, 57, of Chandlers Close, Crabbs Cross, was subsequently
POLICE have described as "disappointing" a decision by Redditch councillors to allow the development of a takeaway in Crabbs Cross, despite the advice of planning officers and complaints from neigbours. Plans were passed last week to allow a hot-food
YOUNGSTERS at Crown Meadow First School were in the presence of a celebrity on Thursday - Ook the snowy owl who starred in last year's hit Harry Potter film. Ook, one of four snowy owls used in the film, visited the Alvechurch school to help celebrate
A NEGLECTED dog which was found dumped on a playing field in Woodrow was so emaciated it had to be destroyed. The case has been branded one of the worst incidents of cruelty the RSPCA has ever seen and an urgent appeal for information has been launched
REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith voted in favour of a ban on hunting with dogs at a crucial Government vote on Monday. Ms Smith said: "People have asked me at the last two General Elections about my position on this issue. "I've always said I'm in favour of a
PLANS to link up three of Redditch's top attractions have been mooted to try to entice visitors to spend the whole day in the town. Forge Mill Museum, the Countryside Centre and a proposed £40 million sports, leisure and entertainment complex on the site
A REDDITCH lady is still "Young" at heart even after reaching the grand age of 104. Florence Young, now living in Coughton Lodge, celebrated her birthday on Monday with a party. A Coughton Lodge spokesman said: "Florence has had lots of flowers and cards
IT'S business as usual at the county's new hospital following the successful move over the weekend. The new River Court restaurant at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital is up and running, serving a range of traditional meals as well as salads and sandwiches
JUST days before its demolition Studley village hall will serve one more worthy cause when fire fighters fill it with smoke for a training exercise. More than 20 fire-fighters from Studley, Redditch and Henley will roll up on Thursday, April 4, in a real-time
Easter crosses which became a symbol of hope during the foot and mouth crisis when they were placed on a Mappleborough Green hill last year will be put up again at the weekend. The three crosses are erected by the Church of the Ascension on a farm hill
Redditch firefighters used "copious quantities" of soap to free a man whose hand was trapped in a letterbox in St George's. Crews were called to Grange Road at about 8.30pm on Sunday.
The Redditch YMCA is looking to recruit more teams for a five-a-side football competition at the Trinity High School on Tuesday, March 9 for players aged 13-18. Call 61643 for more details.
COMICS, heroes and villains take centre stage this week when Inkberrow Players present family panto Mother Goose at the village hall. The show, written by John Morley, tells of the traditional battle between good and evil with a variety of songs, gags
REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith visited Where Next Nursery on Thursday. Ms Smith toured the Easemore Road site with general manager Graham Clark. Ms Smith said: "They do a fantastic job on a limited budget. "Not only do they provide excellent training and work
A REDDITCH farming family who were forced to sell their house and most of their land as a result of the foot and mouth crisis are appealing against a decision not to let them stay in their current home. The Cookes, of Astwood Bank, have been refused retrospective
