HUNDREDS of furious Redditch and Bromsgrove residents, including pensioners, mothers and campaigners, launched angry questions at the hospital trust responsible for downgrading the Alexandra Hospital.

Bosses from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, joined by members of the Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group and staff, endured the session, chaired by borough council leader Bill Hartnett and Redditch MP Karen Lumley, at the town hall yesterday (Wednesday, September 28) to discuss the hospital's future.

Almost 500 residents turned up, many were forced to listen from the reception area due to the packed-out chamber, and about 1,500 people tuned in online via a live stream on campaigners Save The Alex's Facebook page.

To read the full story, visit the Redditch Advertiser website, here.

DUDLEY MP Ian Austin has welcomed the news Sir Bobby Charlton will be at a ceremony to honour a sporting legend from the town.

Mr Austin has played a key role in the placement of a plaque in Dudley’s Priory Park to honour Duncan Edwards, one of Manchester United’s Busby Babes who died as a result of the Munich Air Crash in 1958.

Shamed former England manager Sam Allardyce was due unveil the plaque on Saturday (October 1) but was forced out of his job by newspaper allegations he advised businessmen on how to get round player transfer rules.

To read the full story, visit the Dudley News website, here.

ANGRY Stourport people have launched a fight against a “sham” planning application they fear is a first step towards converting farm land into a huge housing development.

Both Wyre Forest District and Malvern Hills District Council planners have received an application for the change of use for the keeping of horses and erection of stables for three horses on the 16 hectares of land off Areley Common, in Stourport – which falls under the two towns.

But Stourport councillor Jamie Shaw branded the submitted application a sham and said it was only being done to establish a change of use principle on the land.

To read the full story, visit the Shuttle website, here.

ALMOST 200 people are at risk of losing their jobs after Sainsbury’s announced the closure of its Merry Hill store at the end of the year.

Staff at the branch, which opened in October 1989, said they were told this week that the store will close for the final time on December 30.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said staff would be redeployed "where possible", adding: “Like all retailers, we keep our estate under review to ensure our business is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible and to ensure we provide customers with the best possible service.

To read the full story, visit the Stourbridge News website, here.

A PLAQUE to honour a leading Bromsgrove GP has been unveiled at his former school.

Professor Sir Michael Drury received the special tribute at Bromsgrove School’s Lipton House building on Tuesday, September 6, which was attended by his family and children.

Sir Michael was a pupil at the school from 1939 to 1943 at its base in Llanwrtyd Hall, Wales, during the Second World War, later studying medicine at the University of Birmingham.

To read the full story, visit the Bromsgrove Advertiser website, here.

A PLEA has been made for a ditched funding bid to enhance a “neglected” pool inHalesowen’s historic Leasowes Park to be revived.

Plans to reel in £39,000 from the Big Lottery’s Awards for All missed the deadline almost two years ago.

But keen angler Paul Thomas is calling for the bid to be signed off by the Friends of the Leasowes now and finally submitted.

To read the full story, visit the Halesowen News website, here.