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POLICE CHALLENGED ON ABORTION A church curate is to seek permission from the High Court to challenge West Mercia Police's refusal to prosecute doctors who conducted a late abortion. The operation was performed on a Herefordshire woman more than 24 weeks pregnant - the legal limit unless there is a risk of serious disability. Joanna Jepson, of St Michael's Church, Chester, claims there was no such risk. FAMILY HAPPY AT GUANTANAMO NEWS The father of a Birmingham man held at Guantanamo Bay since 2001 has welcomed a possible deal which could see his son returned to the UK by Christmas. Terror suspect Moazzam Begg may have to serve a sentence in Britain under the terms of any repatriation deal. His father Azmat Begg, a retired bank manager from Moseley, said: "It's a good move, provided the deal is fair." INJURED SOCCER FAN MAY GO HOME A football fan who was hit in the face by a firework which shot into the crowd before a Wolverhampton Wanderers match is to hear if she can go home. Denise Butler was kept in New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, because of concerns about swelling to the injury. Mrs Butler, of Telford, required surgery to stitch a deep cut to her face after the incident. TREE LIGHTS TO BE SWITCHED ON The lights on Birmingham's 20ft Christmas tree are being switched on by the Lord Mayor of the city. The tree, which has been donated by Swedish engineering firm Sandvik for the 38th year running, will stand next to Frankfurt Market over Christmas. Lord Mayor John Alden will perform the ceremony in Victoria Square accompanied by Ex-Cathedra Academy of Vocal Music. £22m EMPLOYMENT SCHEME LAUNCHED Parts of inner-city Birmingham blighted by high levels of unemployment are being targeted in a £22m project. The four-year plan aims to provide people with greater access to jobs in Nechells, Washwood Heath, Small Heath, Sparkbrook, and Sparkhill. A council spokesman said: "This plan will bring about a significant change in the quality of people's lives." CHURCH REOPENS AFTER REPAIRS One of the oldest churches in Lichfield is reopening following completion of urgent repair work costing £130,000. The 12th century St Chad's Church in Kynnersley, on the Weald Moors in Shropshire, was opened by the Bishop of Lichfield, Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill. An English Heritage grant helped pay for repair work to the roof, timbers and drainage. WARNING OVER ILLEGAL FOOD DYE Frozen samosas and spring rolls distributed in the Birmingham area have been found to contain an illegal dye which can cause ill health. The Maysum products, made by Leeds-based firm Bake-a-Paste, contain Sudan I and are being withdrawn from shops. A Food Standards Agency spokesman said: "The product presents a health risk if consumed in sufficient quantity." OAPs LOSING OUT ON CHEAP TRAVEL Nearly 40,000 people in the West Midlands could be losing out on cheaper public transport because of a decline in senior citizen pass applications. A spokesman for regional transport promoter Centro said take-up had fallen from 60% to 47% nationally in the last 10 years. He suggested more people are using their cars to get about. OZZY TELLS OF ABUSE ORDEAL Birmingham rock singer Ozzy Osbourne has revealed in an interview that he was sexually abused as a child. The star said that as an 11-year-old he was regularly molested by other boys on his way home from school. The 54-year-old said he worked through the problem with a therapist but that he still feels it has affected his whole life. HARRIERS JOIN ANTI-DRUG SCHEME Kidderminster Harriers have teamed up with North Worcestershire Police to help launch a "Rat on a Rat" anti-drugs campaign due to start next week. Aggborough chairman Colin Youngjohns said: "The abuse of drugs like crack cocaine or heroin can cause misery and destroy lives." The Crimestoppers hotline (0800 555111) is being advertised on pitch hoardings. FOUR FREED IN SHOOTING PROBE Police in Birmingham have released four men who were being questioned in connection with a shooting incident outside an Erdington nightclub. A 20-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg and is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Three of the men had been bailed pending further inquiries, while the fourth man was released without charge. FERRIS WHEEL RAISES A LAUGH Passengers on a Ferris wheel in Birmingham have been left amused by a French commentary inviting them to admire the Eiffel Tower. The firm which operates the 197ft Birmingham Wheel attributed the error to technical difficulties. A spokesman said: "We will remove the French commentary as soon as possible to prevent confusion." WOMEN PLEAD GUILTY OVER DRUGS Two Dutch women have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle drugs through Birmingham International Airport. Chera Sadhoe, 18, and Nancy Beerensteyn, 26, arrived at the airport on separate flights from Amsterdam. They were held after customs officers found cocaine with an estimated street value of £33,350. They were remanded in custody by Birmingham magistrates. MP ORDERED TO PAY LABOUR PARTY A Shrewsbury and Atcham MP has been ordered to pay the Labour Party more than £1,100 following a dispute over the hire of computer equipment. Paul Marsden defected from Labour to the Liberal Democrats in December 2001 over the war in Afghanistan. Birmingham County Court ordered Mr Marsden to pay £1,117 for outstanding rental debts and missing property. MEP CRITICISES SPEED CAMERAS West Midlands Euro-MP Philip Bradbourn has called for the Government to remove speed cameras from sites where accident levels have not been reduced. The Tory MEP said transport officials should come clean over which sites have not seen a fall in deaths and injuries. He said: "The UK needs a speed camera policy that offers a genuine safety policy where cameras save lives." PRISONER'S CELL DEATH PROBED An investigation has been launched into the death of a prisoner found hanged in his cell in Worcestershire. George Coates, 62, from West Bromwich, was serving a six-year sentence for wounding with intent and causing actual bodily harm. He was found dead in his cell at HMP Blakenhurst, Redditch at the weekend, the Prison Service said. TEXT MESSAGE LINK TO POLICE A text messaging service which the public can use to send information to West Midlands Police is to be extended to victims of domestic violence. The service, being trialled by officers in the Aston area of Birmingham, was first used during an appeal for information about football hooligans. A spokesman said: "This service offers a discreet way of contacting us." FLIGHTS TO SPAIN PROVE A HIT Ryanair's new services from Birmingham to Murcia and Barcelona Girona have proved a hit, attracting almost 16,000 passengers in just four weeks. The budget carrier offers one-way tickets from £14.99. A spokeswoman said: "The response has been fabulous - our Birmingham flights to Spain are amongst the most popular in our European network." SUPERMARKET HIT BY ARMED RAID A supermarket manager and a delivery driver were threatened with a handgun by masked raiders who escaped with cash from a safe in Birmingham. The robbers tied the two men up at Farm Foods in Bristol Road South, but they managed to free themselves and raise the alarm. Neither man was injured, but both were badly shaken by their ordeal. FUNDING FOR TOWN'S FACELIFT Two key schemes to revitalise Walsall town centre have been given cash backing by the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. More than £700,000 is being invested to allow Butlers Passage and Bradford Place to undergo facelifts. A spokesman said: "Walsall is an important sub-regional centre. We need to plan for the future." ARMED POLICE TO PATROL STREETS Armed police are to patrol Birmingham's streets over Christmas and New Year in a bid to disrupt potential terrorist activity, it has been announced. West Midlands Police say there is no specific threat to the region but there is a possibility of terrorist action against the UK. They warn that roads may be closed and buildings evacuated. THREE TERROR SUSPECTS QUIZZED Anti-terror police are continuing to question three men from Dudley who were arrested under the Terrorism Act during a series of raids. The two 26-year-olds and one aged 24 were arrested at properties in Walsall and Dudley. Police can hold the men, who are at an undisclosed polce station, for seven days without charge. FUNERAL OF FLU VICTIM TODDLER Mourners are gathering for the funeral of a three-year-old Worcester girl who is thought to have died from a strain of killer flu that originated in China. Tamara Whitty, from Warndon, was struck down with the illness last week and died in hospital on Friday. Family and friends are expected at the service at St John the Baptist Church, Fladbury, near Pershore, at noon. JUDGE REJECTS TENANT'S PLEA A Birmingham County Court judge has refused to release an anti-social tenant who was jailed after threatening to set neighbouring homes on fire. Ian Dickens, 35, of Heathy Rise, Woodgate Valley, had applied to be freed immediately from a three-month prison sentence for contempt of court. Dickens had breached a city council anti-social behaviour injunction DIABETES AWARENESS CAMPAIGN An educational campaign targeting Birmingham's 75,000 diabetes sufferers is being launched. The aim of the campaign is to highlight the importance of controlling blood glucose levels, reducing a risk of heart and kidney disease and blindness. Prof Tony Barnett, at the University of Birmingham, urged diabetes sufferers to work with their doctor or nurse. RUGBY TO HONOUR ENGLAND TEAM England's World Cup-winning rugby players are to be given the freedom of the borough of Rugby. Rugby Council said the decision to bestow the honour on Clive Woodward's squad will be rubber-stamped at a meeting on December 15. A ceremony to honour the team is now being planned in conjunction with Rugby School, to take place early next year. RSPCA IN 'DOG FIGHTING' RAIDS Police and RSPCA officers have raided an address in Birmingham after a three-year investigation into "barbaric" dog fighting rings. The UK-wide probe has seen 73 dogs seized and 12 men quizzed. They will be questioned again at a later date. The RSPCA's Mike Butcher said: "It's astonishing to think that there are still a small minority who enjoy this." MP ORDERED TO PAY LABOUR PARTY Shrewsbury and Atcham's MP has been ordered to pay the Labour Party more than £1,100 following a dispute over the hire of computer equipment. Paul Marsden defected from Labour to the Liberal Democrats in December 2001 over the war in Afghanistan. Birmingham County Court ordered Mr Marsden to pay £1,117 for outstanding rental debts and missing property. PRISONER'S CELL DEATH PROBED An investigation has been launched into the death of a prisoner found hanged in his cell in Worcestershire. George Coates, 62, from West Bromwich, was serving a six-year sentence for wounding with intent and causing actual bodily harm. He was found dead in his cell at Blakenhurst Jail, Redditch, at the weekend, the Prison Service said. THREE TERROR SUSPECTS QUIZZED Anti-terror police are continuing to question three men from the West Midlands who were arrested in a series of raids under the Terrorism Act. A spokeswoman said two of the men, aged 23 and 24, were arrested in Dudley and a 26-year-old was arrested in Walsall. The arrests were made as part of a series of raids across the country in which 14 people were detained. HOSTAGE SIEGE MAN SENTENCED A homebuyer who held the seller of a farmhouse near Stafford hostage after the agreed purchase price was raised by £250,000 is due to be sentenced. Lester Stacey, 39, took Adam Adamou hostage after a price of £600,000 was increased for his Woodseaves home. Stacey, to appear at Stafford Crown Court, was convicted of false imprisonment and common assault. COMMUNITY GROUPS REWARDED People who stood up to yobs and thugs in their communities, including members of a group in Stafford, have received £1,000 cash. Exeter Street Residents' Group in Silkmore gave evidence at Stafford Crown Court to secure an order allowing a housing group to evict one family. Home Office Taking A Stand awards went to 32 individuals and community groups. RUGBY SHIRT TO BE AUCTIONED A Shropshire auction house has stepped in to help out a teenage rubgy player who broke his neck while playing in a team captained by his father. Mullock Madeley were approached to sell a signed England rugby shirt donated by the World Cup-winning team to 16-year-old Tom Somerville. The historic piece will be auctioned at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall next week. VASSELL DUE TO APPEAR IN COURT Aston Villa footballer Darius Vassell is due to appear in court charged with failing to comply with traffic lights. The England striker is expected at Birmingham Magistrates' Court charged with the motoring offence after his case was adjourned last month. The 23-year-old, from Sutton Coldfield, has entered a not guilty plea to the alleged offence. COUNCIL CRACKS DOWN ON FRAUD Dudley Council has vowed to crack down on benefit fraud after four bogus claimants were convicted. The local authority's lead member for finance, Terry Powell, said the latest cases meant a total of ten offenders had been prosecuted within a month. Residents are urgd to report suspected fraud to the council's benefit fraud investigation team on 01384 815635. MP SUGGESTS EDUCATION EXPANSION The MP for Worcester, Michael Foster, has hinted at plans to expand higher education facilities in the city. After meeting the head of the Higher Education Funding Council, Mr Foster said University College was "pushing an open door" with plans for a new site. "The second site will provide for the extra students that the growth in the local population need," he said. NEC IN ROW OVER RISQUE DRESS A see-through body stocking has sparked a row as Birmingham's NEC hosts the annual Clotheshow Live exhibition. The Vivienne Westwood creation has been branded too risque by the NEC's bosses and heated talks have followed. As the final dress rehearsals for the event were taking place, discussions were still ongoing as to whether a model should be allowed to wear it. FUNERAL FOR YOUNG FLU VICTIM More than 200 mourners gathered for the funeral of a three-year-old Worcester girl who is thought to have died from a strain of killer flu. Friends and family of Tamara Whitty attended the service in a church in Fladbury, near Pershore. Tamara was struck down with Fujian flu, which originated in China, last week and died in hospital on Friday. 'CHARGE ONLY' POLICY STARTS Burglars, robbers and people involved in vehicle crime in Wolverhampton can expect to be charged if caught in the run-up to Christmas, police have said. West Midlands Constabulary said that offenders will not receive cautions or formal warnings in a campaign to cut crimes during the festive period. The "charge only" policy came into effect on Monday. FOOTBALLER DUE IN COURT West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes is due to appear in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident. The married father-of-one from Meriden, West Midlands, on conditional bail, is expected to face a judge at Coventry Crown Court for a preliminary hearing. The charges relate to a fatal road accident near Meriden on November 23. RUGBY COACH CLIVE AT JAGUAR World Cup-winning England rugby coach Clive Woodward is being presented with a customised Jaguar car at the firm's design centre in Warwickshire. Woodward is due to give a motivational speech to business leaders while at the handing over ceremony in Gaydon. St George's flag motifs and personally inscribed door sill treadplates have been added to the XKR sports car. ARMED RAIDERS ESCAPE WITH CASH Armed raiders have escaped with a substantial sum of cash after threatening security workers with a gun at an Asda superstore in Great Barr. The gang struck as a Securicor cash delivery van pulled up in the car park at the store in Old Horns Crescent, near to a cash dispensing machine. The offenders then ran to a nearby car and sped off along Queslett Road. AREA TO GET £114,000 REVAMP People in the Chuckery area of Walsall are to benefit from a £114,000 revamp which will include a new sports pitch, playground and relaxation zone. Council officers have scooped £50,000 of Lottery cash to help fund the project on land at the corner of Walsingham Street and Chuckery Road. Work on the scheme is scheduled to start on Monday. STUDY WARNS OF CANNABIS DAMAGE Smoking cannabis even for only a short time damages the lungs of young people, Birmingham researchers have warned. Scientists from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital have found regular cannabis smokers have poorer lung function than those who just smoke cigarettes. The study also found that after less than six years of smoking the drug, the ill effects were already being seen. WARNING OVER HOUSE FIRES Staffordshire firefighters are warning homeowners to guard against fire during the run-up to Christmas. County community fire safety officer Nigel Taylor-Brown said: "It is a time when we are more liable to drop our guard and suffer a fire." Residents should be aware that fairy lights and candles could heighten the risk of a blaze, he said. CAMPAIGN TARGETS DRINK-DRIVING The Warwickshire & Northamptonshire air ambulance is joining forces with the police for this year's anti-drink driving campaign. Pub-goers will be asked to donate the price of a pint to the air ambulance instead of having one for the road. The Diana, Princess of Wales Air Ambulance, set up on October 1, will have collecting tins in local pubs. FIGURES SHOW ROVER SALES SLUMP Birmingham-based car firm MG Rover has seen its sales slump by almost a third in the last month compared with the same period last year. A total of 4,300 cars were sold during November compared with 6,293 in the same month in 2002. The firm said the new CityRover had gone on sale in November but its sales did not show in the official figures. ROW OVER YOUTH JAIL CELLS Disruptive children at a Shropshire young offenders' institution are being left to calm down in cells with no natural light, furniture or toilet. Youths at Stoke Heath in Market Drayton were put in the cells until they became "manageable", said the Prison Service. The Howard League for Penal Reform has called on the Government to abolish the use of such cells. UNIVERSITY REJECTS MERGER Aston University has rejected proposals to merge with the University of Central England, claiming the benefits of such a link-up would be limited. A spokesman for Aston said its council had decided the two institutions had "different missions and strategies". But Aston did agree to talks about the future of education provision in the West Midlands in the longer term.
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