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JUDGE TO RULE IN EMBRYO CASE A 38-year-old Sandwell woman is due to learn whether she has saved her frozen embryos from destruction. A High Court judge is to give his ruling in the case of Lorraine Hadley and Natallie Evans, 31, of Wiltshire, who challenged IVF treatment rules. They underwent IVF treatment with their partners, but the men withdrew consent for use after the couples split up. THEATRE STAGE COLLAPSES An investigation is under way into why a stage collapsed during a performance of Sing-a-long-a-Sound of Music at a Birmingham theatre, injuring 10 people. The casualties were taken to hospital, many with suspected broken legs and arms, after falling almost 20ft into an orchestra pit at the Alexandra Theatre. Audience members had been encouraged to go on the stage during the performance. POWER CUT DUE TO GRID FAILURE A major power cut which caused chaos in the West Midlands last month was the result of new equipment failure, an energy watchdog has said. A report by Ofgem said the blackout, which hit 220,000 customers in east Birmingham, was due to a back-up equipment failure in the National Grid. Investigations into the blackout, and a similar incident in London, continue. MANNEQUIN HELPS DETECT CANCER A life-size mannequin to train women how to spot changes in their breasts was has been developed at the University of Warwick. The model consists of a fibreglass torso which can be fitted with implants containing different types of lumps. Each year more than 30,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer and about 13,000 die from the disease. £2m CITY PARK IMPROVEMENTS Parks and play areas across Birmingham are to receive makeovers worth £2m, the city council has announced. Cash is to be pumped into six sites across the city, with work expected to be completed within six months. Full-time park keepers are being employed to make the sites safer and cleaner, after complaints from local residents and councillors. SECOND CUSTODY DEATH PROBED The Police Complaints Authority is investigating the second death of a detainee in West Midlands Police's custody within three weeks. The latest inquiry follows the death of 49-year-old Linda Burt, who died after being arrested outside her mother's house in Erdington, Birmingham. The death of Michael Powell, 38, from Lozells, is already being investigated. BOY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATH A 16-year-old youth who was accused of murdering a 75-year-old man in Dudley will not be held responsible for his death, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. He will face a lesser charge of aggravated vehicle-taking after Henry Haybould died when he was run over. Co-accused Stuart Ferguson, 24, will deny murder, the court heard. Both were remanded in custody until November 7. PLASTICS FIRM MARKS ANNIVERSARY A Birmingham firm which produced the first plastic tableware in the UK is celebrating 150 years in business. Brooke & Adams began life making brooches, buckles and other dress ornamentation at its Hockley premises before expanding into plastics. Four descendants of the founders are to meet the Mayor and Mayoress at the firm's current Kingstanding premises. BAKERY FINED AFTER MICE FOUND A bakery has been fined £10,000 after environmental health inspectors found its former premises in Walsall infested with mice. Lewis and Sons' director Simon Lewis was also personally fined £1,000 after pleading guilty before town magistrates to failing to keep the premises clean. The 104-year-old business has now moved to premises in Birmingham. BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2003 LAUNCH AT THE DRUM This year's Black History Month officially starts today and participants of the UK's biggest celebration of Caribbean, Asian and African culture will be gathering at The Drum in Aston to officially launch this year's programme of events. With over 400 activities, Birmingham's 6th Black History Month will be the biggest ever. The event is organised by Birmingham City Council and the Black History Foundation to commemorate the struggles, contribution and achievements of Black people. Information about this year's Black History Month can be found on the official website on www.birminghamblackhistory.com, by tuning into Black History Month's official radio station, New Style radio on 98.7fm or by calling the information line on 0121 303 3022.
TEENAGER KILLED IN CAR CRASH A 19-year-old driver was killed when his car hit a lamppost in Birmingham, police said. The teenager, from Bordesley Green, was pronounced dead at the scene after the accident in Ward End. A West Midlands Police spokesman said the victim's red Rover crashed into a lamppost on Washwood Heath Road, near its junction with Foley Road. FIRMS UNDAUNTED BY LOW SALES A dramatic fall in export sales among manufacturers in Birmingham and Solihull has not dented sector confidence, business leaders have said. The local Chamber of Commerce revealed only 27% of manufacturers had reported a sales increase in the third quarter of this economic year. But more than half said they expect turnover to improve in the next year. POST-MORTEM AFTER TEENAGER SHOT A post-mortem examination is being carried out on the body of a teenager found collapsed on a Birmingham street suffering from gunshot wounds. Esron Germaine, from Handsworth, died in hospital after he was discovered at the junction between Livingstone Road and Bridgelands Way, Perry Barr. Five young men, all described as black, were seen in the Livingstone Road area. POLICE OFFICERS ON INCREASE Home Secretary David Blunkett has announced a record number of police nationwide, with West Mercia showing the greatest increase. He said the number of officers in England and Wales reached a new high of 136,386 at the end of August, up 4,118 since December last year. The West Mercia force has grown by 12% or 238 officers. SEVEN HELD OVER SOCCER VIOLENCE Seven suspected football hooligans have been arrested after crowd trouble at a Burton Albion match. Fighting broke out during the Brewers' game against Hereford United when about 30 Hereford fans invaded the pitch and ran on to home terraces. The suspects were all detained at addresses in Hereford after an inquiry by West Mercia and Staffs Police. EURO MP HAILS TRANSPORT PLANS Plans for new rail and road links in the West Midlands and Warwickshire have been welcomed by a regional politician. Tory MEP Philip Bradbourn said he is pleased commitments to improve the West Coast Main Line and M6 were retained in the EC's transport programme. And he challenged the Government to ensure all UK plans within the project are completed to deadline. WARNING OVER BOGUS CALLERS Elderly people in Shropshire are being warned to remain vigilant after a gang of thieves posing as water company workers stole cash and valuables. West Mercia Police said the men have struck repeatedly in the past few days, claiming to be carrying out vital work. One of the men is described as in his 30s, 5ft 10in and slim, with fair brushed-back hair and an Irish accent. CRASH DEATH INQUEST VERDICT DUE An inquest into the death of a 25-year-old motorist whose car was in collision with a tram in Wolverhampton is due to reach a conclusion. Jugesh Kainth, from Bilston, suffered fatal injuries when his BMW was shunted 30ft down the line by the Midlands Metro service on February 8 this year. The inquest is being heard at Wolverhampton Coroner's Court. RESTORATION FUNDS FOR CITY PARK Work is due to start later this month on the £8m restoration of an historic Birmingham park. City council officials announced a £4.7m Heritage Lottery Fund bid has been successful for regeneration work at Handsworth Park. Work at the Grade II listed Victorian site, designed by Richard Vertegans, will be completed by Spring 2006. TENANT EVICTED FROM HOME A Birmingham council tenant has been evicted after complaints from residents about his anti-social behaviour. A city council spokesman said it had removed 38-year-old Stephen Langman from a property in Shrawley Road, Northfield. The council claims he was abusive to neighbours, played loud music, banged doors and unlocked communal doors. DRUG DEALING IMMIGRANT JAILED An illegal immigrant has been jailed for five years for dealing crack cocaine in Birmingham. Horace Barnes - who will be deported back to Jamaica at the end of his sentence - was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court. Barnes, who was active in the Ladywood area, was arrested after being found with 21 rocks of the Class A drug. CAR CHASED BY POLICE CRASHES Two men are in custody after an allegedly stolen vehicle being pursued by police collided with another car in Worcester. Police said three men were treated by paramedics after a blue Nissan 100X and a red Ford Mondeo collided at the Timerdine roundabout. The stolen Nissan had been followed by a marked police car for seven minutes. CLUB DENIES RAPE PROBE LINK Premiership football club Aston Villa has denied any of its players were involved in the alleged gang rape of a teenager at a central London hotel. The team was one of six Premiership clubs playing in the capital last weekend when a 17-year-old girl alleges she was attacked. A Villa spokesman confirmed none of its players have been questioned by police. BURGLAR GRABS £10,000 CASH Warwickshire householders are being warned not to keep large amounts of cash at home after an elderly woman lost £10,000 in a burglary. The raider walked through an unlocked front door into the 89-year-old woman's home in Bulkington and helped himself to the huge sum from two carrier bags. Police said the victim did not discover the burglary for two days. ANTI-ROBBERY CAMPAIGN HAILED An 18-month campaign to cut the number of robberies in Wolverhampton has been declared a success by the police, with a third fewer incidents reported. Magistrates have handed robbers jail sentences totalling 150 years since the Safer Streets scheme was launched. Det Sgt Mark Payne said: "Criminals now have a one in three chance of being arrested and put before the courts." WAREHOUSE DAMAGED BY ROBBERS Raiders caused extensive damage to a Warwickshire warehouse as they stole £4,000 worth of alcohol. The gang broke into Baby Bottles in Exhall and loaded the goods into two company vans, which were later found abandoned in Coventry and Shilton. Warwickshire Police said the burglars, who used a forklift truck to load up the alcohol, smashed interior walls. PROFESSOR GIVEN 'COSSACKSHIP' A Birmingham University professor has been made an honorary Cossack. On a trip to Russia, Professor Bob Stone went through an initiation ceremony to confer his Cossackship, which included ancient practices. The engineer was honoured for his work in introducing virtual reality technology to Russia, especially to the Cosmonaut Training Programme. CITY'S FIRST PEACE MONTH BEGINS Coventry's first Peace Month is being launched in the ruins of the city cathedral, which was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War. The Japanese Ambassador to the UK and Coventry's Lord Mayor will release 1,000 paper cranes and 1,000 white balloons in the opening ceremony. They will be joined by former prisoners of war and atomic bomb survivors. MEP SLAMS HALLMARK PROPOSALS The Birmingham jewellery industry could be hit adversely by EC proposals to introduce the harmonised hallmarking of precious metals, a local MEP has said. Malcolm Harbour, Tory Euro MP for the West Midlands, said he is fighting proposals which supporters claim will provide consumer protection. He said: "This measure will actually remove a valued customer safeguard." GROUP WINS RADIO LICENCE The new regional commercial radio licence in the West Midlands has been awarded to media group Emap for its Kerrang! station. Peterborough-based Emap, which owns magazine titles including FHM and 18 analogue radio stations, beat 10 rivals to the win the licence. The station will cover 2.3 million people in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
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