LOCAL NEWS 23/10/00

FERRARI CELEBRATE AT MOTORSHOW

There were celebrations on the busy Ferrari stand at the International Motor Show in Birmingham yesterday, following the Italian marque's victory in the FIA Formula One constructors' championship. Champagne corks were popping as platform staff placed a second 2000 championship banner on the stand just minutes after this year's drivers champion, Michael Schumacher, crossed the finish line in his scarlet red machine at the Malaysian Grand Prix. "We were on the edge of our seats watching it on television because it was really quite close," explained Huguette Boyagis communications and marketing services manager at Ferrari UK. "We will be celebrating for the rest of the day but, of course, keeping it fairly low key since we're still working," she added. The Italian team's progress was news to many of the visitors to the Show who had been queuing to get into the Motor Show as the final act in this year's F1 drama was being played out. And for one unlucky member of the tifosi standing at the crowded Ferrari platform - which includes an F1 show car - the result came too soon. "We had the constructors' title stickers just in case and soon after they had gone up, one visitor said he had recorded the race on video and had been trying to avoid the result," Boyagis explained. "We are all absolutely thrilled and delighted for the team, as well as Ferrari's many public followers. Everyone here knows someone working at the factory and I would just love to be at Maranello now," she added. Congratulating Ferrari on the win, Al Clarke, head of communications for the Motor Show organisers, SMMT, said: "Thousands of visitors saw Ferrari clinch the world championship live on TV at the show. "The race was a great curtain raiser for the second week, when we will see the stars of Formula One at the Show on Friday and Saturday."

SEE ALSO OUR MOTORSHOW SPECIAL

MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD CRUELTY

A 55-year-old man has been charged with cruelty offences allegedly committed against three children at a special school in the West Midlands area. The man, from Stourbridge, is due to appear at Warley Magistrates' Court charged with 14 counts of child cruelty. The charges relate to alleged incidents between 1996 and 2000.

HOOLIGANS 'WORSE THAN ANIMALS'

Police have described hooligans who attacked a uniformed paramedic with a CS-spray after a football match in Stoke as "beneath contempt". A spokesman for Staffordshire Ambulance Service said the senior officer had the substance sprayed into his eyes after Saturday's Stoke City-Millwall clash. The spokesman added: "These people are worse than animals."

ACID TRIAL DEFENCE CASE STARTS

The defence is to begin in the trial of a Birmingham man accused of murdering his ex-partner by giving her acid. Zimbabwe-born Andrew Gardner, 41, of Sheldon, denies killing Dr Karenina Longe in February. The prosecution alleges that Gardner, a former lab technician, administered the sulphuric acid because he could not accept the end of their relationship.

HOUSE RIPPED APART BY BLAST

Fire crews are investigating the cause of a suspected gas blast which tore apart a semi-detached house in Coalpool, Walsall. A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said the property was thought to have been unoccupied at the time of the explosion. The front and back of the house, in Coalpool Lane, were blown out.

CHURCH HITS OUT AT COUNCIL

Church leaders have criticised Birmingham city council for considering the establishment of a "tolerance zone" to monitor prostitution. The Venerable John Barton, Archdeacon of Aston, said the idea, one of several options being considered by the local authority, was "wholly wrong". The city's Roman Catholic Archdiocese said it would be morally offensive.

MP WANTS EXEMPTION ON FUEL LEVY

The Tory MP for Mid-Worcestershire has claimed the future of heritage railways could be jeopardised by the proposed climate-change levy. Peter Luff, who is also vice-president of Severn Valley Railway, said such lines should be exempt from paying fuel tax on coal used in steam engines. He said: "Obviously steam trains can't change from coal."

COUNCIL ACCUSED OVER DANCER

A local authority has been accused of double standards over a real-life Billy Elliot after it paid for a young female dancer to have lessons. The parents of Jacob Youngson, 12, of Stirchley, Birmingham, want the city council's decision not to award him a grant for dance school to be reversed. Sarah Jennings, 17, a dancer from Harborne, Birmingham, won her battle.

POLICE TARGET NEW TECHNOLOGY

West Mercia Police will use new technology to help maintain fast response times to emergency calls. Deputy chief constable Peter Neyroud said that 90% of 999 calls in 1999-2000 were answered in 10 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural spots. He said: "It's important we target available resources effectively and we take full advantage of new technology."

LOCAL NEWS 24/10/00

LOCAL TRIO LAUNCH AT MOTORSHOW

The British International Motor Show has been a "tremendous success" for three friends, who decided to take a stand and launch a new product at the event just 24 hours before it opened to the public. Stafford-born Chris Lovell and Birmingham couple Sue and Dave Glenn spent two years developing the idea for "Crashmate", an in-car accident insurance claim kit first conceived of by Sue, a legal executive with 15 years' experience of processing personal injury claims. With a background in marketing, Chris Lovell, joined with Sue and husband Dave, a graphic designer, and has been making initial contacts with motoring and insurance companies in the last six months. He explained: "There is a road accident every two minutes in the UK and in her job, Sue had seen first hand how pitiful claim forms often were in terms of depth of information. "Many cases fail because people have either not known or not been able to record all the relevant details at the time and place of the accident." Crashmate contains a booklet giving step by step instructions on what to do following a collision with another vehicle, sketch templates of 10 different road layouts and third party and independent witness forms with counterfoils. The pack also includes a disposable camera with flash, a pen and pencil and a tape measure. The three friends who hope to get 10,000 units into shops by Christmas were considering handing out leaflets about the product outside the Motor Show in advance of a launch. "On Wednesday evening we were told we couldn't issues flyers outside the NEC but that a stand was available, so we decided to take it and launch the product there and then. "We were up all night getting everything ready and our website went live on Thursday evening. Mr Lovell praised Motor Show organisers SMMT for helping smooth their last minute entry to the Show, as well as friends who have been manning the stall since it was set up in the early hours of Friday morning, just across from the Ferrari stand. As well as exchanging details with other exhibitors, the group has been talking with interested insurance underwriters, fleet car managers, police officers and driving instructors among the public gathering at their stand. Mr Lovell said: "I spoke to three policemen on the first day and they all took information back to recommend Crashmate to their forces. "One told me they had once asked a driver to draw an accident from the perspective of the other witness and was then handed over a picture of a car windscreen with two head and shoulders in it." "Ideally this sort of pack would be adopted universally by insurance companies as a way to submit information. It would keep their costs down by saving time and help bring down the cost of car insurance for motorists." A UK trademark and copyright has now been secured, and a patent filed, on the Crashmate pack. "Before we decided to come to the Show we had planned just a regional advertising campaign because we are a small company. In the last few days we've been speaking to people from all over the country and it's been a tremendous success," said Mr Lovell, whose new limited company is based in Sutton Coldfield.

ARTILLERY SHELL SPARKS ALERT

Police sealed off a street in Sandwell after workmen uncovered a Second World War shell while renovating a house. The artillery shell was uncovered by workmen at a property in Cape Hill, Smethwick. The road and surrounding area was sealed off and the Army bomb disposal squad called to the house where they safely disposed of the shell.

ACID MURDER TRIAL NEARS END

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court is expected to hear closing speeches in the trial of a man accused of murdering his former partner. Andrew Gardner, 41, of Sheldon, Birmingham, denied killing Dr Karenina Longe on February 5th this year. The prosecution alleges Gardner administered a fatal dose of sulphuric acid to Dr Longe.

MIDLANDS 'MOST GENEROUS' IN UK

People from the West Midlands are the most generous, with seven in 10 willing to donate an hour's pay for children in distress, according to a survey. The poll for the Children's Promise charity also found that 15-24 year olds were most willing to do so. Children's Promise was set up in 1997, with the aim of encouraging people to donate an hour's pay to the charity.

POLICE HUNT STOLEN CROCODILE

Police are hunting a three-year-old crocodile that was bundled into a sack and stolen from Dudley Zoo. West Midlands Police said the 2kg West African dwarf crocodile was taken by thieves from the Castle Hill site. Officers said the offenders, thought to be a gang of children, broke through three doors to reach the reptile house before putting the crocodile in a sack.

MP WILL NOT FACE FRAUD CHARGES

Coventry North West MP and ex-Payaster General Geoffrey Robinson will not face charges after an investigation by West Midlands Police major fraud unit. The probe centred on Government grants made to his Transfer Technology firm in Coleshill, West Midlands. Police said there was "insufficient evidence" to charge him, or any other individual or company.

HUNT FOR 'CONMAN ON CRUTCHES'

Police have warned shopkeepers about a confidence trickster who went into a jewellery shop on crutches - then sprinted off with a £10,000 watch. The tattoed conman escaped with the Rolex Oyster after staff put it on his wrist at Dudley's Merry Hill shopping mall, said West Midlands Police. He was described as white, aged 20-30, 6ft, with short ginger hair.

PAW PRINTS BELONG TO BIG CAT

Senior officers at Dudley Zoo have confirmed that mystery paw prints found in a Wombourne garden belong to a member of the Big Cat family. Education officer Dr David Beeston and senior curator Chris Gough said the prints were probably made by a juvenile puma. "This is the best physical evidence to we have to date," Dr Beeston said.

LOCAL NEWS 25/10/00

MOTOR SHOW BOOSTS REGION SAYS NEC BOSS

Businesses throughout the West Midlands have been boosted by the continuing success of this year's International Motor Show in Birmingham, according to Barry Cleverdon, chief executive of The NEC Group, which is hosting the event. "The British International Motor Show is once again proving one of the highlights of the busy calendar at The NEC," Mr Cleverdon said. "With its massive national and international profile, the show brings enormous benefits to the region, including millions of pounds in visitor and business spending. "Activity at this show is helping to sustain many businesses in a variety of sectors throughout the region. In response the region is once again proving how well it can deliver for major events. "It's this level of impact that is one of the key factors driving our future development plans at The NEC, which focus on further enhancing all aspects of the visitor experience," he added. It has been estimated that the Motor Show brings in over GBP30 million for the West Midlands region, as well as intangible benefits such as boosting the area's international profile. And Birmingham-based van specialist LDV has declared this year's Show its most successful ever after a week of record orders and visitors to its stand Within the space of two days at the Show the firm announced its largest ever LPG order and one of its largest single fleet orders this year - for over 500 vehicles. And the firm's first concept vehicle, the Titan, - making its world debut at the Show - may be repeated at future events after receiving a "great response" from the public, according to LDV spokeswoman Hazel Crawford. "The jobs announcements have attracted great media coverage and were fantastic news for our staff just down the road at Washwood Heath," she said. "The Titan was designed to show people what LDV and our staff could do. It is the first vehicle we have ever built just for the show and it has been such a huge success that I expect we will be doing it again. "It's been a real morale booster for the company and the most successful ever Show since we were launched as LDV in 1993. Meanwhile, BMW said it had received "huge orders" for its new MINI since the car was launched at the show, with 55 orders on the first public day being followed by a constant flow of 40-50 pre-orders a day. "The people from the MINI club absolutely love it. They came here and didn't want to love it but now they have seen it they have just fallen for it. The new car has got the character of the old MINI with added reliability and safety," a spokeswoman said. Philip Jones, head of exhibitions at the SMMT said: "Once again, Birmingham and the NEC have demonstrated an ability to stage a major international event. Many of the senior executives of the motor industry have been fulsome in their praise for both the venue and the facilities in and around the city. "These not only stand comparison but often exceed those on offer at other leading international motor shows such as Frankfurt, Detroit or

NEW AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD PLANNED

Plans have been unveiled for an £11m access road to Birmingham International Airport, bypassing the often jammed Clock Interchange. The project, which is due to start in January and finish by summer 2002, will run from the A45 Coventry Road to terminal buildings. Airport bosses say it will help access to the site, the NEC and business park.

STRIKERS MAY NOT ACCEPT DEAL

Striking workers at the Dudley Group of Hospitals are expected to reject a new voluntary redundancy deal offered to end their lengthy walk-out. About 600 non-clinical staff launched a series of protests in opposition to plans to privatise their jobs. Unison officials said they thought it unlikely that members would accept the new deal in a vote later this week.

JUDGE TO SUM UP IN MURDER CASE

A judge at Birmingham Crown Court is due to sum up in the trial of a man accused of murdering his former partner by giving her sulphuric acid. Andrew Gardner, of Sheldon, Birmingham, has denied killing Dr Karenina Longe. The prosecution alleges that Gardner, 41, a former lab technician, gave the fatal dose of acid because he could not accept the end of their relationship.

OLDEST MAN DIES, AGED 108

Britain's oldest man, who attributed his longevity to a nightly dram of whisky, has died peacefully in his sleep aged 108. Bill Lee died in his sleep in a Stoke-on-Trent hospital. Mr Lee, a former South Staffordshire Regiment soldier, was shot in the arm and blinded in one eye while he was serving in France during the Great War.

DOZENS TO MISS OUT ON ROBINS

Up to 60 customers look set to miss out in the rush to buy Burntwood carmaker Reliant's last batch of Robin cars. A spokesman for the firm, which is to cease production of Reliant Robins in December, said dozens of people will miss out on one of the final 120 cars. He admitted up to 60 customers were "unlikely" to receive delivery, despite putting down a £1,000 deposit

COUNCIL MAY REJECT NEW STADIUM

Council bosses are being urged to oppose Shrewsbury Town Football Club's plans for a new 10,000-seat stadium. The £15m development at Meole Brace, which includes 232 new homes, may be shelved after objections about its environmental impact. Planners are worried the club has not fully considered redeveloping its existing Gay Meadow home.

PUBLIC GET SAY ON CONGESTION

Residents are being given a say in how to ease chronic congestion in the M6 corridor between the West Midlands and the North West in the future. Consultants are visiting towns and cities along the route to get ideas about how £500m funds should be spent. Options include widening the M6 and moving freight from the roads on to the railways.

BUS STATION HAS ROOF OF MOSS

Walsall's new £6.5m bus station is being covered with a roof of mosses and cactus-like plants. Designers say the greenery will help absorb carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles using the St Paul's facility and in the town centre. Walsall councillor Richard Worrall said it was another original idea for the town.

GOLF EVENT HONOURS TRAGIC BABY

Former TV Gladiator Judy Simpson is to honour the memory of her late baby daughter at a celebrity golf challenge to raise funds for meningitis research. The ex-Olympic athlete, whose daughter Jo-Jo died of the disease, has helped organise the charity event at the Warwickshire Golf Club, Leek Wootton. Cash raised by the challenge will go to two meningitis charities.

LOCAL NEWS 26/10/00

KEEP US PUBLIC, SAY CONTROLLERS

Birmingham air traffic controllers are warning against privatisation as the House of Lords prepares to vote on the Government's Transport Bill. More than 30 controllers at Birmingham International Airport say privatisation could undermine air safety. A local controller said they were "providing a first-class service despite the ever-increasing pressure."

COVENTRY TO HOLD MEMORIAL SILENCE

Coventry's Lord Mayor is urging the city's residents to join a two-minute silence next month to mark the 60th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz. A special ceremony will be held in the city shopping centre on November 14, in which two local primary school children will read poems about the Blitz. Cllr Sheila Collins said: "I hope that all citizens feel able to join in."

"DEL BOY" DROPS BY SHOW

Alright Rodney! Del Boy knows a nice little number when he sees one, especially whilst he was at the British International Motor Show, NEC Birmingham, when he came by the newly launched product 'Crashmate'. Maurice Canham, a 'look-a-like' Del Boy from Banbury, grabbed the chance to help sell the item that helps drivers to log incidents after being involved in a crash. (Photo Martyn Hayhow)

JAGUAR DEAL IS 'BEST IN YEARS'

Workers in Jaguar's Birmingham and Coventry plants are to vote on a pay offer described by one union leader as the best negotiated for years. Four days of talks ended with the Ford-owned luxury car maker offering improvements in wages, pensions and holidays in a two-year deal. The proposed deal includes a basic pay rise of 4.25% from next month.

CHERIE LAUNCHES CANCER APPEAL PM

Tony Blair's wife Cherie Booth has helped launch an appeal to raise much needed cash for a child cancer charity. Ms Booth met staff and patients at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Birmingham, as she launched the Sargent Cancer Care for Children Appeal. The appeal is to raise £2m in the region in order to provide support for every single cancer victim under 21.

JURY CONSIDERS MURDER VERDICT

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court is to resume its deliberations in the case of a man accused of killing his former lover by giving her sulphuric acid. Andrew Gardner, 40, denies murdering Dr Karenina Longe at their home in New Coventry Road, Sheldon, Birmingham. Previously, the jury spent four hours considering its verdict before being sent home for the night.

PENSIONERS URGED TO STAY WARM

Birmingham health chiefs have launched an awareness campaign urging the city's elderly people to "Keep Warm, Keep Well" this winter. Exposure to cold causes an estimated 30,000 deaths a year in the UK. The campaign by Birmingham Health Authority aims to give simple, practical advice. A booklet is available by telephoning free on 0800 085 7000.

BE SAFE ON ROADS, COUNCIL URGES

Birmingham Council is urging pedestrians and motorists to "Be Seen, Be Safe" as the clocks go back and the dark nights draw in. The council's Road Safety Team is urging pedestrians and cyclists to protect themselves by wearing bright clothing so they can be seen. The clocks go back one hour at 2am on Sunday.

SHAKESPEAREANS VISIT THEATRE

The Royal Shakespeare Company is to pay its first visit to Stoke-on-Trent Regent Theatre to perform John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. Featuring Irish actress Aisling O'Sullivan in the title role, the production will be in the Potteries between November 28 and December 2. It will be staged as part of the Regent's anniversary season.

LOCAL NEWS 27/10/00

RAIDERS GET AWAY WITH THOUSANDS

West Midlands Police are hunting three armed robbers who stole several thousand pounds in takings from a Smethwick cash and carry store. The raiders, one of whom was carrying a pistol-type weapon, struck at Kheras Cash and Carry on the Khalsa Industrial Estate in Grove Street. No one was injured in the attack but one worker was said to be badly shaken.

MOTHER'S TRIBUTE AFTER TRAGEDY

The Shrewsbury mother of a girl who died after being hit by a train while on a summer picnic outing is to hold a memorial service in the town. Kymberley Allcock, aged eight, who attended Three Oaks Primary School in Telford, died with Sophie George, seven, near Tre'r-ddol, west Wales. The service will be held at the Dingle in Shrewsbury's Quarry on November 5.

DEFENDER DESIGN COMPETITION

Vehicle designers of the future are being challenged to design a successor to one of Britain's favourite motoring icons, the Land Rover Defender. Entrants to the Autocar Young Designer of the Year 2001 will be given a set of four LEGO Technic wheels and asked to create a scale concept model for the next generation of Defenders around them, using whatever materials they can find. The winner will be given a week's tuition with the company's design department and a £2,000 Land Rover mountain bike. And many of the entrants could ultimately follow the fine tradition of British vehicle design, according to Autocar deputy editor Hugo Andreae. He said: "There were over 1,000 entrants in the last competition and judging from the quality of those designs we're going to see some terrific concepts. "There's a strong tradition in British vehicle design and the competition is a great way to encourage young people to bring their skills and ideas forward while having plenty of fun. "The Defender also has a great tradition and I think this year's design challenge is going to appeal to even more people." Ian Jones, product manager for the Defender, said: "The Defender is one of that small number of vehicles with the iconic strength to capture the public's imagination where ever it is. "Many people can identify with it while going back to their childhood and it always looks at home, whether being parachuted out of a plane, ploughing a field or skipping through the water at Newquay beach." Land Rover design boss and competition judge Geoff Upex said: "What we are looking for is a modern creative solution that captures the character of the Defender without being constrained by it."

CAR FIRM DIRECTORS RESIGN

Two non-executive directors of Midlands carmaker MG Rover have resigned following speculation of boardroom splits over the future of the company. Brian Parker and Terry Whitmore tendered their resignations from the eight-man board of the firm, bought this year from German car giant BMW. MG Rover boss John Towers has accepted the resignations.

SECURE UNIT FOR WIFE-KILLER

A schizophrenic killed his estranged wife after absconding from a non-secure psychiatric unit in Birmingham, the city's crown court has heard. Abdul Rehman, 39, stabbed Shamim Akhtar after leaving the unit in Small Heath. The judge ordered Rehman to be detained in a secure hospital indefinitely after he admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

MINISTER TO VISIT DRUGS GROUP

Health minister Gisela Stuart is set to visit an innovative support group for the parents and carers of illegal drug users in Birmingham. The group, Parents for Prevention, was set up in 1994 to provide support and advice for people in the city. The organisation, run by volunteers, supports parents and carers' roles in educating and supporting youngsters.

MOVES TO BOOST PUBLIC SERVICES

A national action plan detailing Government proposals to improve delivery of public services is to be unveiled in Birmingham. Cabinet Minister Lord Falconer will unveil the plan which will identify areas where the Government needs a new approach to services delivery. The minister will also visit Digbeth's Millennium Point development.

JURY CONTINUES DELIBERATIONS

A jury is set to resume deliberating at Birmingham Crown Court in the case of a man accused of murdering his ex-partner by giving her sulphuric acid. The panel of eight men and four women has so far deliberated over two days in the trial of Andrew Gardner, 40. Unemployed technician Gardner denies killing Dr Karenina Longe, 27, who died in the city's Heartlands Hospital.

WAR VETERAN DEVASTATED BY THEFT

A Birmingham war veteran has appealed to burglars to return his medals after they were stolen while he recovered in hospital from a heart attack. Former Marine Derek Roberts, 76, was devastated after thieves broke into his home in Nechells and stole six treasured war medals. "If the burglar has a conscience he should return them," he said.

COUPLE RALLY CHARITY SUPPORT

A Birmingham couple will mark their 31st wedding anniversary by taking part in the famous England to Italy car rally for the seventh year in a row. Martin and Sue Lawton hope to raise £2,000 for charity NCH Action for Children when they compete in 'The Italian Job' rally. "We know what we are doing this year -it's seventh time lucky," said Martin.

LOCAL NEWS 28/10/00

STARS AND THEIR CARS AT THE MOTOR SHOW

(l-r)Alain Menu, Anthony Reid and Richard Rydell who finished First, second and third placings in the 2000 British Touring Car Championships with one of their Ford Team Mondeo's at the autosport day of the British International Motor Show, NEC Birmingham. (Photo Martyn Hayhow)

The first day of the Motor Sports bonanza at the International Motor Show proved a huge hit with tens of thousands of fans who descended on Birmingham's NEC to catch a glimpse of the stars and their cars. Among the motor racing fraternity at the Show was OrangeArrows' Formula One star Pedro de la Rosa, ITV's F1 pundit Tony Jardine and newly-appointed US Le Mans series driver Oliver Gavin from Northamptonshire. Ford's British Touring Car champion Alain Menu joined his Ford Team Mondeo colleagues, Anthony Reid and Rickard Rydell and will be appearing again today. Vauxhall's British Touring Car Championship driver Jason Plato and British Rally Championship runner-up Mark Higgins are also making a reappearance today on the Vauxhall stand, as is British Rally Champion Marko Ipatti, with Mitsubishi. Britain's latest Formula One star, Jenson Button, is expected to attract huge crowds when he lines up for today's grid at the Motor Show. Al Clarke, head of communications for show organisers, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: "Today the stars of the motor sports world came to the NEC and the crowds have been flocking to the stands to meet their heroes. "At midday I walked around the halls and was astonished by the number of people interested in one of Britain's biggest exports, motor sport. "Tomorrow is the last chance to meet the heroes of motor sport and have a word with the legends of circuit racing, rallying and Formula One." Sam Warnock of Birmingham Marketing Partnership said he expected further large crowds to arrive at the show today and urged visitors to come early. He said: "We have been very aware of the large numbers of people that are in Birmingham city centre and I think part of that is down to people at the Motor Show taking the time to see the city as well. "People are coming down from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Newcastle in an initiative we've been running with British Airways, and we expect many more of them over this final weekend." Mr Warnock advised people to come early and make as much of their visit as they could. "Get their as early as you can to make a day of it and afterwards come into the city centre to enjoy the many restaurants, clubs and pubs Birmingham has to offer.

TOP STORE PLANNED FOR CITY

Top people's store Harvey Nichols is to open a £3m outlet spread out over 15,000sq ft in Birmingham. The store, in the Mailbox development, will open next year and is the first of 10 Harvey Nichols shops planned. Bosses at the Mailbox, a £150m leisure, shopping and residential development, say the company's decision to set up in the city is a major coup.

RAIL CHAOS FEARS DURING REPAIRS

Travellers in the West Midlands are braced for new train chaos this weekend as Railtrack launches its biggest work programme for more than a century. Silverlink announced a reduced service between Birmingham and London Euston. Virgin West Coast main line trains, which run from the West Country to north-west England, will be affected with delays of up to two hours.

STOLEN BABY CROCODILE IS FOUND

A baby crocodile that was bundled into a sack and stolen from a zoo's reptile house has been found at a pet shop in Wolverhampton, police have said. Police said the two-kilo west African dwarf crocodile was in a "poorly" condition back at Dudley Zoo after being found in the Dunstall Hill area. Staff at the store notified police and zoo keepers after spotting the animal.

TWO HURT IN COLLISION

An 18-year-old male driver and his 21-year-old female passenger suffered serious facial injuries after their car collided head-on with another vehicle. The accident happened in Rawnsley near Cannock when the teenager's Ford Orion was in collision with a Ford Fiesta. Both the injured were taken to the North Staffs hospital. The occupants of the other car suffered minor injuries.

BUDDING BUILDERS IN HOME DREAM

Builders aged 18 to 24 are being given the chance to construct their own homes in a new training scheme. Birmingham city council is running the scheme with Trident Housing Association and South Birmingham College to build 14 properties on Highgate. The project gives rookie builders a taste of the trade and leads to an NVQ in construction crafts.

POLICE IN NEW CRIME OPERATION

Warwickshire police is joining forces with health groups, local authorities and anti-drug and crime organisations to tackle violent crime in the county. Operation Impact II will also address domestic violence and alcohol-related crimes. The county currently has the lowest violent crime in Britain with only 5.3 offences per 1,000 of the population.

PENSIONER FREED FROM JAIL

A 75-year-old woman from Smethwick has been freed from jail after serving a one-week sentence for refusing to pay part of her council tax. Mary Rooney was jailed by Warley magistrates for withholding £360 of the bill after claiming her property was in the wrong band. Family met Miss Rooney on her release from Brockhill Prison, near Redditch.

RARE FUNGUS DISCOVERED

Experts are celebrating the discovery of Clathrus ruber, a rare dung-smelling species of fungus, at Broadwas Court, near Worcester. The cluster was found when enthusiasts trimmed back an old yew tree and samples will now be sent to botanists at Kew Gardens in London for analysis. The pungent organism normally only grows in Mediterranean countries.

ARTISTS' EXHIBITION IN DAMASCUS

A group of Coventry artists are to forge fresh links between Britain and Syria by mounting a new exhibition in the Middle East. Called States of Grace, paintings from six artists who have connections with Coventry University will be shown at the Assad Library in Damascus. It is the first British exhibition in the country for 40 years.

LOCAL NEWS 30/10/00

MOTOR SHOW SETS NEW RECORDS

The TVR Tuscan R at the British International Motor Show, NEC Birmingham, who's stunning appearance has attracted much interest.(Photo Martyn Hayhow)

Three new records have been set at the British International Motor Show, despite the disruption caused to visitors who travelled by train. For the first time ever, exhibitors and visitors have added more than £30m to the economy in the West Midlands, as Britain's biggest consumer show also employed more than 20,000 local people to stage this record-breaking event.

It has been a record-breaking Show for attendance too, as the Internet boosted overall attendance to well over one million for the first time in the history of the Motor Show. More than 100,000 overseas visitors logged on to visit the Motor Show via the website setting a new record for international visitors to the UK event, and more than 300,000 logged on in Britain, making over four million page impressions at www.motorshow.co.uk.

Despite the significant problems on the UK railways, with a 50% fall in visitors travelling to the NEC by train, the overall number of visitors to the Motor Show is expected to top 600,000 when the final audited numbers are released by ABC1.

Exhibitors have smashed their own targets too with record levels of orders taken and interest in their products at all time highs. The new MINI, in just the first 10 days of the Show, has generated over 20,000 serious sales leads and more than 200 orders, while Toyota has registered more than 15,000 serious enquiries about its cars. SEAT and Ford have both broken records for sales leads, and Nissan described the event as generating more new business with higher quality leads than in previous years. Lexus has taken over 45 orders for its new sports car, the SC430, and Peugeot has been flooded with enquiries about its new 206 Coupé Cabriolet, many of which will be turned into firm orders at local dealerships. Local company LDV has taken more orders than ever before at a Show, with its largest ever LPG order for over 500 vehicles, after just two days at the event. The small sports car manufacturers have also hailed the Show a success. Ascari has taken seven orders for its GBP130,000 Ascari KZ1. Eight orders for the new Trident Iceni have been taken at the Show and Spyker has taken 19 orders for its new £150,000 C8 Spyder - one of which was from pop star Jay Kay, who visited the Show on Press Day. Ginetta has taken four orders, with seven more 'close to signing' for the Ginetta 20 Roadster and Grinnall has had over 20 serious enquiries for its new sports car. TVR also claims that 10 per cent of its annual sales are made during the two-week showcase at the NEC.

Motor Show Chief Executive Christopher Macgowan said: 'This has been the most successful British International Motor Show on record and has generated high levels of new business both in the West Midlands and for companies across the whole motor industry. "As we close the doors tonight until 2002, the UK has put itself firmly on the world map yet again showing that Britain's most significant manufacturing industry is alive and growing fast." "We now need to work with government to ensure that we build on the success of the past two weeks and generate a bright solid future for the 800,000 people who work in this fine industry".

STRIKE TO BEGIN AT HOSPITALS

The sixth and longest strike by workers at the Dudley Group of Hospitals is due to start today and is scheduled to continue until November 10. About 600 non-clinical staff are expected to walk out for 12 days in protest at plans to contract their jobs out of the NHS. Unison will decide on November 9 whether to step up industrial action.

TRAIN CRASHES INTO TREE ON LINE

A train has crashed into a tree blown across the tracks by high winds on the Gloucestershire-Worcestershire border, British Transport Police have said. There were no reports of injuries in the crash near Evesham, or an earlier, similar crash near Guildford, Surrey. The Evesham train, which was disabled by the crash, was travelling from Great Malvern to London Paddington.

VIRGIN WARNED OF FAULTY TRACKS

Virgin Trains has revealed it had first raised concerns about faulty sections on the West Coast mainline in 1998. The train company said it alerted the network operator Railtrack to broken rails south of Rugby two years ago. Virgin Trains spoke out after newspaper allegations that maintenance workers were told not to replace faulty track to save money in September last year.

DRUG CRACKDOWN IS A SUCCESS

West Midlands police has hailed an operation to crack down on drug dealing in south Birmingham as a success. Operation Basilica in Balsall Heath, Moseley, Sparkhill and Sparkbrook has seen a 75% fall in drug pushing and 108 arrests, officers said. DI Andy Hough said the initiative could see a dip in other offences because of the connection between drugs and crime.

CAR WORKERS TO VOTE ON PAY DEAL

More than 5,000 workers at MG Rover's Longbridge plant in Birmingham are to vote on a pay offer worth almost 4%. Under the proposed deal the average weekly pay of a dayshift worker would rise from November 1 by more than £12 to £333 and a further £8 from January. The company is also planning to "buy out" a reduced hours agreement. The working week would revert to 37 hours.

WOMAN DIES IN WATERFALL PLUNGE

A woman died and a man was seriously injured after they fell 50ft down a waterfall near Oswestry. The married couple in their 50s were walking near the Pistyll Rhaeadr scenic falls near Oswestry in north Powys. Emergency services were called but the woman was pronounced dead. The man was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with head and chest injuries.

SWEETENERS FOR FOOTBALL TEAMS

Budding West Bromwich Albion footballers are being given a sweetener to help achieve their goals - with a new range of confectionery. Local firm the Sela Traditional Sweet Company has produced the toffee-centred mint humbugs in the Baggies' colours. The treats will be sold at matches to raise money for the team's under 13, 14 and 15 schoolboy squads.

LE BON LOOKS FORWARD TO RETURN

Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon is looking forward to returning to his Birmingham roots when his band arrives at the NEC in December. The 41-year-old left a drama course at the city's university to join the Eighties supergroup but says he still has a place in his heart for Brum. Le Bon lived in Quinton, Edgbaston and Balsall Heath from 1979 to 1982.

LOCAL NEWS 31/10/00

WIDESPREAD DISRUPTION CAUSED BY STORMS

The Midlands is today getting back to normal after some of the worst storms to hit the region for years. New Street Station was closed yesterday with all services in and out cancelled and today engineers are still struggling to clear lines blocked by fallen trees. Neither Railtrack or the train companies could say when normal services would be resumed but an emergency timetable was hoped to be operating by this morning. Also in Birmingham a man was feared drowned after he jumped into the swollen River Thame, apparently to escape arrest. He was being chased from an electrical store after he allegedly stole a CD player.

PROTEST PLANNED ON FUEL PRICES

Leaders of the fuel price protest have announced plans for a four-day slow-moving convoy of lorries. If next week's pre-Budget statement fails to deliver cuts, protesters say they will stage a modern-day "Jarrow Crusade" from Tyneside to London. The plans were announced at a public meeting called by the People's Fuel Lobby in Cheshire.

UNION'S SUPPLY TEACHER WARNING

Teaching unions in the region have warned that education could be affected by increasing use of supply staff. More full-time staff are joining agencies offering similar pay and a reduced workload, and authorities are using them to plug the gaps. Paul Blake, NUT regional officer, said youngsters did not respond well when faced with regular teacher changes.

PETS WARNING OVER FIREWORKS RSPCA

chiefs in the region are ready for a surge in animal casualties as the firework season approaches. Charity bosses in Telford are warning revellers to take precautions, including locking their pets inside. Regional manager Steven Mulholland said: "Despite annual warnings we continue to receive calls about animal casualties with horrific injuries."

CRIME ADVICE FOR STUDENTS

West Midlands Police and Wolverhampton University have joined forces to offer crime preventon advice to students. Representatives from the Wolverhampton West Operational Command Unit will be on hand at advice sessions at the institution to talk to students. Officers say that new students need practical advice and support to reduce their chances of being targeted.

ATHLETE OPENS RECRUITMENT SITE

Former British international 400m star Roger Black is opening a new £2m recruitment centre in Birmingham. Adecco says its 8,000 sq ft offices in the Business Centre, New Street, is the largest of its 5,000 recruitment centres in the world. Boss Richard Martin said: "This investment means we can react quickly to shifting customer demands."

PROTECTION STATUS FOR WOODLAND

Ancient woodlands near Solihull are to be given nature reserve status to protect its rare flora and fauna. Palmers Rough, near Shirley, and Dorridge Wood, Dorridge Park, are the latest of six protected sites earmarked in the borough for conservation. Ecologists said the areas, which total 35 acres, contain wild plants and animals of real conservational value.

CD-ROM USED TO LEARN OF BLITZ

Schoolchildren in Coventry are being given the chance to use a new CD-Rom to learn about the city during the Blitz. Council cultural development officials and education chiefs have developed the CD-Rom which plays interviews with survivors giving eyewitness accounts. The new tool recalling the Second World War bombing is part of the millennium Coventry Lives project.

IMMIGRANTS' SMUGGLER JAILED

A ringleader of an operation to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. An undercover operation cracked the ring that brought in Asian immigrants heading for a new life in Canada. At Newcatle Crown Court, ex-market trader Jasvir Singh Bains, 35, of Wolverhampton, admitted conspiring to help illegal immigration into the UK.

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