Birmingham Post

Social Services Chiefs Hopeful of Bed-Blocking Deal

Social services bosses last night said they were hopeful of striking a deal with Birmingham health chiefs over bedblocking fines they will be forced to pay under a new act which comes into effect next week. Under the new fines system, Birmingham City Council would have to pay pounds 100 a day to compensate hospitals for patients forced to remain in beds because no residential care has been found for them. Currently, there are 35 people who fall into that category.

Britons Are Killed in Safari Bus Tragedy

Eight British tourists have been killed in a New Year's Eve crash in South Africa when their minibus overturned after swerving to avoid a pedestrian said to be intent on committing suicide. The holidaymakers, who were on a walking safari tour, had been in the country for about ten days when tragedy struck.

Drivers Facing Year of Chaos

Business leaders said last that the region's road network was lurching 'from one crisis to another' as motorists returning to work after the holiday period were warned to expect the possibility of severe delays because of major roadworks. The works herald the start of what looks set to be a year of traffic chaos, with two lengthy blockades of the M6 near Birmingham planned to prevent potholes opening up and Birmingham City Council carrying out work on the A38(M) in the summer.

It's a Wrap: Zara Caught On Camera at the Races

Aston Pays Tribute to Letisha and Charlene

The families of murdered teenagers Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis joined more than 500 friends last night at a special remembrance service to mark the first anniversary of their deaths. The emotional church service in Aston took place just yards from the spot where the two college friends were shot dead in the early hours of January 2 2003 outside a hairdressers salon which was hosting a New Year party. Charlene's twin sister, Sophie, who was injured in the hail of bullets, sang a son...

Britons Are Killed in Safari Bus Tragedy

Eight British tourists have been killed in a New Year's Eve crash in South Africa when their minibus overturned after swerving to avoid a pedestrian said to be intent on committing suicide. The holidaymakers, who were on a walking safari tour, had been in the country for about ten days when tragedy struck.

University Tackles Surgical Shortage

A course to address the shortage of hospital operating theatre technicians is being launched at a Midland university. Staffordshire University will run a two-year diploma in operating department practice, training students to provide direct patient care through the anaesthetic, surgery and recovery phases of their treatment.

Drama May Help Treat Schizophrenics

A drama to help health professionals to diagnose and treat young patients with schizophrenia has been developed in the Midlands. When Time Collapses is based on the true story of one family torn apart by the condition and will be used as a training tool for GPs, social workers and trainee psychiatrists.

Cowboys' Farm Scam

The National Farmers Union has issued a warning after thieves distracted a farmer by letting his cattle on to a nearby road and burgled his home while he was out rounding them up. The organisation fears the incident, at the farm in Rowington near Leamington Spa, is not the first time thieves have struck in this way.

Drunks On the Cards

Rare cards dating back to the early 1900s which feature the mugshots of notorious drunks have gone on display alongside court records detailing their misdeeds. The cards, issued by police in Wolverhampton under the 1902 Licensing Act to alert landlords to troublemakers, were purchased at auction by the city's archive service.

Hospitals Where Patients Enjoy Feasts Fit for Kings ; Hospital Food Used to Rival Airline Food When It Came to Having a Bad Reputation. But One Hospital Trust has Won Acclaim for the Standard and Variety of Meals It Provides Patients. Health Correspondent Sophie Blakemore Reports.

The majority of the country's population will have been overindulging in a lot of what it likes over the Christmas and New Year period. But for those less fortunate souls who were forced to spend the holiday season in a hospital bed, what to have for dinner may not have been such a festive event.

Cemetery Going for Natural Look

Work is under way to create the first woodland burial plots in the West Midlands with trees, natural stones and wildflower meadows surrounding the graves. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council officials are looking at plans to develop an area for the first Arcadian-style final resting places in the region.

Woman Pc Scalded in Incident

Two women Pcs were beaten and scalded by a man when they went to break up a domestic disturbance, police said yesterday. One of the officers had boiling water thrown over her face and shoulders before she was punched, while the second was grabbed by the hair, swung into a wall and kicked in the head after she fell.

Appeal After Crash Death

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward following the death of a woman involved in a car accident. The victim, who has not been named, was involved in an accident in Turnhurst Road, Stokeon-Trent, Staffordshire, just after midnight yesterday.

Simon Buckley

Tory Complains As Domestic Violence Helpline Begins

Caroline Spelman, Shadow Minister for Women, has welcomed a new 24-hour helpline for victims of domestic violence but said it should have been set up sooner. The Conservative MP for Meriden attacked the Government for delaying the launch of the hotline for 12 months.

Oasis of Peace in the Bullring ; the Bullring has Seen Its First Christmas and the Start of Its First New Year Sales with Shoppers Flocking to the Complex. In the Midst of the Bustling Shopping Centre Is the Peaceful Oasis of St Martin- in-the-Bullring Church. Religious Affairs Reporter Emma Pinch Spoke to the Man Who has Steered It Through the Development

I t stands at the crossroads between old and new, rich and poor, the worship of money and the riches of heaven. It is as it always has been. St Martin-in-the-Bullring church has been cleaned up and modernised, but in many ways it is more like the parish church of 1,000 years ago than it ever has been in its recent history.

Mini Icon Now On Sale

Miniature versions of one of Birmingham's newest icons -the Bullring bull -have gone on sale. Since the pounds 530 million development opened in September, centre bosses have continually been asked by shoppers where they can buy models of the bronze statue.

Where Have All the Birds Gone?

Starlings and house sparrows, once common visitors to gardens in the West Midlands, are rapidly disappearing from bird tables across the region. The British Trust for Ornithology has warned of worrying declines of the once familiar species and is urging gardeners in the West Midlands to take part in a survey to highlight falling numbers.

Martin Says He Would Kill Again

Tony Martin jailed for shooting dead a burglar who broke into his isolated home has declared that he would do the same thing again in similar circumstances. Mr Martin was commenting after listeners to BBC Radio 4's Today programme gave their backing to the idea of legislation which would authorise homeowners to use any means to defend their property.