Birmingham Post

Terror Threat Gets Better of Peace Vigil

For three years, Midland carpenter Brian Haw was waged a one-man peace vigil outside the Houses of Parliament. And MPs have been demanding his removal for almost as long, claiming he makes too much noise, vandalises public property and creates a mess liable to repel tourists.

Airport Told to Stop Flying in Seven Days

Coventry Airport has been given seven days to stop using its passenger terminal building for flights or face legal action for flouting planning laws. Warwick District Council last night gave airport bosses TUI a week to stop using the building, which is vital to the new Thomsonfly passenger services which began yesterday, and 28 days to pull it down or it would go to the High Court for an injunction.

Blair Wins Fees Vote Despite Rebellion

University top-up fees are set to become a reality after Tony Blair saw off opponents to win last night's key Commons vote on the flagship policy. A Labour rebel amendment opposing the fees was defeated by 316 to 288, a majority of 28, as the Bill received its third reading.

Cash Crisis Forces Auto Firm Mayflower Into Administration

Bus-maker Mayflower -a huge supplier to the West Midlands automotive industry -was last night placed into administration after bosses failed to find a solution to the company's financial crisis. Most of the group, which employs around 3,000 people in the UK, is now in the hands of professional services firm Deloitte.

Hooligan Leader Was Notorious Throughout World of Football

Among the Aston Villa fans jailed for fighting before the 2002 derby game with Birmingham City at St Andrew's was one well-known hooligan. Steven Fowler was refused entry to both Japan and Belgium when the countries held football tournaments in 2002 and 2000.

Villa Fans Jailed Following Blues Derby Day Violence

Eleven Aston Villa supporters caught on camera involved in pitched battles with Birmingham City fans before the first Premiership derby match have been jailed. The fans, who were sentenced to between two and nine months in prison, were also banned from attending any football matches for between six and ten years.

Business Accepts Road Charging

Businesses in Birmingham would be in favour of a certain amount of road charging if there was an obvious improvement to congestion, a Birmingham debating society will be told tonight. The historic Lunar Society will be told by Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry policy director Jerry Blackett that nine out of every ten businesses say congestion causes them a problem.

Phone Raider Sent to Jail

A man has been jailed for twoand-a-half years for his part in a raid on a Coventry mobile phone store. But Nathan Jones was cleared on the directions of the judge of being involved in an attack with a disc cutter on a man who disturbed them as they sorted their haul.

Campaigners Admit City Centre Improvement Faces Uphill Struggle

Supporters of moves to introduce a business rates levy in return for environmental and security improvements to Birmingham city centre admit they face a difficult challenge to gain approval for the groundbreaking idea. More than 1,200 businesses will vote early next year on proposals for two American-style Business Improvement Districts -where occupiers pay an additional annual charge to the council in return for enhanced public services.

Gorillas and Lions Could Make Office Scheme a Real Business Jungle

Birmingham's search for luxury office space has taken a new twist -the latest upmarket scheme could include a mini-zoo for the enjoyment of pampered employees. HBG Properties, the company behind the 51,000 sq ft Parklands Reserve development in Longbridge, is talking to city council planners about the possibility of turning adjoining woods and parkland into a secure sanctuary for wild animals.

Pounds 8.99 Return Fare to Rome Is a Good Enough Incentive

Well, Wormwood didn't fall from the sky and there was no sign of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse at the launch of passenger flights at Coventry Airport yesterday morning. But there was still some suspicious 'organic matter' in theointment. The start of Thomsonfly's operations at the Baginton airfield has been the subject of so much intrigue, suspicion and bitter acrimony that it could not have possibly gone off without a hitch. But it very nearly did.

Lick That, Says Ann Summers

Sex shop chain Ann Summers, which brought sex toys and saucy lingerie to the British High Street, said yesterday it will start selling ice cream. 'As everyone knows, sex and ice cream can both be erotic, sensual, delicious experiences,' the company said, announcing the first four flavours -Chocolate Banana, Forbidden Fruit, Come Back For Coffee? and Pop My Cherry.

Final Scene for Cinema

Birmingham's oldest independent art house cinema failed to sell after going under the hammer yesterday. The Electric Cinema (above) -closed in January after 96 years of serving the region -was put up for auction at the Aston Villa Conference Centre, but was not sold.

Crimewatch Plea Helps Murder Hunt

Police received several calls last night about the murder of a man shot after a raid on a city centre building society. Detectives said one man identified by CCTV footage came forward after details of the killing of Joseph Nwabuko was featured on the BBC Crimewatch programme.

Pervert Made Secret Video

A self-confessed paedophile who made secret video recordings of naked and partially clothed children as they played in a Birmingham park has been jailed for seven months. Stanley Daniel also took covert pictures of young children in a playground as well as hiding a video camera in a speaker at a house in order to film a young girl, the city's Crown Court heard. Daniel (45), of Tangmere Drive, Castle Vale, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault and 14 charges of taking indecent photos.

Chef Jailed for Robbing Pub Boss of Pounds 10,000

A pub chef handcuffed and robbed his boss at gunpoint before making off with a bag containing almost pounds 10,000, Birmingham Crown Court heard yesterday. But Chifri Madjid failed to secure his victim properly and he ran after and caught him after he dropped his gun and the bag broke.

Brummies Deluded Over Fees

Birmingham parents are burying their heads in the sand over the cost of university education, with only six per cent aware of the cost of a three-year course according to a new survey. The claim follows research by iPledge, a new company offering financial saving packages to parents wishing to put their children through university.

Directors Meet Over Funding Lottery

Campaigners from the country's worst funded education authorities have accused the Government of widening the gulf between rich and poor schools. During a meeting in Worcester, education directors repeated their claim that Ministers had created a 'funding lottery' that favours some authorities at the expense of others depending on their geographical location.

Brightest Pupils Are Special Cases Too

Britain's brightest pupils need extra help so they do not become isolated and disengaged from education, according to the head of a national centre for gifted youngsters. Professor Deborah Eyre, director of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth at Warwick University, spoke following a father's failed legal bid to get his super-bright daughter special needs status.

Tribunals 'Likely to Backfire' On Colleges

University 'tribunals' which come into force today will make it easier for students to claim damages and could offset any extra cash coming into higher education through tuition top-up fees, lawyers warned last night. They claim the new body will encourage a 'blame culture' in higher education similar to that which exists in the United States, where students often sue universities for injuries sustained while drinking at fraternity parties.