Birmingham Post

Find Killers Who Left Our Parents Dying in Street

The family of a couple killed when a stolen sports car smashed into their vehicle last night condemned their parents' callous killers and called for an end to the lawlessness plaguing Britain's streets. Ken Whyne made a heartbreaking plea after his parents, who had devoted nearly 70 years to public service between them, were killed in a hit-and-run accident in Birmingham on New Year's Eve.

Amy Killing: Man Held

Police have been granted more time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murdering pregnant teenager Amy Williams. A West Mercia Police spokesman yesterday said detectives had been given a 32-hour extension for further custody to question the man until 1.45pm today. The 27year-old, from Telford, was arrested on Thursday.

'We're Back to Putting Kids Up Chimneys'

Education reforms allowing teenagers to spend part of the week in the workplace are a return to 'putting youngsters up chimneys', an engineering group has claimed. Work-based placements are a key to radical changes to the curriculum for 14 to 19-yearolds outlined by Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector of schools.

City-Based Islamic Relief Already On the Ground in Indonesia

Staff from a Birminghambased charity have started work helping rebuild an Indonesian community shattered by the tsunami disaster which has claimed more than 129,000 lives in South-east Asia. Islamic Relief was the first charity on the ground in Aceh, described as the worstaffected region in Indonesia, following last weekend's earthquake and giant tidal waves.

List Pays Tribute to Nation's Achievers

The New Year Honours List, issued on Friday,'reflects and pays tribute to the outstanding achievement and service right across the community and the nation as a whole,' according to the Prime Minister's spokeswoman. 'The key aim has been to reward those who work and serve at the sharp end - people who really change things, who give all, who have given outstanding service in difficult situations.'

Honours Uneven? ; the Birmingham Post Chief Football Writer Hyder Jawad Casts His Eyes Over the New Year Honours List and Is Far From Impressed.

Congratulations, Richard Bowker. Your reward for your wretched failure as the head of the Strategic Rail Authority is the title of Commander of the British Empire. Just put CBE after your name and people are sure to think that you have been successful. Arise, John Gieve. Your reward for making a mockery of your position as Permanent Secretary at the Home Office is a knighthood. Just put Sir before your name and people are bound to think that you have done a good job.

Seasonal Railway Disruption at an End As Six Platforms Reopened

Six platforms at Birmingham New Street Station were due to reopen this morning, ending a festive period of disruption. A pounds 9.5 million programme to replace a 40-year-old stretch of track at the Stour tunnels end of the station started on Christmas Day and was expected to finish on schedule for a 5.30 opening today.

Mother: How I Will Miss My Amy

Smiling, happy and relaxed, expectant teenage mother Amy Williams enjoys a family celebration on Christmas Day. Less than 48 hours later, the 14 year-old's naked body was found dumped in a graveyard. The pink tracksuit she sports in this, the last known photograph of her, was missing.

Birmingham's Concrete Collar Under Attack

The next assault on the concrete collar of Birmingham's Queensway ring road - a pounds 200 million transformation of derelict land next to Snow Hill Station - is about to move a step closer to reality. After more than 20 years spent discussing the future of the station site, presently used as a car park, the city council is confident building work will finally begin in 2006.

Council Pledge Over City's Urban Park

The first urban park to be built in Birmingham for more than a century will be open by 2008, the city council promised. Cabinet members are ready to approve the first phase of the Eastside City Park, a pounds 150,000 temporary events and exhibition space on land in front of Curzon Street Station.

Man Held Over Armed Siege

A man was being questioned by police yesterday following an armed siege at a Warwickshire house. Police were called to Marlborough Road, Rugby, at about 2.30am on Saturday following reports that a man armed with a firearm had made threats to members of the household, which included two women and a child.

Hortons' Estate Founder's Tomb Is Restored

One of the largest tombs in Birmingham's oldest cemetery has been restored to its former glory. The monument in Hockley's Key Hill Cemetery commemorates Hortons' Estate founder Isaac Horton, who died in 1880. It has been restored using pounds 3,000 given by the Midlandbased property developers he founded.

Fears for Charlene

Staffordshire police are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of a 16year-old girl who failed to return home after a New Year's Eve party. Charlene Kamara, from Northwood, near Stoke, telephoned her parents in the early hours of January 1 to say she would be back, but has not been seen since.

University Attacked for Foreign Students 'Cash Cow' Plan

Britain's biggest university plans a massive expansion in overseas students to bring in extra cash from the higher course fees they have to pay. The University of Manchester said it wanted more foreign students because they have to pay full course fees - about eight times the tuition fees currently paid by UK students.

Girls Shun Careers in Industry

Disturbingly high levels of gender stereotyping mean few schoolgirls are considering engineering as a career in the West Midlands. Just over one per cent of girls aged 11 to 14 expressed an interest in engineering and manufacturing while 15 per cent of boys put it as their first choice, the survey of 2,500 youngsters by the Engineering Employers' Federation found.

Alvechurch Morris Men

Region Is 'Poor' at Waste Planning

A national body representing civil engineers has condemned the West Midlands' approach to solving its waste headache as 'poor'. The Institute of Civil Engineers said waste disposal was one of the most important issues for the region in the coming years.

Police Blitz On Court Warrants

Police are urging defendants who have failed to turn up at court to hand themselves in before they are re-arrested as part of a major new campaign. Operation Turn Up will involve a series of co-ordinated local blitzes by West Midlands Police on outstanding 'fail to appear' bail warrants.

Pakistani Families Aid Research

Pakistani families and their children will be the basis for new research into the problems faced by immigrants. Academics from the Centre for Research in Early Childhood at University College Worcester will work with Pushtuspeaking families in Birmingham as part of the project. They are investigating the pre- school experiences of newlyarrived immigrant children in Britain, Europe and America.

Drug Scheme Helps Paramedics Save Lives

Worcestershire paramedics have helped save 100 heart attack patients since the launch of a project involving clot-busting drugs. Since May 2002, Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service crews have been able to administer the drugs to anyone suffering chest pains.