Birmingham Post

Villa Takeover Deal 'Could Be Sealed in Early January'

The consortium behind a pounds 64 million bid for Aston Villa told the Stock Exchange yesterday that talks were "progressing" as normal. The statement came after speculation that a deal could be completed early in the New Year.

New Year Honours Joy for 'Ordinary' Heroes

A foster couple who have cared for more than 350 children over three decades and a lollipop lady lead the field of 'ordinary' heroes in today's New Year honours. They are among dozens of Midlanders ranging from charity workers to school heads and public servants who join stars from showbiz and sport in the list.

University to Adopt New Logo

Birmingham University is seeking to register its new coat of arms as the institution's official corporate logo. The university, which earlier this year launched a pounds 120,000 rebranding campaign to shed its "dull and conservative" image, will use the trademark on items it sells, such as aca-demic books and stationery.

Two Die in French Road Crash

A Staffordshire couple on their way back from Eurodisney died when their car overturned in wintry conditions on a French motorway, police said last night. The man, aged 36, and woman, aged 39, from Stafford, were believed to have been travelling at around 200kph (120mph) when the accident happened.

Inside Today: Fixtures Grumble

Inside Today: Mail Pretenders

Inside Today: Snubbed Again

Inside Today: Health Battle

Inside Today: Hostages 'Freed'

Inside Today: Merger Ahead

Inside Today: Fury at Tory

Inside Today: Chop the Cards

Inside Today: Snow Blows Over

Midland: Farewell to Snow After Day of Chaos On Britain's Roads

Heavy snow and strong winds caused more travel chaos yesterday as forecasters gave the welcome news that the end of the cold snap was in sight. Dozens of road crashes across the country were caused by the icy conditions and airports were forced to divert flights as runways became blanketed in snow.

Midland: City Expert's Legacy for Our Sick Children ; Since Birmingham's Medical School Opened in December 1825, It has Led the Way in Research and Developing Modern Medicine. Health Reporter Emma Brady Looks at How One Pioneering Professor Changed the Way Doctors Treat Childhood Diseases

The biggest battle paediatricians face in the 21st century is tackling childhood obesity and the associated health problems resulting from calorific diets high in fat and low in vitamins. But academics and GPs are now looking to the work of an eminent Birmingham University professor whose work on rickets and paediatrics is still relevant, nearly 80 years later.

News Digest: Midland: News Digest: It's a Hit, Baby

A civil baby-naming ceremony launched 12 months ago in Shropshire has proved extremely popular with the county's parents. More than 20 couples used the service in its first year of operation, the local authority revealed.

Midland: News Digest: Driver, 66, Killed

A 66-year-old Solihull woman was killed when her car hit a tree. The accident happened at about 12.30 pm yesterday in School Road, Hall Green.

Midland: News Digest: 'Jailed' for Charity

A leading charity for the blind in Birmingham is calling on people across the city to nominate someone to be publicly arrested and jailed in aid of a good cause. Birmingham Focus on Blindness is once again staging its "Jail em and Bail em" event and it wants the city's leading lights to support the charity by spending a day behind bars.

Midland: News Digest: Victim Named

Police have named a pedestrian who died after being struck by a car in the West Midlands. Graham Hadlington, aged 58, died in hospital after suffering serious head injuries in a collision with a Ford Focus in Bromsgrove Road, Halesowen, on December 19.

Midland: City Voters Guilty of Fraud in Iraqi Elections - Writer

An investigation is under way into claims of massive voting fraud at the Birmingham polling station used for the Iraqi elections. Independent overseers were examining allegations that more than 2,000 people voted twice or more during the three-day ballot, staged at the Paragon Hotel, in Alcester Street, Digbeth, earlier this month.