Birmingham Post

Man Jailed for Killing Chase Student

A businessman has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for manslaughter after he chased a Birmingham student who was then knocked down by a car and killed. Christopher Gray, aged 21, was struck by a car on the Bristol Road as he ran away from Robert Lewis following a scuffle.

Nec Boss's Pledge to Clear Debts

The chief executive of the NEC has unveiled a ten-year plan to free Birmingham's council taxpayers from the shackles of the exhibition group's debt burden. Andrew Morris said his vision was to make the NEC Group - comprising the National Exhibition Centre, International Convention Centre and National Indoor Arena - self-sufficient by eliminating the 'deficits' which have plagued the complex.

Birmingham's New Ring Road

U-Turn Gives Coventry Airport the Green Light

A Midland council has performed a seven-day U-turn to give conditional approval for a permanent two million passengers-a-year airport near Coventry. Warwick District Council will now tell a public inquiry in January it will agree to a residents' compensation package offered by Coventry Airport if it beefs up its public transport proposals.

Sex Attack

Police in Stafford are appealing for witnesses after a heavily pregnant woman was indecently assaulted yesterday. The woman was approached between 10.45am and 11am by a man near the Bargain Booze shop in Stone Road, Greyfriars, Stafford, as she walked towards the town centre.

Council Cleared

Fans Held

A group of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans suspected of being involved in a fight in Blackpool in June were arrested in dawn raids yesterday. The fight inside the Foxhall pub, on Saturday, June 25, is believed to have involved a group of Wolves supporters and a stag party from Leeds. It spilled out on to the promenade, and involved more than 50 people.

Toddler Horror

Two people arrested after a toddler died when his head apparently became trapped in an electric car window have been released on police bail. A man, aged 34, and a woman, aged 25, were detained on suspicion of manslaughter following the death of the two-year-old boy in St Austell Road, Wyken, Coventry.

British Gas Staff E-Porn Inquiry

British Gas has suspended 28 Solihull office workers after an investigation found staff were allegedly distributing pornographic emails. The staff at Blythe Valley Business Park will face disciplinary hearings and could either be dismissed or receive written warnings.

Salt Death Couple Want to See Boy's Health Report

A man convicted with his wife of killing a three-year-old boy they planned to adopt by force-feeding him salt is demanding to see a social services report into the youngster's previous health problems. Ian and Angela Gay were each jailed for five years in January after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Christian Blewitt.

Genius or Just a Low-Life

The Paddingtons/ Babyshambles Birmingham Carling Academy

Police Win More Time to Quiz Suspects

Detectives investigating the theft of a pensioner's body from a grave were given a further 36 hours last night to question four people arrested as part of the inquiry. The three men and one woman were detained on Tuesday on suspicion of conspiracy to blackmail. Detectives had until 9pm last night to decide on their next course of action.

Pounds 600m Blueprint to Put Walsall 'Back On Map'

A pounds 600 million drive to transform Walsall will see the town 'rise from the ashes' of industrial decline, its leader said yesterday. A multi-million-pound regeneration programme aims to reinvent the town as a modern, cosmopolitan 'market town' with canalside apartments, new public spaces, and upmarket offices, shops and restaurants.

Police Name Family Break Crash Driver

A motorist who was killed in a head-on car crash in Dorset has been named by police. Mark Szuler, aged 38, was on holiday with his family when the accident happened on the B3157 at Portesham, near Weymouth, last Friday.

Water to Play Part in Town's Renaissance ; Shahid Naqvi Took a Helicopter Ride Over Walsall to Get an Idea of the Size of the Task Ahead.

Water is not something you associate with Walsall. But rising above the Black Country town in a helicopter it was surprising to see what looked like dozens of small ponds reflecting back the mid-afternoon light.

Health Matters: Experts Deliver Sober Facts On Alcohol Risk ; Although the Dangers of Binge Drinking Are Well Known There Is Still Much Confusion Over How Much Is Too Much. Health Reporter Emma Brady Looked at How a Few Quick Drinks After Work Can Result in More Than a Hangover

Say binge drinking and most people will think of teenagers and 20- something revellers downing alcopops and pints before collapsing outside a bar or club. Department of Health guidelines define a binge as eight units for a man, six for a woman, in one session.

Health Matters: Sensible Message Must Be Made so Drinking Can Be Enjoyed

Most adults in Britain drink alcohol primarily because it is an enjoyable, social activity. However, many drink for other reasons, such as loneliness, depression, courage, to be one of the lads (or ladettes), or to cope with life's stresses.

Health Matters: Hospital Manager Seconded

Heartlands Hospital boss Mark Goldman is to take up the reins of Good Hope Hospital to help it to ride out a management crisis. The chief executive, who steered Heartlands to become one of Birmingham's first foundation status hospitals, is to join the struggling Sutton Coldfield hospital next month.

Metals Boss in Threat to Relocate

The boss of one of Birmingham's oldest metal-bashing companies has hit out at conservationists for "throwing a spanner in the works" by objecting to his plans to redevelop a prime Jewellery Quarter site. Russell Luckock, managing director of A E Harris, said he would consider moving the company to South Wales if he fails in a long fight to gain planning permission to build flats, offices and shops on the firm's Northwood Street site.

Death Crash Appeal

Police in Staffordshire are appealing for witnesses after a man was killed in a road accident involving five cars. Keith Botten aged 63, of The Saplings, Penkridge, was pronounced dead at the scene after his green Mazda convertible MX5 was in collision with a silver Peugeot 206 on the A449 at Dunston near Penkridge yesterday morning.