Birmingham Post

Why You Pay a Hospital Mortgage

Taxpayers will be paying billions of pounds in "mortgages" for Midlands hospitals built for a fraction of a cost, the Government has revealed. Private sector contractors will receive pounds 8.9 billion for hospitals worth only pounds 1.4 billion.

Bravura Performance From Jodie Is an Ear-Opener

A 450-strong orchestra of children trained almost entirely by ear will entertain audiences at Birmingham Symphony Hall this weekend. Jodie Smith, aged nine, from New Oscott Primary School, is one of the leading talents of the Bravura group, and she will perform a violin solo at the concerts tonight and tomorrow evening. The Bravura group is made up of children from across the country who have been taught to play musical instruments using the Suzuki method. The method, developed about 70 years...

Merry Hill All Set to Start Charging for Parking

The Midlands biggest shopping complex is to impose parking charges on its customers for the first time. The move, from next year, brings the pounds 1 billion Merry Hill centre into line with Birmingham and other West Midlands towns and cities.

Brum Archbishop Accused of Deception Over Faith Schools

The Archbishop of Birmingham was accused yesterday of running a "very deceptive campaign" in the battle over the future of faith schools. The former Conservative Education Secretary Kenneth Baker - now Lord Baker - criticised the Most Rev Vincent Nichols (below) who had opposed Education Secretary Alan Johnson's plans to force faith schools to accept more pupils from non-religious backgrounds.

News Digest: Man Charged

A teenager was last night charged with the murder of a prison officer who was found dead at her home. The body of Naomi Phipps, who worked at Blakenhurst jail in Worcestershire, was found at her home in Patch Lane, Redditch, at about 7.50pm on Sunday.

News Digest: Stars for Match

Former internationals are due to take part in a football match in Staffordshire tomorrow in memory of a player who died after collapsing on the pitch. A post mortem revealed 27-year-old Matt Gadsby, who was in action for Hinckley United at Harrogate when the tragedy happened on September 9, had a heart condition.

News Digest: 'Harold' Goes

A popular long serving court clerk at Birmingham magistrates has retired after 44 years service in the law. John Kelly, from Droit-wich, Worcestershire, began working in the offices at the city magistrates in 1962 alongside his wife Andrea before becoming a clerk in 1968.

Don't Give Up Over Row On Drugs, Cfrs Urged

Volunteer ambulance crew leaders last night urged colleagues in Staffordshire not to resign after they were banned from administering life-saving drugs. Staffordshire Ambulance Community First Responders held an emergency meeting on Thursday night following the announcement earlier this week that they would no longer be able to carry emergency drugs for conditions such as asthma attacks, heart attacks and epilepsy.

Trawler Searchers Find Body in Sea

Coastguards searching for the crew of a missing trawler last night pulled a body from the North Sea. The Meridian disappeared in the heaving waters between Scotland and Norway with four men on board, during violent storms on Thursday.

Mahmood Calls for Better Bus Service Instead of Long-Awaited Metro Extension

The long-awaited extension to the region's metro system in Birmingham city centre should be scrapped in favour of better bus services, according to a local MP. Khalid Mahmood (Lab Perry Barr) told Ministers the metro line "will never take off".

Horse and Cart Driven Through Drink Case

The trial of a traveller accused with being drunk in charge of a horse and carriage was thrown out yesterday after magistrates ruled there was no case to answer. William Royles, aged 21, of Sandhurst Lane, Gloucester, was stopped by police in the city after he was spotted driving a carriage, drawn by his two-year-old bay Dipstick, in the dark.

Time for a Change

A Birmingham-based safety group claims 90 per cent of people support its campaign for lighter evenings throughout the year. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is calling for Britain to abolish its practice of following Greenwich Mean Time in winter and adding just one hour in summer.

The Dark Diaries of an Unexpected Casanova ; Former Home Secretary David Blunkett Was in Waterstones, Birmingham, Promoting the Publication of His Diaries, the Blunkett Tapes. Emma Pinch Talks to Him About What Contains - and What It Leaves Out

The trouble with David Blunkett is, he's a romantic. Shortly after ascertaining which voice belonged to which newspaper, friendly blue eyes flickering over our faces, he plunged into his abiding memory of Shropshire.

Tears From Man Accused of Deaths

A man accused of murdering four family members, including his former girlfriend, in an arson attack in Staffordshire has denied having played any part in starting the blaze. Mark Goldstraw told Stafford Crown Court he had no reason to want his alleged victims dead.

Ramsay Leaves Sour Taste Over Chocs

Controversial celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has put his foot in it with dismissive remarks about the quality of his own range of boxed chocolates. The 39-year-old (left), known for his expletives, kept it clean as he defended the range.

Muslims 'Must Help to Undermine Al Qaida'

Britain cannot defeat terrorism unless Muslims support the battle of ideas against al Qaida, the Home Secretary warned during a visit to Birmingham yesterday. John Reid said the security services could not protect the British people from attack alone.

Isolated Hewitt Humiliated Over Alcohol Tax Call

An isolated Patricia Hewitt was left humiliated yesterday, when the Treasury rejected the Health Minister's call for increased taxes on alcohol - saying it is was her responsibility to combat binge drinking. Sources indicated the proposal was unlikely to get off the ground because it would punish responsible drinkers in an attempt to change the behaviour of a small minority.

Bald Truth for Blair

A lifelong Labour stalwart almost blew his chances of being made an honorary member of the party when he told Tony Blair how he remembered him from when he had a "full head of hair". The 83-year-old collared the Prime Minister as he visited a community centre in his constituency yesterday to ask about being given the honorary privilege.

Cameron Outrunning Brown

David Cameron is racing ahead of Gordon Brown in the personal popularity stakes, according to a poll yesterday. The YouGov survey shows almost half of voters would rather see the Tory leader installed as the next prime minister - with less than a third backing the Chancellor.

Another Benn Goes for Deputy Leadership of Labour

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn last night threw his hat into the ring for the Labour deputy leadership. Mr Benn announced that he would allow himself to be nominated to replace John Prescott "when the time comes".