Birmingham Post

Eileen Sullivan

Surgeon Opposes Call for Military Hospital

A senior consultant at the Birmingham hospital used to treat wounded soldiers has dismissed calls for a military-only complex at the site. Wing Commander Ian Sergeant, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM), located at Selly Oak Hospital, said the NHS offered a valuable local service and a military-only hospital would be counter-productive.

Confusion Reigns Over Death of Saddam

Members of Iraq's parliament and families of Saddam Hussein's victims will witness the former leader's execution, planned to take place before the end of the day. American and Iraqi officials said Saddam was last night still in the hands of American guards. The physical transfer of the former dictator to Iraqi authorities is one of the last steps before his hanging.

Arise Sir Howard, 'Professor of Green'

A key Government adviser on global warming heads the Midland honours list today after being made a knight. Professor Sir Howard Dalton, chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and based at the University of Warwick, has warned that governments around the world need to do more to tackle climate change.

News Digest: Terror Suits

Thousands more police officers will be equipped to deal with chemical, biological or nuclear terror attacks under Government plans to buy new protective suits. The Home Office has put out to tender a contract to provide it with 12,000 personal protection suits in the event of a 'dirty bomb' attack.

News Digest: Murray's Mint

News Digest: Artful Macca

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has removed paintings worth pounds 10 million from his estranged wife's home, it was claimed yesterday. Heather Mills-McCartney discovered the masterpieces were missing when she set off the burglar alarm after the codes had been changed, according to national reports.

News Digest: Murder Charge

A fourth man was charged yesterday with murdering a father-of- two who was found seriously hurt in a street. Daron Hargreaves, 32, was discovered with severe head injuries in Stoke-on-Trent last Friday.

Brum Bottom for Arts, Says Survey

Birmingham has trailed in last in a survey to find the arts capital of the UK. Instead Newcastle, the city best known for its football, brown ale and nights on the Toon has been crowned the UK's most artistic place to live.

This Dud List Is Barking Mad

Without time to study its method and check its figures, it is difficult to judge whether a survey rating Birmingham bottom out of 14 UK cities as a centre for the arts is merely quite ridiculous or extremely ridiculous. That the list is ridiculous is self-evident, however. Forget about Birmingham: any list of arts cities which puts Plymouth one place above London and four places above Glasgow is plainly barking. London is one of the great arts cities of the world. If there are eight better on...

Gps Could Step in Instead of Routine Hospital Appointments with Consultants

Routine hospital appointments with consultants following surgery could be scrapped, the Government confirmed yesterday. The National Clinical Director for Primary Care, Dr David Colin- Thome, believes patients should see their GP for check-ups even after major surgery. The move is intended to free consultant time and save the NHS pounds 1.9 billion a year.

Labour Mp Puts Blair Academy On the Spot

The Government was forced to defend the record of one of Tony Blair's flagship city academies yesterday after a Labour MP withdrew her son in protest at the chaotic conditions. The Department for Education and Skills insisted that the Paddington Academy in London had made a "sound start" in difficult circumstances.

'Hypocrite' Blears Is Defended

Labour Party chairman Hazel Blears was defended against accusations of hypocrisy yesterday after she joined protests against the closure of a maternity unit in her constituency. Health Minister Caroline Flint said Ms Blears, as a constituency MP, was entitled to make her views known on an issue of local interest.

Circus Monks Real Bricks for Eileen ; for Eileen Sullivan, Finding Out How to Get Hold of Stones Needed for a New Patio at Her Birmingham House Was Like Banging Her Head Against a Brick Wall. That Was Until She Visited the Chinese State Circus. Neil Connor Explains the Chinese State Circus Is Being Held at Star City Until Next Sunday. For Show Times & Ticket Sales Please Call 0870 155 5585.

Many people spend the Christmas period with a head that feels like a brick has been smashed over it. But for the Shaolin Wu-Shu Warriors, this is not a state caused by over-indulgence.

'Seismic' Sinn Fein Move

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams's bid to secure his party's support for the police in Northern Ireland is a hugely significant move of seismic proportions, Peter Hain insisted yesterday. As Mr Adams prepared to urge his party's national executive in Dublin to approve a special conference next month on policing, the Northern Ireland Secretary claimed that the province was on course for achieving devolution by March 26.

Wolves Bitten As Football Fans Unite in Protest at Cardiff City Ban

Football fans have united in protest at a ban on all Cardiff City fans travelling to their next away match against Wolver-hampton Wanderers. The ban has been imposed by the Wolves following violence among the crowd at previous fixtures.

Cps Told to Rethink

The High Court yesterday ordered the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider its decision not to prosecute the employers of a teenager who fell to his death within a week of starting work. Daniel Dennis, from Pyle, Bridgend in Wales, was 17 and had just started his first job working for roofing com-pany North- Eastern Roofing.

I'm a Tiny Bit Pleased, Says Sculptor Willard ; New Year Honours

Willard Wigan, the Birmingham micro-sculptor whose carving career began with building furniture for ants, has been made an MBE. Willard, from Edgbaston, who receives his accolade for services to art, said he was thrilled his microscopic work had received such titanic recognition.

Obe for Ryder Cup Hero Woosie ; New Year Honours Sport

Golfer Ian Woosnam, captain of the winning Ryder Cup Europe team over the US this year, is made an OBE. The Europeans thrashed the USA 18.5 to 9.5. Woosnam, from Shropshire, has finished in the top 10 in the Order of Merit no fewer than 13 times. In 1987 he set a world record for global tournament earnings of pounds 1,062,662.

Former Corrie Star Is Made Mbe ; New Year Honours Showbiz

Midland-based Johnny Briggs, one of the longest-serving members of the Coronation Street cast, is made an MBE. He was in the soap from 1976 to 2006. In May, Briggs, from Stourbridge, won the British Soap Award for Lifetime Achievement. The 71 year-old cited the hectic filming schedule as the main reason for his departure from Coronation Street, saying he intended to spend more time at his Florida home.