Birmingham Post

Flu Bug Closes Hospital Wards

Five wards at a Birmingham hospital were closed yesterday after an outbreak of a bug which resulted in 17 school closures across the city. Measures being brought in at the City Hospital, where 61 patients have contracted winter sickness, coincided with warnings from the West Midlands Ambulance Service of unrelenting demand caused by seasonal illness.

Sick Student 'Thrown Out by College'

A student claims she was expelled from a Birmingham college as she lay in hospital recovering from surgery. Sherelle Thomas said she was told her enrolment had been cancelled because of absence and was forcibly evicted from Matthew Boulton College when she returned after three weeks at City Hospital.

British Gas Move Means Pounds 1,000-Per-Year Fuel Bill

The pounds 1,000-per-year average energy bill has reached Britain, the gas and electricity watchdog said last night after British Gas announced a 22 per cent price hike. Energywatch urged the firm's domestic customers to switch to a cheaper supplier.

Life Is Sweet As Cadbury Announces Massive Rise in Profits

Cadbury Schweppes is expected to announce a 13 per cent rise in its 2005 profits when it reports its annual results next week. Rising sales and falling costs helped to shelter the world's biggest confectionery and soft drinks group in 2005.

Midland: News Digest - Cell Hanging

A convicted robber has been found hanging in his cell at a privately-run prison. Thomas Ashworth (28), from Liverpool, was discovered by staff at Dove-gate prison, near Uttoxe-ter, Staffordshire, on Thursday.

Midland: News Digest - Crash Death

A 41-year-old Smeth-wick man has died in hospital more than three weeks after a road crash in Leicestershire. James McGrath was airlifted to Northampton General Hospital following the collision on the A14 in Swinford when his black Volvo V40 was in collision with a to HGVs and a Toyota Avensis on January 25. Mr McGrath died in hospital of his injuries.

Midland: News Digest - Murder Inquiry

Detectives probing the death of a Walsall woman whose husband is charged with murder have issued a photo of the couple's car in a bid to jog people's memory. Laily Begum, 21, vanished from her home in Darlaston, along with her husband Kafil Ahmed, 30, on January 20.

Midland: News Digest - Cigarettes Seized

Customs officers have seized more than 1.6 million cigarettes in two days. The first seizure, on Wednesday, saw officers confiscate more than one million cigarettes from a Dutch lorry parked at the Truck Stop in Bredon, near Wolverhampton. The lorry driver was arrested and is being questioned.

Midland: Protesters Claim Hunts Are Breaking the Law

Several West Midlands hunts have been hunting illegally since new legislation to ban the sport was brought in a year ago today, campaigners have claimed. The League Against Cruel Sports has written to Warwickshire and West Mercia Police forces to complain about the actions of several hunts in Warwickshire and Shropshire.

Midland: Experience the Great Outdoors Inside at the Nec

Thousands of visitors will be heading to the West Midlands for one of its most popular shows. Outdoor enthusiasts are set to descend on the NEC for the National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show which showcases the latest designs.

Midland: Mp Freebie Flights Omission

A senior Midland MP has admitted failing to tell an electoral watchdog about free long-distance flights donated by an offshore aviation company. Caroline Spelman (Con Meriden), a member of the shadow Cabinet, visited Afghanistan and Kuwait in 2003 to learn about work to help children affected by war.

Midland: Vice Girl's Sadistic Murderer Jailed

A 42-year-old man has been jailed for life for the sadistic murder of a prostitute five years ago. Nikola Higgins, aged 23, was found strangled in a graveyard in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, in February 2001.

Midland: Motorists Were Caught

Motorists were caught in rush-hour misery yesterday morning after a crash brought one of the busiest commuter routes into Birmingham to a standstill. At least four cars and a lorry were involved in two separate collisions which blocked the out-of-city stretch of the A38(M) Aston Expressway. Two cars were left facing the wrong way following the crash near Spaghetti Junction at about 6.30am.

Midland: Ming the Mighty in Brum

The acting leader of the Liberal Democrats is to visit Birmingham today before a hustings event in Coventry. Sir Menzies Campbell is coming to the city to highlight his hopes of winning more seats in Birmingham, following the gain of Yardley at the last election.

Midland: Railway Station Revamp Approved

Plans for a major renovation at a Warwickshire railway station have been given the go ahead by council bosses. Rugby Borough Council has agreed to the proposals which it hopes will make a significant improvement to the town station's train capacity and performance and remove the bottleneck to services.

Midland: Stay Away If You Have No Cup Ticket

Police have warned fans not to travel to Stoke City's Britannia Stadium if they do not have tickets for The Potters' FA Cup tie with Birmingham City tomorrow. Officers are also urging Blues fans not to travel to the ground via Stoke city centre, as the stadium is some distance away.

Midland: Ministers Vow to Keep Peugeot's Ryton Plant On Track

Ministers have pledged to work closely with Peugeot to try to safeguard the future of the car manufacturer's Coventry plant. Trade Minister Alun Michael said officials from the Department of Trade and Industry were set to meet company representatives in the next few days.

Midland: Drug Gang Pair Jailed for Dealing in Scotland

Two members of a Midland-based crime gang which dealt in heroin and crack cocaine in Scotland have been jailed. Richard Brown (21) and Jason Zajaz (31) both worked for the Flava Gang, which sold drugs in Aberdeen.

Midland: Witness Appeal for Fatal Crash

The parents of two friends killed in a crash one month ago want to know what happened moments before the tragedy. Rebecca Casterton, 13, and 12-year-old Lauren Brooks, died on January 20 after their car was hit from behind by a lorry on the A38 in Clay Mills, in Staffordshire.

Midland: Chili Peppers at Coventry

Tickets for one of the biggest rock concerts in the Midlands this year have gone on sale. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are to play Coventry's Ricoh Arena on July 2 on the only Midland date of their UK tour.