Birmingham Post

Has Anyone Seen Tony?

Labour last night was bracing itself for the party's worst election results in a generation, as city leaders hit out at the Government for ignoring Birmingham. Business bosses criticised the lack of visits to the city by political heavyweights of all colours, claiming their absence was indicative of Birmingham's failure to lobby effectively.

New Review for Killer

The woman who murdered the brother of a Midland hotelier has had her 15- year minimum sentence "tariff" reduced to 12 years. Jane Andrews, the Duchess of York's former aide, was jailed for life in 2001 after being convicted of murdering businessman Tommy Cressman by beating him with a cricket bat and then fatally stabbing him at their London home.

Man Facing Pc Death Charge Escaped Being Deported

A man accused of killing female police officer Sharon Beshenivsky was set loose from prison after it was decided not to deport him, it emerged last night. Mustaf Jamma, who is believed to be from Somalia and is currently on the run, was allowed to remain in Britain after serving a sentence for robbery.

Central Locking for Homes Among 'Inspired' Student Ideas

A central locking system for homes and a method of preventing cocoa beans breaking during transport are some of the ideas by Midland students being showcased at the NEC tomorrow. The innovations, which also include a safety device for rail workers and a video conferencing system for schools, are among 48 projects set to be displayed at the Engineering Education Scheme's Celebration and Assessment Day.

How We Saved Our Shop ; It Had Served the Community for More Than 50 Years Before Becoming Another Casualty of Supermarkets. Residents in a Cotswolds Village Fought Back by Resurrecting Their Local Shop, As Rural Affairs Reporter Sarah Probert Discovers

They came in their dozens. The residents of Dumbleton, devastated by the closure of their local shop last August, handed over what they could in the hope it would soon return. One elderly resident may have stretched herself by giving pounds 100. Others gave thousands.

News Digest: Stab Trial Begins

The trial of three men charged with the murder of an IT worker who was stabbed during rioting in Birmingham last year is expected to begin today. Waqar Ahmed (26), Azhil Khan (23) and Afzal Khan (22) are accused of killing Isiah Young-Sam on October 22. The 23-year-old, an analyst for Birmingham City Council, was stabbed in the chest in Carlyle Road, Lozells, as he walked home with his younger brother and two friends.

News Digest: Attackers Sought

News Digest: Careering Car

News Digest: Getting Shirty

A bus company operating in the West Midlands has instructed drivers to change their shirts daily. The warning about hygiene, which includes having shoes polished and nails and hands in good condition, has gone to drivers working for the First Bus company.

Kidnap Victim Admits Lies to Police

A businessman who was kidnapped and tortured by a gang involving a serving policemen told lies in his police statement, a court heard yesterday. Pc Colin Hester (36) of West Midlands Police, along with David French (57), David Houston (31), Andrew (22) and Paul Farr (36) are charged on three counts of kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail after Thomas Scragg was held at a pub on May 16 2005.

Man Dragged at 80mph

Police yesterday said they believed a man who was dragged almost a mile as he hung on to a car reportedly travelling at speeds of up to 80mph may have been trying to stop thieves stealing his vehicle. Several witnesses recalled seeing the victim, aged in his early 30s, holding on to the driver's door as the car sped through Stoke- on-Trent.

Leukaemia Centre Heads Revolution

A new multi-million pound leukaemia centre in Birmingham is set to "revolutionise" care for thousands. Scientists and researchers at the pounds 2.2 million Leukaemia Centre - an international centre of excellence at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Edgbaston - are expected to develop 25 new drug and transplant options within its first five years.

Why Victim Geoff Is On His Bike

Geoff Thomas set off on a 500-mile 24-hour bike relay from London to Manchester yesterday, in preparation for the gruelling Race Across America next month. The former England, Crystal Palace and Wolves player led the four- man team from Wembley Stadium at midday. They are expected to reach the Manchester Velodrome at about 1pm today.

Police Ban Louts From World Cup Finals

Police have banned 290 West Midland football thugs from travelling to this summer's World Cup. More hooligans have been blocked in the area covered by West Midlands Police than any other force area in the country.

Car Crashes Into Shop

Two people were airlifted to hospital yesterday after the car they were travelling in ploughed into the front of a Stafford shop. At 10.25am, the gold Volkswagon Golf car hit the front of a shop in Lichfield Road in Stafford town centre .

Princess Back 20 Years On

Princess Alexandra yesterday officially opened a new pounds 2 million orthopaedic centre aimed at bringing together a range of services under one roof. The princess arrived at the Redditch Orthopaedic Centre (ROC), based at the Alexandra Hospital almost 20 years after she officially opened the main hospital.

Outraged Islanders Hit Back at the Post with Email Assault

Sarah McBurnie sarah@seeshetland.shetland .co.uk Unst. Shetland Let me tell you some facts about Shetland. Living in a place that feels as if you've turned the clock back 40 years is no bad thing. You don't need to lock your front door or your car. Nobody here burgles people's houses. We have had no murders in the last 13 years, in fact it could be 20 or more years. Our old or vulnerable people have care facilities second to none. No one dies here and isn't found until the smell is unbearable...

Shetlanders Depressed by Claims

Inhabitants of Shetland have hit back at claims by a Midland academic that the islands are plagued by high rates of depression. And they also took a dig at Birmingham, claiming parts of it were beset with gun crime, high unemployment and racial tension.

Abolish Criminal Libel, Says Ex-City Mp

The laws of criminal libel should be abolished to protect journalistic freedom, the British head of the 46-nation Council of Europe said yesterday. Former Birmingham Labour MP Terry Davis warned that some countries still used the threat of libel to intimidate journalists and thwart freedom of expression.

Father Tried to Take Daughter

A father who tried to send his six-year-old daughter on holiday to Ireland against the wishes of his former wife has been given a suspended sentence. Sentencing Mark McMahon at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Philip Gregory said: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence and had I been of the view that you had, in effect, kidnapped your daughter, you would have gone to prison for a fairly long time."