Birmingham Post

Hundreds Still in Temporary Classrooms

Almost a third of primary schools and more than four out of ten secondaries are teaching pupils in temporary classrooms in the West Midlands. In some cases the portable cabins, supposed to be for a limited period, have been in constant use for more than a decade.

Murder Hunt After Two Women Killed

Two women found dead at a suspected Midland massage parlour had suffered terrible head injuries, police disclosed last night. A double murder inquiry was launched after the bodies of the women, one aged in her 20s, the second in her 40s, were discovered in Shrewsbury.

A City of Sun and Sambas

The heart of Birmingham was swinging to the samba beat as it enjoyed a dose of Latin fever yesterday. Victoria Square was transformed into a carnival scene for the 14th Latin American Festival featuring Brazilian samba bands, salsa, a Caribbean steel band plus dancing, music and typical Latin handicrafts.

Amey a Step Closer to City Pounds 2.2bn Roads Contract

Construction services group Amey has been selected as the preferred bidder for the pounds 2.2 billion privatisation of Birmingham's highways network. Amey was chosen from a shortlist of three by the city council to go to the next stage of what will be Britain's big-gest Private Finance Initiative.

City Wins Back Its Pounds 3.2m

A Birmingham anti-poverty fund will get an additional pounds 3.2 million after the Government said it was satisfied past poor performance in spending the money had been overcome. Local Government Minister Phil Woolas withheld ten per cent of the city's pounds 32 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund in February, after he was not satisfied with progress in reducing crime and unemployment and improving health, education, housing and the environment.

Local Food Is Vital, Supermarkets Told

Supermarkets were warned today that they needed to source more food from local suppliers or risk losing their customers. Independent consumer research commissioned by Farmers Weekly magazine and carried out by NOP showed that 59 per cent of consumers would consider shopping elsewhere if their local supermarket was not committed to sourcing local food.

Teenage Sisters Killed in Car Crash On Way Home From Concert

Two teenage sisters returning home from a music concert were among four people who died following a road crash. Claire Stoddart, aged 18, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, was driving a Vauxhall Astra which was in collision with a Renault Laguna on the A12 near Blythburgh in Suffolk in the early hours of Saturday.

Fertility Expert's Honour

A Midland health official has been elected to a European body which aims to provide better educational opportunities and training for embryol-ogists and fertility nurses. Heidi Birch, director of nursing services at Midland Fertility Services, based in Aldridge, Walsall, was voted in as chairman of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's paramedical committee at its annual conference last month.

Cadbury Tests Are Continuing at Factory

Tests are continuing for the salmonella strain that led to Cadbury recalling one million of its chocolate bars. About 30 products are still being tested in a continuing investigation after contamination was detected from a leaking pipe at one of the company's main factories.

Pounds 67,000 for Train Classic

This painting of trains at a Birmingham depot by renowned industrial artist Terence Cuneo has sold for pounds 67,000. The work, Express Engines at Tyseley ... Jubilee Kholapur No.45593, had been expected to fetch about pounds 20,000 at Cheffins Auctioneers in Cambridge but went to a buyer from London for more than three times the estimate.

Alton Towers Turns to Islam and Gay Markets

Alton Towers is reaching out beyond its normal family market with two corporate days aimed at Muslims and the gay community. The Staffordshire-based theme park has been booked out by company Islamic Leisure on September 17, when smoking, gambling and drinking will be banned and only halal meat will be served.

Sir Ian and Elton Still at Top of the Pink List for Brits

Hollywood actor Sir Ian McKellen tops the Pink List of the 100 most influential gay and lesbian Britons, published yesterday to mark the culmination of Europe's largest pride festival. Sir Elton John came second in the Independent on Sunday's annual list of gay men and women who are leaders in fields ranging from the arts and media to politics, business, health and public services.

Red Hot Ricoh Goes Westside ; Red Hot Chili Peppers Ricoh Arena

Whoever would have thought that California and Coventry would be so compatible? Los Angeles sunshine and music -combined with a festival atmosphere -ensured it was an unforgettable night of funk, punk and classic rock at the Ricoh Arena. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have grown from a respected alternative rock outfit in the 1980s, to stadium gods over the last 15 years.

The Best of Bollywood in Midlands

A Georgian listed building will this week play host to some of the biggest names in Bollywood. Thornbury Hall in Kingsley Holt, Staffordshire, will be the scene of a day and half s shooting of scenes for the movie Don't Stop Dreaming.

Keira Is Lady of the Manor

Producers looking to film the next British hit starring Keira Knightley (below) have chosen a Shropshire manor house for its setting. The Joe Wright adaption of Ian McEwan's best-selling novel Atonement will be filmed at Stokesay Court in Onibury, Shropshire, for a month.

Tories Step Up Pressure in 'No Scots' Vote Plans

Devolution has made it "almost impossible" for a Scot such as Gordon Brown to become Prime Minister, a senior Conservative said yesterday. Alan Duncan spoke out as the Tories renewed their push to ban MPs from north of the border from voting on England-only issues at Westminster.

Blair has to Go by September - Dobson

An ex-Cabinet Minister yesterday urged Tony Blair to step down at the Labour conference in September to give the party a real chance of renewal. Former Health Secretary Frank Dobson said the Prime Minister's authority had "substantially declined" since announcing he would not seek a fourth term.

'Don't Buy Peugeot' Campaign Launched

A pounds 1 million advertising campaign urging people not to buy Peugeot cars in protest at the closure of the French firm's UK factory begins today. Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union have placed adverts in national and regional newspapers and on poster sites close to Peugeot dealerships.

Jowell: Olympic Budget Will Rise

The budget for the 2012 London Olympics will rise, Tessa Jowell warned yesterday. Ms Jowell, the Olympics Minister, said: "I certainly think that some aspects of the budget will increase.

Huge Leap in Knives On Streets

The number of people convicted of carrying a knife or blade in a public place has reached record levels, it emerged yesterday. Home Office figures showed 5,784 people were found guilty of the crime in English and Welsh courts in 2004 compared with just 3,511 in 2000, a leap of 65 per cent.