Birmingham Post

Keep Those Brollies Handy, There's More to Come

Hospital Pfi Plan Could Top Pounds 1bn

The use of controversial private finance initiatives to build new hospitals was thrust back into the spotlight last night as it was revealed a plan to rebuild one Midland hospital will cost more than pounds 1 billion. The redevelopment of University Hospital of North Staffordshire, which has cut up to 1,000 jobs to save pounds 30 million, was one of six PFI projects approved by the Government yesterday.

Tories Battling to Save Gardens From Developers

A fight to stop the development of Solihull back gardens has sparked a national political battle over leafy neighbourhoods and "soulless" housing. The issue was made a key election battleground for Conservatives yesterday with the launch of a campaign to block Government policies classifying small plots of green space as brownfield sites.

Ryanair Chief's Threat to Sue Over 'Farcical' Security

The Government yesterday ruled out an early return to "normal" airport security despite an ultimatum from budget airline Ryanair. The Irish no-frills carrier said it would sue the Government for compensation for delays unless usual security resumed within seven days.

Other News: Typhoon Deal Boosts Midlands

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Other News: Koumas Set for Hawthorns Return

News Digest: Woman Bailed

A woman has appeared in Birmingham Magistrates' Court court charged with concealing the birth of a baby whose body was found in a bin. Lynn Judge, who gave her address as the city's Ardenleigh Hospital, spoke only to give her name, address and date of birth.

News Digest: Sheridan Claim

Police are investigating claims by a witness in the Tommy Sheridan defamation trial attempts were made to stop her giving evidence. Helen Allison, aged 52, lodged a complaint about a meeting 48 hours before giving evidence at the Court of Session in Edinburgh last month.

News Digest: Doctor Stabbed

News Digest: Sumo Tragedy

A father-of-three may never walk again after breaking his neck in an inflatable sumo wrestle. Chris Clements, aged 30, from Brinkley, Cambridgeshire, was at a friend's 30th birthday party when he fell and was unable to move.

Mother has Not Spoken Since Finding Two-Year-Old Son in Pool

A father broke down in tears yesterday as he told how his "lively and loving" son drowned after falling into a Spanish swimming pool. Two-year-old Jake Teal, from Birmingham, was found in the pool outside the family home in a residential complex on the Costa Blanca.

Rackhams Slasher Pops Out Shopping

A psychiatric patient given ten life sentences after slashing the throats of 15 women at a Birmingham department store has been released into the community to go shopping, it emerged yesterday. David Morgan (43) was warned he may never be freed when jailed after his rampage through the city's Rackhams' in 1994.

Oldest Record Shop Put Up for Sale

A much-loved record shop, believed to be the oldest in the world, is up for sale and could close if a buyer is not found, its owner said yesterday. Spillers Records has been supplying the music fans of Cardiff since 1894.

Armed Man Shot at Rugeley School

A man was shot outside a Midland school during an incident involving armed police officers yesterday. A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said officers were called to Burnthill Lane in Rugeley, Staffordshire, when witnesses saw a man with a gun.

Plasterer Jailed for Hoax Calls

A plasterer who made hoax calls claiming a bomb had been planted in Broad Street in Birmingham has been jailed for six months. The city's Crown Court heard David Sherlock made calls a month after the July 7 bombings in London and the evacuation of the city's entertainment area.

Mother Describes Her 'Perfect Daughter'

The mother of a teenager killed in a car crash described last night how her "perfect daughter" had planned a Champagne celebration in anticipation of the A-level results that would have sent her to university. Kelly Marie Rice was on her way to pick up her results when her car was in a head-on collision with a van on the A38 between Kempsey and Severn Stoke, Worcestershire, at about 9am on Thursday.

Woman Jailed After False Rape Claim Against Boy

A woman who claimed she was raped in a field after having consensual sex with a 15-year-old schoolboy has been jailed for six months. Christina Chapman told police she had been attacked in an alleyway by the boy because she did not want her then-boyfriend to find out she had had sex with someone else.

Steering Clear - Just

A farmer apologised yesterday after a steer fell over a 50ft cliff, narrowly missing a sunbather. Sally Brown, aged 51, from Cowes, had been lying on Compton Beach, Isle of Wight, and just picked up her body board when she heard the calf land.

Wheelwright in Running

An historic wheelwright's yard in Warwickshire has won the regional heat of a TV show in which heritage schemes compete for a pounds 1 million restoration. Chedham's Yard in Wellesbourne, was chosen by viewers of the BBC Restoration programme over All Saints Church, Beckingham in Lincolnshire, and Pennoyer's School, Pulham St Mary in Norfolk, in the regional heat.