Birmingham Post

Investors Cash in On Success of City Site

Hundreds of investors are set to make massive profits after they backed Birmingham's Brindleyplace development. The lucky speculators have seen their initial shares double since they joined a Limited Partnership scheme set up by Brindleyplace in 2003.

Shucks, and I Thought Birmingham Was in Alabama

Cannabis Boys Battle to Return to School

Two pupils expelled from one of Birmingham's leading state schools for a cannabis "experiment" started a High Court battle yesterday to be reinstated. Lawyers for the teenagers, who cannot be identified, are challenging a February ruling of Birmingham City Council's Independent Appeal Panel which upheld their headmaster's decision to boot them out.

Carbon Monoxide Caused Diver Death

Faulty breathing equipment was blamed yesterday for the death of a Birmingham holi-daymaker in a diving accident in Spain. Terrance Cain, aged 47, was pulled by police from the sea at Tio Ximo bay, just outside Benidorm, and rushed in a high-speed launch to the harbour.

Union Wins Fight On Car Allowances

Birmingham City Council was ordered yesterday to pay more than pounds 39,000 to 19 employees after a landmark legal victory brought by the workers' union GMB. Each claimant will receive back-pay of between pounds 600 and pounds 3,500 to cover underpayment of user car allowances by the council, following its unilateral decision to stop reimbursing workers using cars with engines above 1250cc in October 1993.

News Digest: Woman Named

A woman who died at a theme park hotel while enjoying a hen party has been named as Angela Otter. The 29-year-old, of Clayton Heights, Bradford, was found dead on Monday morning at the Alton Towers Hotel in Staffordshire.

News Digest: Man Shot in Leg

Police are appealing for witnesses after a Birmingham man was shot in the leg. The 40-year-old victim is in a stable condition in hospital after being attacked with a shotgun in Small Heath.

News Digest: Mourner Bitten

A Wolverhampton woman was bitten by a Rottweiler dog as she was on her way to a family funeral, police have revealed. The 45-year-old was walking into Penn News on Penn Road, Wolverhampton, when the dog, which was being held on a chain by an Asian man outside the shop, attacked.

News Digest: Youth Charged

A 17-year-old has been charged with manslaughter after a man died following an incident outside JB's nightclub in Castle Hill, Dudley. Simon Williams, a 22-year-old married father of one from Wolverhampton, was found with head injuries.

Consultants On Board for New Library Scheme

Construction consultants Capita Symonds have been appointed by Birmingham City Council to project manage and develop the business case for a pounds 150 million scheme to replace the Central Library. The decision will drive forward work on the prestige project with a view to submitting a bid for PFI funding to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by the middle of next year, council leader Mike Whitby said last night.

Three More Charged in Alleged Planes Plot

Three more men appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners. Nabeel Hussain, Mohammed Yasar Gulzar and Mohammed Shamin Uddin are accused of conspiracy to murder and of preparing an act of terrorism.

Is This a Tourist Detraction? ; a Brilliant and Sophisticated Advertising Campaign, or Expensive Puerile Nonsense? Chief Reporter Paul Dale Looks at the Latest Attempt to Talk-Up Birmingham's Tourism Potential

To the leader of Birmingham City Council, it represents good value for money - a pounds 100,000 campaign using a fictitious American visitor to trumpet the area's virtues as a tourist destination. What it will certainly do is promote strong opinions for and against.

Suspended Sentence for 'Sick' Pc Who Fitted Bathrooms

A policeman who falsely claimed to be off work sick while he was fitting new bathrooms was yesterday given a suspended prison sentence. Pc Steve Trendell, from south London, had debts running into tens of thousands of pounds and made "a stupid decision" to supplement his income, Wimbledon Magistrates' Court was told.

West Midlanders Are Not Shy About Having Their Say

When it comes to voicing opinions, the people of the West Midlands are not backwards in coming forwards. Whatever the issue, we're certain to have a view and won't hesitate in expressing it.

Casino Is Not a 'Done Deal' Despite Rumours

The head of the body charged with advising the Government on the choice of the first "super casino" for the UK yesterday issued a robust defence of his independence. Professor Stephen Crow, chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel, said its members were free of political and commercial interference, and the choice of the first super casino was not a "done deal", in spite of reports to the contrary.

Gambling Palaces - From Super Size to Small

Under the terms of The Gambling Act 2005, three types of casino will be permitted to operate in Britain. One regional or super-casino will be permitted, along with eight large and eight small casinos.

Labour Accused of Wasting Money Paying 'Wages of Spin'

Tony Blair was accused of using taxpayers' money to try to improve his image after it emerged the number of Government press officers has tripled under Labour. More than 3,200 press officers are now paid from the public purse across Whitehall and various quangos.

Warwick Experts Called On to Help Shape Future Tory Policy

David Cameron should not be rushed into publishing detailed policies, according to former Cabinet Member John Redwood. He was speaking as he prepared to visit Warwick University today, as part of a review of Tory policies on manufacturing and economic competitiveness.

New Face of Britain, by Race Chief

Immigrants coming to the UK today are more likely to be young, single and competing for better jobs, the head of the Commission for Racial Equality said. Trevor Phillips said the most recent influx of migrants, including those from EU Accession states such as Poland, posed "some major new issues".

Brothel Manager Free in a Month

The mastermind behind the running of a brothel where 19 foreign women were found was yesterday jailed for two years. Carl Pritchett (53), from Birmingham, will be freed in 31 days as he has already been in custody for 334 days since he was arrested nearly a year ago.