Birmingham Post

Bnp Targets Poor White Boys in Brum Elections

The BNP plans to exploit the educational failure of poor white boys in Birmingham's secondary schools to win council seats in this year's local elections. Last year's GCSE exam results show for the first time disadvantaged white boys have become the lowest achieving group in the city.

Too Many First-Class Passengers On Virgin

Virgin's Pendolino trains came under fire in a Commons committee hearing as rail managers admitted the West Coast Main Line was running out of capacity. John Armitt, the Chief Executive of Network Rail, said there would be room for more passengers if Virgin cut first class carriages.

Pwc's Fresh Blow to Forward

Accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has pulled out of Birmingham Forward in what could be a major setback for the professional services group. The 'Big Four' company is not renewing its membership after deciding to rationalise the number of representative bodies it supports. PwC says it wants to concentrate on a more region-wide approach.

Pwc Blow May Worsen the Cynicism

Few companies reckoned they got much benefit from Midland business organisations, last year's Birmingham Post/Lloyds Development Capital/Golley Slater survey found. Birmingham Chamber came out best of a list including the likes of the CBI, Institute of Directors and Marketing Birmingham.

Ex-Employee 'Caused Rail Chaos'

A former railway worker carried out a "carefully planned" 17- month campaign of vandalism and destruction on trackside equipment which paralysed the rail service, a court heard yesterday. Allan David Nicol, 48, "sabotaged" infrastructure by cutting signaling cables and lighting a "most massive fire" in a relay room, Birmingham Crown Court heard. The acts caused disruption to passengers and huge loss to Network Rail, prosecutor Timothy Mousley said.

Dead Policewoman's Partner Worked at City Restaurant

The partner of a rookie policewoman found stabbed dead in her flat had worked at a Birmingham restaurant, it emerged yesteday. Benedict Marlow, who was found dead along with probationary police officer Melissa Ward at her flat in Rutland, had worked at the St Paul's Square venue for about five months and lived in a flat in the city centre just off Broad Street, said manager John Bunce.

Midland Drivers Fear Buses and Trains

Midland drivers worry more about using buses after dark than motorists in any other part of the country, a survey released today claims. More than half drivers nationally feel unsafe on public transport at night, the study shows.

Fairtrade for Council

College Is Praised for Promoting Citizenship

A college which promotes global citizenship has been praised by the deputy chairwoman of the South African Human Rights Commission. The Birmingham-based College for International Citizenship (CIC) was described by Zonke Mojo-dina as a "model" for other parts of the world.

Village Square Plan to Help House Prices

A multi-million pound plan to create a village square in a Birmingham suburb is expected to boost house prices in the area by as much as pounds 30,000, residents say. The innovative scheme, which could act as a blueprint for future urban regeneration across the country, aims to put the heart back into the community of Kings Heath.

Demolition Contract Adds Impetus to Regeneration Project

The next stage of the Birmingham Eastside regeneration project has been approved with the appointment of a contractor to demolish buildings standing in the way of a new city park and technology centre. Members of the city council cabinet yesterday signalled the start of a clearance programme for the land bordering Curzon Street, Lawley Street Middleway and Jennens Road.

News Digest: Teacher Treated

A Midlands teacher remains in intensive care in a French hospital three days after an accident involving a coachload of tourists at the end of their skiing holiday. Garry Bishop, 50, was part of a group of 45 British holidaymakers travelling on the coach through the Alps when it skidded on black ice early on Friday.

News Digest: Marmalade Fall

Marmalade is falling out of favour because it is unpopular with sweet-toothed youngsters, sales figures suggest. Sales dropped 4.4 per cent to pounds 53.9 million in the year to November 2006, according to analysts TNS.

News Digest: Police Off-Duty

Only one in eight police stations is open 24 hours, it was claimed yesterday. According to national reports, 202 - or 13 per cent - of 1,538 police stations in England and Wales are open at all times.

News Digest: Rugby Scare

A youngster playing school rugby was airlifted to hospital yesterday The boy, believed to be 13, was playing in a match at the Heart of England Secondary School in Gypsy Lane, Balsall Common, at 1.40pm when the accident happened.

News Digest: Hooligan Ban

News Digest: Beer or Water?

Supermarkets are selling discounted lager for just a few pence more than bottled water, a pressure group said yesterday. The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) found Fosters and Carling on shop shelves for the equivalent of 54p per pint, compared with 49p for the most expensive bottled water.

News Digest: Sizzling Bacon

A painting by Francis Bacon is predicted to break the artist's sale record when it goes under the hammer next month. Study for Portrait II is estimated to fetch up to pounds 12 million at Christie's.

News Digest: Box Office Hit

News Digest: Bird Flu Fear