Birmingham Post

Pay Revolt Threatens Summer of Discontent

The possibility of a summer of discontent at Birmingham City Council moved closer yesterday after workers voted to reject new salary grades and threatened the local authority with legal action. In the first of several mass meetings members of the GMB union registered overwhelming opposition to the single status agreement, which involves re-grading the entire local authority workforce with the intention of introducing a fairer pay system.

Vote Fraud Claim Refuted

Liberal Democrats last night produced documentary evidence which they said would prove the innocence of a Birmingham city councillor and an election candidate arrested on suspicion of committing postal vote fraud. A photocopied receipt shows that Mohammed Saeed, who is standing for the party in Bordesley Green in today's civic elections, returned to the city council a postal ballot that was not his but had been mistakenly directed to his house.

'Illegal Talks' Over School Academy Sponsors

Secret talks are illegally taking place between heads of schools set to become academies in Birmingham and their potential sponsors, union officials claim. Seven schools in the city are set to adopt the new status, which involves leaving local authority control and placing their assets in the hands of paying backers.

Traffic Chaos in M6 Five-Vehicle Crash

The M6 and traffic in some town centres were thrown into chaos yesterday afternoon after a five-vehicle pile-up closed the motorway. The accident occurred on the M6 southbound between junctions 11 and 10a, between two lorries and at least two cars about 3pm.

Traffic Jams Set to Peak On Monday ; Bank Holiday

The RAC warned today of "worst ever May Day Bank Holiday congestion" with traffic jams expected to peak tomorrow afternoon. The motoring organisation added that motorists plan to drive 1.8 billion more miles in total than they did during the May Day weekend last year.

Discrimination Trial Gets Go-Ahead ; Courts

Businessman Ivan Massow yesterday won the right to take one of world's biggest insurance companies to trial over claims its policies discriminated against gay men. Mr Massow, 39, has accused Zurich of "misrepresentation" after he went into partnership with the firm on the understanding it would drop restrictions on gay people taking out their insurance policies.

Man Arrested ; Crime

A Birmingham man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after an alleged machete attack in Devon. The 43-year-old was one of two men held after a man and a woman were allegedly attacked in a home in Northam, north Devon.

Computer Stolen ; Hospitals

A computer containing the bank details of thousands of hospital staff has been stolen from an NHS building, it was revealed yesterday. The computer contains bank and personal information about staff at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust but does contain any patient records.

'Redundancies Cancelled' Rumour Fury at Jaguar

Disgruntled Jaguar workers have hit out against management after their redundancy from the Castle Bromwich plant was delayed for three months. Around 90 workers at the Birmingham factory were due to finish their employment tomorrow as part of a voluntary redundancy scheme announced at the beginning of the year.

Car Park Charges Increased to Help Debts

Hospital staff have been told by bosses their car park charges will double in order to help pay off debts and avoid job cuts. Union representatives claim the price hike is akin to staff being compelled to make a compulsory donation to swell the coffers Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

Teenager Charged with Killing Girl

A teenager was last night charged with the murder of a 12-year- old girl who was shot dead in her own home. The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with the murder of Kamilah Peniston, who was gunned down in her home on Wembley Road, Gorton, Manchester at about 7.30pm on Monday.

'Carrots and Sticks' Should Be Offered to Sway Drivers ; the Big Debate Birmingham

Road charging is "inevitable", the professional body representing engineers has predicted. But the Government must use "carrots as well as sticks" to persuade motorists of the benefits of such a system, members of the transport sector of the Institution of Engineering and Technology warned.

Dog Fight Organiser Faces Prison

An unemployed man who converted the back garden of his Midland family home into a den for keeping dogs used in organised fighting has been warned he could be sent to prison. Police and RSPCA inspectors who raided Amar Ali's address found 16 dogs including 12 pit bull terriers, a magistrates court in Birmingham heard.

Terror Sidekick 'Broke Down'

An alleged sidekick of one of Britain's deadliest convicted terrorists broke down in tears after he was arrested and "effectively admitted" his guilt, a court heard yesterday. Qaisar Shaffi is alleged to have helped Dhiren Barot - jailed last year for his plans to kill "hundreds if not thousands" of people - with his hopes of targeting the United States.

Gatecrashing to Tune of Pounds 100,000 ; Public Inquiry

A row over whether a gate should be removed from a dirt track has already cost more than pounds 100,000 and is due to be settled at a public inquiry, campaigners said yesterday. Residents of Rooms Lane, in Morley, near Leeds, managed to get the metal gate installed in 1998 after they campaigned against the track being used as a rat-run.

Home Visits to Help Families ; Health

First-time struggling parents will receive home visits from a nurse until their baby reaches the age of two in a bid to "break the cycle" in disad-vantaged families. A personal midwife or health visitor will help at-risk families by monitoring their unborn child and ensure it is properly nurtured as a toddler.

Stabbing Charges ; Courts

Three men and a youth are to go on trial in connection with the stabbing of a disabled man in Staffordshire who remains in a coma. Craig Robins, 28, was stabbed in the neck and the eye as he sat in his car in Hednesford on October 30 2006.

Blackmail Inquiry ; Courts

Nine people were last night charged with blackmail offences following a massive series of raids targeting alleged animal rights extremists across the UK and Europe. A further 20 people have been released on police bail, one person has been released without charge and two others remain in custody.

Police Question 17 in Extremist Probe ; Raids

Seventeen people were yesterday still being questioned by police after a series of raids - including one in Worcestershire - targeting animal rights extremists across the UK and Europe. A further 14 other people, also arrested on Tuesday, have been released on police bail and one male suspect has been released without charge, according to Hampshire police.

Cleared Colonel Back to Work ; Military

A British Army colonel cleared of war crimes has returned to military duties serving his country, it was disclosed yesterday. Colonel Jorge Mendonca, 43, commander of the former Queen's Lancashire Regiment, was cleared of failing to ensure his men did not mistreat civilians detained in Iraq in September 2003.