Birmingham Post

Who Deserves to Be Protected On Our Streets?

The Home Office is to intervene in the row over West Midlands Police's refusal to supply body armour to Police Community Support Officers. Police Minister Tony McNulty is to write to Paul Scott-Lee, the force's Chief Constable, asking for an explanation.

Desperate Dad Reacts Badly to Bite While Saving Pet Hamster

A father was in hospital last night after being bitten by his daughter's escaped hamster. The 50-year-old suffered an extreme allergic reaction when the frightened animal sank its teeth into his hand as he tried to rescue it from under floorboards.

Lib Dems Fight to Reopen Election Postal Votes Inquiry

Attempts to reopen an investigation into postal vote fraud in Birmingham are being blocked by city council lawyers. Legal experts are denying a Freedom of Information Act request which, it is claimed, could shed new light on allegations of electoral fraud.

Kidnappings Payback for Militia Leader's Death

There are fears the five Britons kidnapped in Baghdad have been seized in retaliation for the killing of Basra's Mahdi Army leader last week. Wissam al-Waili, also known as Abu Qadir, was shot and killed with his brother and two aides during a gun battle in the southern Iraqi city on May 25.

Audi, Pardner, From Up Here in Space

It's going to be one small step for man and one giant leap for a West Midlands space enthusiast. Staffordshire science buff Ian Anderson was celebrating last night after winning a trip to outer space in a magazine competition.

Ambulance Merger Decision Due

Two Midland ambulance services are set to merge on October 1 if trust bosses agree the final details at a meeting today. Staffordshire Ambulance Service (SAS) was the only trust to remain independent following the reorganisation of trusts across England and Wales last July.

Big Brother Opens with Big Apology

Channel 4 launched their annual wannabe contest last night as Big Brother 8 kicked off with an all-girl house - including the show's first identical twins. The 14-week series kicked off with a televised apology over the Celebrity Big Brother race row.

Move to Stop Rip-Off Law Firms ; Justice

Ministers are to go ahead with a scheme which could force defendants to change their legal team in complex cases. The Ministry of Justice will allow judges to ask the Legal Services Commission to replace lawyers who cause delays to court cases in England and Wales.

Big Help for Ethnic Fitness ; Health

A health education and fitness project in Dudley has secured almost pounds 350,000 from the BIG Lottery Fund's Reaching Communitites programme. The Tandrusti Project, founded in 2001, promotes physical activity and healthy living amongst adults from a wide range of minority ethnic communities.

Murder Inquiry ; Arrest

Reports of Illegally Dumped Rubbish Pile Up ; Politics

Illegally dumped rubbish was reported to West Midlands councils on more than 55,000 separate occasions last year, official Government figures have revealed. Environment Ministers published details of illegal fly-tipping in the region following the publication of plans to encourage recycling.

Professor to Report On Plan to Widen M6

Conservationists and a local authority have commissioned a leading transport expert to examine the case for widening the M6. Prof Phil Goodwin, professor of transport policy at the University of the West of England, will scrutinise the business case for widening the M6 through Staffordshire and Cheshire.

A Pounds 1.5 Billion

A pounds 1.5 billion superport that could generate thousands of new jobs was given the go ahead by the Government yesterday. The approval will mean the creation of a London Gateway container port as well as a commercial centre and business park on the the former Shell oil refinery site at Shell Haven in the Thames Estuary in Thurrock, Essex.

Old Lags Must Stub It Out, Say Mps

Prisoners should be subject to the same ban on smoking as the rest of the nation once new rules come into effect, MPs have insisted. Smoking will be banned in enclosed areas from July 1 - but not in prisons, where inmates will be allowed to continue puffing.

Prime Minister Hits Out at 'Vanity Expedition' Challenges

Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday launched a passionate defence of his policy on Africa - and attacked the "cynicism" of those who dubbed his trip to the continent a vanity expedition. Mr Blair - speaking at Lungi airport, Sierra Leone, after talks with the country's President Ahmad Kabbah and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleas - said: "However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with ...

New Law Makes Electoral Roll Safe for 'Anonymous' Victims

Victims of stalking and domestic violence will be able to keep their names off the electoral roll under new measures which come into force this week. New legislation allows them to be registered anonymously while still being able to vote.

Pope Prays for Missing Maddy After Parents' Visit

Madeleine McCann's parents made a spiritual and emotional pilgrimage to Rome yesterday to pray with the Pope for their missing daughter. Kate and Gerry McCann both shed tears at times during the general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Stansted 'Catastrophe' for Environment

Opponents of the expansion of Stansted Airport yesterday claimed the development would have a "catastrophic" impact on the environment. Opening arguments were made as a planning inquiry to decide whether the Essex airport could increase its passenger capacity got under way.

Stressed? Welcome to the Midlands

Declining industries, road congestion and spiralling house prices could be factors behind the West Midlands been named the most stressed out part of the nation. The region has topped a poll examining how often people in the last year experienced the three main indicators of stress - moving home, divorce and bereavement.

Graffiti Vandals Get Prickly ; Anti-Social

A thousand prickly plants have been planted in Warwickshire in a scheme that council bosses hope will become a thorn in the side of graffiti vandals. Convicted offenders have been planting the crime fighting flora at graffiti hotspots around the county after the scheme secured Government funding.