Birmingham Post

Jobs Fear As Children's Clothes Firm Set to Crash

Another historic name could be set to disappear from the high street with children's fashion business Adams the latest victim of the retail squeeze. The childrens wear chain, which was launched in Birmingham 75 year's ago by Amy Adams, is likely to go into administration today after filing notice on Christmas Eve of its intention to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Medics Save Football Fan After Match-Day Heart Attack

Medics saved a football fan's life when he collapsed behind a stand during Aston Villa's Boxing Day match against Arsenal. The man, in his 50s, is thought to have suffered a heart attack as the 2-2 draw was nearing an end at Villa Park.

24 Hours: Mourn Retail, Yes, but Not at Jlr's Expense

There is no doubt that the expected demise of another High Street name is a further blow to the UK's beleaguered retail sector. When the children's clothing shop Adams announced it had applied to go into administration, the nation's hand-wringing commentators lined up again to bemoan the loss of an 'iconic' brand and added it to a growing casualty list behind Woolworths, Whittards and MFI.

24 Hours: Can Middle East Peace Wait for President Obama?

It's a depressingly familiar story: a fragile peace agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions breaks down, resulting in strike and counter-strike, accusation and counter accusation. World leaders issue statements condemning the violence, with different degrees of opprobrium for either side depending more on domestic politics than a dispassionate assessment of the latest hostilities.

Man Dies As Car Smashes Into Back of Fire Engine

A man has died after the car he was travelling in smashed into the back of a fire engine at the scene of an earlier pileup. Crews were rescuing people from three carswhich had crashed on an icy motorway slip road when a fourth vehicle hit the stationary pump and then ploughed in to the central reservation.

Royal Honour for Eleanor

Walsall-born Paralympic medallist heroine Eleanor Simmonds is set to become the youngest person ever to get an award in the New Year's Honour list. The inspiring disabled swimmer, who scooped gold in the 100m and 400m freestyle events in Beijing, will get an MBE, it has been reported.

Pounds 2m Needed to Ensure Tiny Babies Get a Cot ; a Baby Boom, Advances in Medicine and Tight Nhs Budgets Are Putting Increasing Pressures On Neonatal Services Across the Region. Health Correspondent Alison Dayani Looks at How Specialists Are Coping with Rising Demand and Why They Are Developing Larger, Regional Specialised Centres Over Treatment Closer to Home.

Life-saving baby services across the region are short of at least 50 cots due to funding shortfalls and desperately need at least pounds 2million of extra cash, according to the chief of neonatal services for the region. Although cases of premature babies being takenon70-mileambulance journeys to reach an intensive care cot are decreasing, there are still too many, says Dr Alison Bedford-Russell, clinical lead for South West Midlands New born Network.

The Morning After a Bad Night Before ; Survey

Strictly Not a Reason to Call ; Sector

Awomancalled999to complain she was unable to get through to Strictly Come Dancing to vote for Tom Chambers in the final, police said yesterday. It was just one of the frustrating calls made to police, who released the details to ask the public not to call emergency numbers for frivolous - or ridiculous - reasons.

Be Prepared for yet More Flooding ; Homes

There's Nothing Festive About Car Parking ; Consumer

'We Were Right to Give Conjoined Twins Chance'

The parents of conjoined twins, who died less than a month after being born, insisted yesterday that they were right to go ahead with the birth. Faith Williams died on Christmas Day in London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, 23days after being separated from her sister Hope during a mammoth operation.

Soon It's Summertime, and the Living Is Going to Be Leisurely in the City

In the bleak midwinter, the dreamy days of summer seem a long way away. But with the shortest day of the year now behind us, thoughts turn to the warmer months just around the corner and Birmingham is making plans for a sizzling summer.

'Miracle' Drug Puts Spinal Disease Man On Top of World

A Midland businessman who could hardly walk has climbed the world's highest mountain after trialling a miracle drug at a Staffordshire hospital. Spinal disease patient Andew Hodgkinson found it difficult to hobble with a walking stick to the end of his street, let alone climb a mountain.

End of the Line Could Be Start of Something Big ; Government Sustainability Experts Have Produced a Report On Whether Long Marston Will Be Able to House an Eco Town That Meets the Highest Environmental Standards. Environment Correspondent Patrice John Visited the Development to Find Out About Its Ecological Merits.

It's the sight of the disused rail line that strikes you first. Right in the middle of the 630-acre site, there it stands housing a solitary train carriage that has reached the end of line. It's going nowhere.

Ten Towns with Energy-Efficient Homes Could Be On the Way

Eco towns were the first major policy announced by Gordon Brown as he launched his bid to take over as Prime Minister, and the idea was expanded from five towns to ten last September following an initial positive response. - Ministers want to build ten ecotowns with energy efficient homes to relieve Britain's housing shortage, with five being built by 2016 and a further five by 2020.

Labour has 'Squandered Chance' to Help Society, Claims the Church of England

The Government was embroiled in another row with the Church of England last night after bishops condemned its policies as "morally corrupt". Five senior Church figures delivered a scathing assessment of Labour's record in power, warning that the country was suffering from family breakdown, an addiction to debt and a growing gap between rich and poor.

Man Charged Over Abduction of Nurse Found in Car Boot

A 35-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the abduction of nurse Magdeline Makola, who was missing for more than a week, police said. Ms Makola, aged 38, of Livingston in West Lothian, is recovering in hospital after being found in the boot of her car, dehydrated and suffering from hypothermia.

Plea for Hold On Minimum Wage

Business leaders are calling for the national minimum wage not to be increased in 2009 because of the state of the economy. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has written to the Low Pay Commission, which advises the Government on the statutory rate, saying it believed the wage should remain at the current levels of pounds 5.73 an hour for adults, pounds 4.77 for 18-to 21-year-olds and pounds 3.53 for 16-and-17-year-olds, until economic conditions had significantly improved.

Osborne 'Would Target Ni Rise If Tories Win'

The Conservatives are set to scrap at least one of Labour's tax rises if they win the next general election, according to George Osborne. The shadow chancellor has signalled that reversing a hike in National Insurance planned for2011 will be a "priority".