Birmingham Post

Cosford Boosted by Returning Uk Troops

Troops returning to the UK from Germany are to be stationed in the West Midlands, in a major boost to the region's economy. About 2,600 troops and their families and dependants are to move to Cosford, in Shropshire, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

Warwickshire Cancel Grenada Cricket Tour

Warwickshire County Cricket Club have cancelled their pre-season tour of Grenada, barely two weeks before the players were due to leave. Although some will deduce that the move was a reaction to financial difficulties at Edgbaston, the club's chief executive Colin Povey insists it was "a cricketing decision".

Ftse has Worst Start to Year Since Launch

London's blue-chip share index has suffered one of its worse beginnings to a year since it was launched 24 years ago. The FTSE 100 Index has shed more than 577 points since the start of 2008 - a drop of 8.9 per cent on its opening mark of 6456.9.

New Judicial Review Bid by Ambulance Campaigners

Campaigners fighting to save an emergency operations centre in Worcestershire yesterday launched a bid to take the region's ambulance service to a judicial review. A "letter before claim" was sent to West Midlands Ambulance Service's headquarters in Brierley Hill yesterday morning.

23 Passengers Rescued After Wave Hits Ferry

A rescue operation was under way last night after a ferry got into difficulties in high winds on the Irish Sea. Three helicopters - two from the RAF and one from the Irish coastguard - were scrambled to airlift 23 passengers from the Riverdance, 10 nautical miles off the coast of Fleetwood, Lancashire.

16,000 Inmates Released Early

More than 16,000 prisoners have been released early because of jail overcrowding. Figures for the emergency scheme, which sees criminals released up to 18 days before the end of their sentences, revealed that 3,000 of those freed had been convicted of violent crime.

Technical Problems with Post Epaper

Users of The Birmingham Post epaper may have experienced problems accessing the service yesterday. Due to technical issues beyond the newspaper's control, there was a temporary break in the service.

West Midlands Crime 'at Lowest Level' for 18 Years

Overall reported crime in the West Midlands was at its lowest level in 18 years last month, according to police figures. The amount of crime reported between April and December last year was also down by more than 10 per cent compared to the same period in 2006.

How I Was Attacked and Three Yobs Got Clean Away with It ; Statistics, Statistics and Damn Crimes. Shahid Naqvi Gives a Personal Account of Falling Victim to Young Thugs

Crime is at an 18-year low and Jacqui Smith doesn't believe the streets are as unsafe as people think they are. That's fine then. Unless Ms Smith had been me a year ago walking down the high street near my home when I was set upon by three youths who repeatedly punched me in the face.

Tax Deadline Extended 24 Hours After Website Crash

HM Revenue & Customs yesterday extended the deadline for people to complete their self assessment tax returns following problems with its website. The Government department said it was giving people an extra 24 hours to get their returns and any tax they owe to it, without people being liable for a pounds 100 fine.

Regional Arts Benefit From More Private Investment

There is more private sector money reaching the arts in the West Midlands than ever before, a report has found. According to figures published yesterday in the Arts & Business Private Investment in the Arts report, private support in the region has grown by 61.5 per cent above inflation to pounds 18.8 6 million.

Birmingham Shop Window in Capital On the Move

Birmingham's London "embassy" is moving, three years after its grand opening in the heart of the capital. The office, run by the city council and the NEC Group, is to move from Piccadilly to Charlotte Street, in the heart of London's media district.

Asylum Seeker Fights for Estate

A Russian asylum seeker fighting for a share of her dead lover's pounds 500,000 estate had "no right" to move into a home he owned, a court heard yesterday. Tatiana Chebotareva (22), claimed she lived with James King at his Stirling property after they met in London six years ago.

Uk Patriotism 'Controversial Issue in Classrooms'

Children should not be taught to be patriotic at school, researchers have claimed. The Government has called for history lessons to help children develop a sense of their British identity and a love of their country.

Plan to Scrap Grammar Schools

Ministers should consider scrapping grammar schools to make the education system fair for poorer pupils, a Government-backed report recommended yesterdayr. The study for the Department for Children found faith schools and academic selection contributed to segregation between rich and poor.

Health Trust Admits Fatal Errors Over Cancer Case

A Birmingham health trust has admitted to fatal errors in its treatment of a breast cancer patient, who died after reconstructive surgery, it was revealed yesterday. After receiving an undisclosed six-figure sum in compensation, Deborah Yardley's family now hope the city's coroner Aidan Cotter will open a fresh inquest into the 45-year-old's death.

Youtube Cash On Offer for Video Creators

British YouTube users who post popular video clips are to be paid for their efforts, it was announced yesterday. They will earn a share of the revenue generated from the adverts which run alongside their clips - potentially making thousands of pounds per month.

Mother of Disabled Son Nears Legal Victory

The mother of a disabled child who claimed she left her job after being "harassed" by her employers was yesterday a step closer to a groundbreaking legal victory which could give new rights to millions of carers. Sharon Coleman, 42, from south London, said she was forced to quit her job as a legal secretary after she was refused flexible working.

Franglais Inventor Dies at 66

Miles Kington, the jazz aficionado, wit and writer, has died at the age of 66 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, a family member said yesterday. Kington wrote for satirical magazine Punch, The Times and, for more than 20 years, The Independent.

Midlanders in Spanish Rescue

Ambulance staff in the West Midlands - dubbed International Rescue by colleagues -have come to the aid of yet another patient on foreign shores. Just 24 hours after helping a patient in Australia, the same shift at the West Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Brierley Hill was called upon to help a patient in Spain.