Birmingham Post

Arts Council Offers Glimmer of Hope to City Opera Company

The future of Birmingham Opera Company was still unclear last night after the Arts Council opened the door to a possible restoration of its revenue funding in 2009-10. The company, which is one of 194 across the country which were notified in December that the Arts Council intended to withdraw their funding next year, will have a meeting with the Arts Council and Birmingham City Council next Thursday to discuss how it might survive the loss of its pounds 330,000 grant for next year.

Midlands Escapes As Heavy Snow Brings Chaos to Scotland and North

The West Midlands escaped the worst of yesterday's weather, as heavy snow missed the region and headed towards the East Coast. Birmingham saw flurries of snow in the afternoon, but missed the extreme weather that hit other parts of the country.

Blow for Unions As Binmen Accept Pay Deal

Trade union plans for a one-day strike at Birmingham City Council suffered a major set-back last night after more than 500 binmen and street cleaners voted decisively to accept an pounds 8,000-ayear pay rise. The men defied advice from union leaders to reject the deal and voted by more than two to one to pocket the increase.

Families of M1 Crash Victims Demand Case Be Reviewed

The families of five men killed when a transporter carrying three army tanks crashed on a motorway called for a review of the case yesterday. Paul Evans and Craig Mears, who were both of Great Wyrley, near Cannock, along with Daniel Bradley, Wayne Buckley and Chris Green, were fatally injured on the M1 in Leicestershire in June 2003 after the tractor unit and trailer and a Honda Civic car collided, an inquest has heard.

Not Guilty Plea in Biker's Murder

A plea of not guilty was entered yesterday on behalf of a defendant accused of murdering a biker on the M40. The Recorder of Birmingham, Judge Frank Chapman, entered the plea on behalf of Sean Creighton after the 43-year-old, appearing in court on a live videolink, refused to be arraigned.

Winners and Losers in Arts Council Cuts

The Arts Council yesterday announced funding cuts to 212 organisations, while granting 17 others a last-minute reprieve. Venues which received celebrity backing, such as the Bush Theatre in west London, are celebrating after the council reversed its decision to withdraw funds.

Hard-Up Son Who Swindled Mum Out of Pounds 240k Jailed

A hard-up art dealer, who swindled his elderly mother's estate out of more than pounds 240,000 to buy a string of luxuries and pay bills, was jailed for eight months yesterday. During three years of "systematic" betrayal heartless Raymond Green almost wiped out the 97-year-old widow's savings, mortgaged her home behind her back and refused to pay her bills.

Big Price Increases From Scottish Power

Scottish Power yesterday became the latest energy supplier to announce inflation-busting price rises. The group, which has 5.2 million customers, said electricity prices will rise by an average of 14 per cent, with gas prices up by 15 per cent.

Weathering Ridicule of Snow Panic

The man who advised schools in Shropshire to shut early yesterday for fear of snow said he felt "embarrassed" as the county spent the afternoon bathed in sunshine. Norrie Porter, head of premises and planning for Shropshire County Council, told schools across the region to send children home after lunch.

Birmingham's Flood Heroes Honoured at Reception

Heroes of last summer's extreme flooding in Birmingham were honoured at a special council reception yesterday. About 70 residents from Witton - one of the hardest-hit parts of the city - were invited to meet Lord Mayor of Birmingham Coun Randal Brew and deputy council leader Paul Tilsley.

Rescuers Brave Storms As Rough Seas Claim Vessels

Rescuers braved terrifying storms to airlift 37 people to safety after two vessels ran aground off the British coast in horrendous conditions yesterday. And on land, stong winds and blizzards caused havoc on roads in parts of Scotland and northern England.

Extreme Events Could Be Common

Severe weather could become the norm over the next 25 years, according to experts. Flooding, stronger hurricanes, violent storms and more torrential rain will become increasingly common, they predict.

Floyd Collapses, but It's 'Not Alcohol Related'

Television chef Keith Floyd is in a stable condition in hospital after collapsing at a Midland pub, his friend said yesterday. The flamboyant celebrity was taken to hospital earlier this week after collapsing while staying at Chesters pub in Newcastle-under- Lyme, Staffordshire, which is run by his friend Glenn Geldard.

Tories Scrutinise Family Staff After Conway Shame ; Politics

More than 70 Tory MPs employ members of their family, Tory leader David Cameron revealed yesterday as he joined calls for more transparency in the wake of the Derek Conway controversy. Mr Cameron said he has asked all his frontbench team to declare any such arrangements publicly from April 1 as a "good first step".

Improve Dyslexic Needs, Says Mp ; Politics Needs

A Labour MP with a severely dyslexic son called for the Government to improve provision for children with special educational needs. Sharon Hodgson said her son Joseph was not diagnosed as being dyslexic until he was 10-years-old and had been at school for six years "struggling with his self-esteem getting lower and lower".

Call for Troops ; Politics Kenya

Troops may need to be deployed on the streets in Kenya before political stability can be restored, a Foreign Office minister said yesterday. Lord Malloch-Brown, who has been in the east African country in recent days, suggested the police were no longer trusted after the killings of two opposition MPs.

Labour Win ; Politics by-Election

Labour has swept to a comfortable win in a Scottish council by- election. Its candidate Mark Griffin polled more than half the votes cast and there was no need for further counts under the proportional representation system north of the border.

Brown's Goal Getting Schools to Love Sport ; Politics

Gordon Brown was in the Midlands yesterday launching a new drive to encourage children to do more sport in school. The Prime Minister announced a new National Schools Sports Week, starting on June 30, and said the Government aimed to have all pupils doing up to five hours of sport a week by 2012.

Straw Takes Flak On Parole Board ; Politics

Justice Minister Jack Straw came in for a double dose of criticism from the Lord Chief Justice yesterday over the functioning of the Parole Board. Lord Phillips said the system lacks independence from Government and should be changed.

Parents Owe Pounds 145m in Child Support ; Politics

Feckless parents in the West Midlands owe pounds 145 million in unpaid child support, official figures have revealed, writes Jonathan Walker. Only half the money is ever likely to be paid to the children that need it.