Birmingham Post

Woman Loses Fight Over Bt Charges

A BT customer who tried to sue the company over charges levied on customers who do not pay bills by direct debit yesterday lost her case. Solicitor Ros Fernihough, from Sutton Coldfield, had claimed the telephone company unfairly penalises cash-paying customers.

Midlands Will Be Medical Powerhouse

Ambitious plans to turn the West Midlands into the capital of Britain's health industry are set to be launched by Regional Minister Liam Byrne, writes Political Editor Jonathan Walker. He will reveal plans for three Academic Health Science Centres in the region, bringing universities and hospitals together to provide training and attract investment.

Punch Pulls Out of M & B Merger

Pubs group Punch Taverns has backed out of a pounds 3.7 billion merger with Birmingham rival Mitchells & Butlers, raising questions as to whether anyone is still eyeing the Harvester and O'Neills owner. M&B put itself up for sale in January after a property deal went disastrously wrong, losing it pounds 400 million and costing the firm's chairman and finance director their jobs.

Actress Granted Restraining Order ; Courts

A childhood acquaintance of actress Samantha Morton was cleared yesterday of harassing her but given a restraining order preventing him from contacting the Oscarnominated star. Noel Watts, 42, from Gabor Close, Clifton, Nottingham, was found guilty of harassing Morton's agent, Nicola Van Gelden, after "frightening" her with texts and phone calls for the actress.

Dead Man Was a Drugs Mule ; Police

A man whose body was found by council workmen on a roadside verge was acting as a drugs mule, detectives believe. A post-mortem examination on the corpse of Said Othman showed more than 70 large packets of cocaine were concealed inside his body.

Ticket Anarchy ; Celebrity

It's the hottest ticket in town and it's going to get hotter. As expected, tickets for the Sex Pistols' show at Birmingham's Carling Academy on June 11 went on sale at 9am yesterday and were gone within an hour.

Muslim Writers Recognised by Jackson Five Star

Music legend Jermaine Jackson and Dragon's Den star James Caan tonight will honour the UK's most talented Muslim writers. The Jackson Five star and millionaire Caan are among special guests presenting awards at the gala Innovate Muslim Writers Awards ceremony at the Birmingham ICC.

Second Disastrous Day Sees More Misery at T5

Passengers endured another day of travel misery at Heathrow's new pounds 4.3 billion Terminal 5 yesterday as British Airways axed flights for the second day running. Admitting his airline had "got things wrong" after Thursday's disastrous opening day at the new facility, British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh warned of further cancellations today.

Post Correspondent Caught in the Chaos

Sue Turner, Birmingham Post ballet correspondent, was one of the first passengers to fly out of Terminal 5 on its opening day but what should have been a dream trip turned into a nightmare. She arrived on Thursday at Heathrow's new terminal at 7.30am, leaving what she thought was plenty of time to check in for her 9.45am flight to Moscow.

Over 60 Town Hall Bosses Make It to the Pounds 100,000 Club

More than 60 West Midlands town hall bosses earn more than pounds 100,000 a year and are benefiting from bonuses and above-inflation pay rises, according to a local government salary survey. The study, by the TaxPayers'Alliance, uncovered wide variations in pay scales for chief executives, ranging from pounds 170,000 for Birmingham City Council's Stephen Hughes and pounds 166,000 a year for Dudley Council's Andrew Sparke, to pounds 140,000 for Mary Fraser at Sandwell and pounds 127,000 for So...

Buckinghamshire Folk the Happiest in the Country

People in Buckinghamshire enjoy the best quality of life in Great Britain, research claimed yesterday. Those living in the area are the healthiest, have the highest life expectancy and are amongst the highest paid, bringing home an average pounds 40,000 a year, according to Halifax.

Centrica Boss On Pounds 1.9m but 2,000 Laid Off

The head of British Gas parent company Centrica earned almost pounds 1.9 million in 2007, it was revealed yesterday. News of chief executive Sam Laidlaw's pounds 1.87 million package - more than pounds 5,100 a day - comes weeks after a five-fold increase in British Gas profits to pounds 571 million last year sparked outrage from consumer groups.

Rspca 'Trespassed On Life' of Sacred Cow

Saffron-robed Hindu monks served legal papers on the RSPCA yesterday as part of an ongoing dispute over the slaughter of a sacred cow. The six-strong group marched into the charity's headquarters in Horsham, West Sussex, to deliver notice of their intention to sue over the death of Gangotri.

Politics: Straw Lets Terrorists Out ; Justice

Justice Secretary Jack Straw was forced to announce changes to a "get out of jail early" scheme last night after revelations that two convicted terrorists benefited from the controversial measures. The Government confirmed that Yassin Nassari - who was arrested at Luton Airport with blueprints for a rocket in his luggage - was freed from maximum security Wakefield Prison 17 days early, and a second unnamed man from Glen Parva jail in Leicestershire.

Politics: Local Results Boost Brown ; by-Elections

Labour easily won two by-elections in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in a boost for Prime Minister Gordon Brown who this week visited the town to launch his party's nationwide campaign for May's main polls. The results suggest Tories' post Budget surge has slackened and the prospects for the crucial contests in five weeks' are balanced.

Politics: Boris Pledges New Approach ; London

Tory London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson yesterday said he would work with people from across the political spectrum to offer "fresh thinking" for the capital if he wins the May 1 election. He said the first 100 days of his City Hall regime would focus on improving safety on the capital's streets and transport network.

Politics: Fsa to Get Special Powers After Hbos Rumours Scandal

City whistleblowers could soon be offered immunity from prosecution under plans to beef up the UK's financial watchdog, Chancellor Alistair Darling has indicated. The Government was urged to grant the Financial Services Authority US-style powers in the wake of last week's slump in a major bank's share price amid claims of market manipulation.

Politics: Cameron Calls for State to Intervene in the Economy

The free market is not enough to create a strong economy in Britain and allow manufacturing to survive the global economic storm, Conservative leader David Cameron warned yesterday. The State must offer more support to small and medium-sized businesses, and improve the nation's education and transport, he claimed.

Politics: Worst Great Western Escapes Government Fine

Britain's worst train operator has insisted it is on track to deliver improvements. The firm behind the First Great Western rail service recently branded "unacceptable" said it would complete a pounds 29 million improvement package after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly branded its performance "unacceptable".

Politics: Strike Will Hit Fa Cup Semi Weekend

Tube passengers face three days of travel chaos next month after two transport unions announced a walk-out on London Underground. The dispute over safety issues involves the RMT and TSSA unions whose Tube members will strike from 6.30pm on Sunday April 6 - the day Cardiff take on Barnsley in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley - to 6.30pm on Wednesday April 9.