Birmingham Post

All Sweetness and Light As Cadbury's Profits Leap

Cadbury yesterday posted a 46 per cent leap in profits and insisted the future of its Bournville plant was secure despite vowing to take "whatever measures necessary" in the face of a challenging economic backdrop. Strong demand for brands such as Dairy Milk and the new Creme Egg Twisted Bar, as well as double-digit revenue growth in emerging markets, were behind the Birmingham-based confectionery giant's first-half profit surge.

Nec Group Shows Off Its Bumper Profit

The NEC Group made a bumper profit of almost pounds 35 million over the last year - a period which is known in the industry as the lowest point of the traditional four year exhibition cycle. The group runs the National Exhibition Centre, the NEC Arena, the International Convention Centre and the National Indoor Arena.

Households Hit As British Gas Prices Rise 35pc

British Gas, the UK's biggest domestic supplier, yesterday heaped misery on households by announcing a 35 per cent increase in gas bills and nine per cent on electricity bills. Average dual fuel prices will jump 25 per cent.

Boy Charged with Mum'smurder ; Court

A teenager appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of a woman believed to be his mother. Patricia Fort, aged 57, died of suspected stab wounds at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital on Monday morning.

Grant Scheme to Pay Towards Flood Defences ; Government

The Government has announced plans for a pounds 5 million scheme to provide grants for people at a high risk of flooding to protect their homes. The initiative could provide homeowners with a free flood survey and grants towards the cost of installing flood protection measures, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

Quad Biker Killed in Freelander Collision ; Accident

A quad biker died after a crash with a four-wheel-drive car. Police said the 24-year-old suffered head injuries and died at the scene in Castle Vale on Tuesday.

Asylum Seeker Jailed for Seven Years for Home-Made Bomb

A Syrian-born man who tried to make a bomb at his home in Birmingham which could have been used to cause "destruction, injury and death" in a terrorist attack has been jailed for seven years. The plot was nipped in the bud when police arrested Hassan Tabbakh - who had been given indefinite leave to remain in the UK after lodging an application for asylum - before he could take any act of terror.

Relatives Angry Over Decision Not to Prosecute Trust for C Diff Deaths

Relatives reacted angrily yesterday to the decision not to prosecute over failures at an NHS Trust which led to 90 deaths from the Clostridium difficile (C diff) bug. Kent police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said their inquiries failed to find sufficient evidence to lay charges of corporate manslaughter or gross negligent manslaughter.

Customers' Tips Will No Longer Be Used to Subsidise Staff Wages

Customer tips in bars and restaurants will no longer be counted towards the pay of staff to bring them up to the minimum wage, the Government announced today. Ministers said changes will be made to stop the controversial practice of employers using tips and service charges to top up workers' wages to make sure they earned the statutory adult rate of pounds 5.52 an hour.

Brothers' Bleak House Case Continues

A senior judge urged two brothers from an old farming family locked in a bitter dispute over their inheritance to "bury the hatchet" in honour of their father yesterday. Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Ward said he had no doubt "a vast amount of money" had been spent in the "uncompromising" legal battle between Andrew Lifely and youngest brother Nicholas, from Herefordshire.

Jail for Solicitor Who Illegally Advised Over Mortgages

A struck off Midland solicitor who earned hefty commissions while running an unlicensed mortgage brokerage business has been jailed for eight months at Birmingham Crown Court. Passing sentence Deputy Circuit Judge Peter Stretton told Peter Collinson: "You were formerly a solicitor. You knew what the rules and regulations were and you disregarded them blatantly. Having been refused a licence you carried on."

Indiscipline the Fault of Parents

Discipline in schools is worsening as children are no longer learning moral values at home, a teachers' leader said yesterday Schools are taking on the mantle of providing pupils with a stable upbringing because the skills of parents are declining, according to Philip Parkin, general secretary of Voice, the union for education professionals. There has been a "downward spiral" in the quality of parenting, he said, that is likely to continue.

Aa Turns to Bikes to Cut Through Brum's Traffic

Birmingham has the slowest moving rush hour traffic of Britain's five major regional cities, a major report reveals today. Fifteen per cent of drivers get stuck in queues on key inner city routes in the city, according to a "go-slow" table released today.

City Gamers Win World Title After Showdown in Us

A Birmingham team has triumphed in a top international computer games tournament, in what was described yesterday as a "great achievement" for competitive gaming in the UK. Birmingham Salvo beat their rivals San Francisco Optx in the final of the Championship Gaming Series, billed as the only worldwide professional gaming league.

Serious Fraud Office Cleared in Saudi Arms Deal Pull-Out

The Serious Fraud Office was cleared yesterday of unlawfully surrendering to pressure from Saudi Arabia when it dropped a corruption inquiry into a lucrative arms deal. Then SFO Director RobertWardle was praised by Law Lords for a "courageous decision" in late 2006 in the face of Saudi threats to withdraw co-operation on anti-terrorism.

Miliband's Article Ignites Fury in Senior Labour Circle

David Miliband yesterday denied he was campaigning for the leadership of the Labour Party, insisting that Gordon Brown "will lead us forward to address the big issues". But the Foreign Secretary ducked the question of whether he would rule himself out of a future leadership contest and declined to say whether he believed Mr Brown was the only person who could lead Britain through its current economic difficulties.

Health Secretary Johnson Storms Out of Press Briefing

Health Secretary Alan Johnson stormed out of a press briefing in Wolverhampton when he was quizzed about Gordon Brown's position yesterday. Mr Johnson, visiting the Gem Centre for Children and Young People, refused to answer questions on whether he would join forces with David Miliband to form a leadership 'dream ticket' for Labour.

Drugs Trade Is Still Booming

The illegal drugs trade in Britain is bouncing back against tough action by police and customs with seizures failing to curb demand or supply at street level, new research suggests. The UK Drug Policy Commission report found the pounds 5.3 billion drugs market was proving "extremely resilient" to crackdowns by law enforcement agencies, despite hundreds of millions of pounds each year tackling the problem.

Cameron 'Cannot Remember' the Day He First Got Drunk

Parents should introduce their children to alcohol at home to avoid it causing trouble when they are older, David Cameron said yesterday. The Tory leader said his friends with the biggest problems were the ones never allowed to drink at home, while his friends who were allowed drinks at mealtime were now the most responsible.

Tory Leader Calls for an Election

The Government would have to call a general election immediately if Gordon Brown was forced to stand down, Tory leader David Cameron said yesterday. Mr Cameron said the Cabinet was making mistakes and it was therefore "incredible" some were being talked up as saviours of the Labour Party.