Archive
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Hijacked at gunpoint
A TERRIFIED trucker was ordered out of his cab at gunpoint and bundled into a car boot by kidnappers posing as policemen. Their victim was held, masked, for two-and-a-half hours before the crooks dumped him on a motorway in Wiltshire. The lorry driver
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Big Brother Tim's lap-dancing 'lust'
WORCESTERSHIRE'S Big Brother toff Tim Culley's saucy antics hit the headlines this weekend. A lap-dancer told Saturday's Daily Star how the 23-year-old has a secret lust for sexy performances. Keri Mockler told how the former Malvern College student would
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Dumped tyres risked long-term poisoning
Thousands of tyres dumped illegally on land in Pershore could have put residents at risk from a poison cloud, a court heard. A safety expert concluded that stacked tyres were in danger of self-igniting under the pressure, sending up hydrogen cyanide gas
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County Scouts combine fun and fund-raising at camp
SCOUTS and Cub Scouts from across Worcester did good deeds for Acorns Children's Hospice at their summer camp. The camp at Blackwell Court, near Bromsgrove, brought together 180 Scouts, 230 Cub Scouts and 100 Beaver Scouts from the Worcester Scout District
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Crime-busting idea dates back to Saxons
THIS summer Neighbourhood Watch, the community crime prevention scheme, officially celebrates its 20th anniversary, but historically it may well be underselling itself. Because it could be argued the idea goes back around 1,000 years. In fact, only a
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Staff are 'leaving in droves'
SENIOR staff at Wyre Forest District Council are leaving in droves under the new Health Concern administration, according to a Conservative councillor. Coun Stephen Clee, deputy leader of the Wyre Forest Conservative Group, has called for the leader of
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Elgar event is scrapped
THE Elgar Choral Festival has been scrapped due to escalating costs and a lack of interest. The organising committee, working on behalf of the Elgar Foundation, has discontinued the festivals, starting with the one scheduled for October 2003. The festival
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Platform boost for disabled anglers
DISABLED anglers have been given a huge boost with the opening of an angling platform in Pershore. The platform on the River Meadow was officially opened on Saturday, with the head of the British Disabled Anglers Association, Terry Moseley, and patron
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£5,000 fillip for festival
A WORCESTER festival of arts, crafts and culture has received a welcome boost from the National Lottery with a £5,000 grant from Awards for All. This year's Stanley Road Funpac festival, celebrating Worcester's cultural diversity, will last three days
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Bands in the Park set for summer success
JAMES Bond, Frank Sinatra and Disney came together in a medley of brass band music in Worcester's Gheluvelt Park. The Band of the West Mercia Constabulary entertained visitors yesterday as part of Worcester City Council's summer programme of Bands in
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Raise cash for project
YOUTH leaders in Broadway, near Evesham, are appealing to firms, businesses and individuals to help them raise cash for a skateboard and BMX track. The project is moving a step nearer now a formal application for a grant has been accepted by Wychavon
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Sure Start survivors
PITCHCROFT was taken over by children on Saturday as part of National Childcare Month organised by the Early Years Service. The youngsters' paradise featured bouncy castles, face painting and circus skills, as well as a Sure Start Survivor Island full
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A call to arms for the city
LESS litter, better transport - that's what Worcester people want, with local sporting facilities (or the lack of them) and crime noted as major concerns. The findings of the recent Worcester Alliance survey, carried out across the Faithful City community
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Neal takes second win
WORCESTERSHIRE race ace Matt Neal scored his second win of the season in the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship at Mondello Park in Ireland yesterday. Neal, from Hanbury near Droitwich, won the sprint race in his Egg Sport Vauxhall Astra Coupe
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Pedmore keep up pressure
THE top two sides in Worcestershire Cricket League Division One both enjoyed comfortable victories as the race for the title starts to heat up. Second-placed Pedmore demolished bottom side Astwood Bank, bowling them all out for just 19 before completing
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Romance
FANCY a touch of romance? A romantic garden, which was created in an old farm rickyard, is being opened to the public. The garden at Tythe Barn House, Chaddesley Corbett, near Bromsgrove, will be open on Sunday, June 30, as part of the National Gardens
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Firm, but fair and supportive role for inspectors
EVERY day across Worcestershire a school is visited by an inspector. In fact 20 schools could be visited each day as part of the mission to raise standards across the county. That's not to say Worcestershire's schools are failing, in fact it is an effort
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Well done PODS
MAY I congratulate Pershore Operatic & Dramatic Society (PODS) for a first-class production of Oliver at the Swan Theatre, Worcester. Having had a packed audience at each performance speaks for itself. From the youngest to the most senior, each one
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Don't assume they are all playing truant
I'M sure many people have seen the news articles about truancy recently and the truancy sweeps that have been going on around the country. I do not condone truancy, but what I do object to is people assuming that all children seen out of school in school
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House of Commons is full of vermin
MIKE Foster managed a first this week. He left a radio interviewer lost for words. The feat was achieved while the mid-Worcestershire MP was being asked about an Early Day Motion - mentioned on this column last week - calling for a House of Commons cat
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Cheesemaker's freedom recipe
A WORCESTERSHIRE farmer will appear alongside some of the country's best-known chefs in the new RSPCA Freedom Food Celebrity Recipe Collection. Phil Rogers, whose family owns Lightwood Cheese, in Cotheridge, near Worcester, submitted a recipe for cheese
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SEA CLAIMS LIFE OF SCHOOLGIRL
A WORCESTER schoolgirl has died after a day trip to the seaside ended in tragedy yesterday. Five-year-old Lelaina Hall, of Oldbury Park Primary School, was trapped in mud on a Somerset beach. A male family friend, who has not been named, was also rescued
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Procession of dignitaries precedes Mayor's special service
THE new Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Robert Rowden, enjoyed a special service in the Cathedral to mark the start of his year in office. Coun Rowden and wife Hope were joined by civic dignitaries for yesterday's service, which was preceded by a procession
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Diglis flood fear
A MULTI-million pound scheme to rejuvenate the neglected Diglis Basin could result in more flooding misery across Worcester, claims a city flood watchdog. Worcester Action Against Flooding says it fears plans by British Waterways and Bryant Homes to fill
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City students take a hike for charity
A WALK on the Malvern Hills by students from Worcester College of Technology is thought to have raised around £450. The 20 students, with two lecturers, undertook the eight-mile walk in aid of Worcester HomeStart for their course for the BTEC National
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Man gravely ill after being hit by bike
A MAN is fighting for his life after a crash on a Malvern road. He was standing by his parked car with his three-year-old son when the accident happened yesterday. Worcester police said a Suzuki GSX-R1100 motorbike travelling in the opposite direction
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Sex attack nurse can't work again
A MALE psychiatric nurse who was jailed for a sex attack on a teenager has been banned from nursing for life. William Barbour - who was jailed for a year in 2000 for indecently assaulting the 17-year-old student - was banned by the professional conduct
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Arboretum is branching out
ACIDIC soil found in the Wyre Forest has set the theme for the Forestry Commission's county tree collection. The future development of Wyre Forest's arboretum was decided on after a visit by experts from the world-famous Westonbirt Arboretum. The two-hectare
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Calling all keen gardeners
THE deadline is b-looming large for entries in this year's annual Worcester in Bloom Competition. Worcester City Council, which runs the competition, wants as many people as possible to enter the summer event. It is designed to promote gardening as widely
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Is a mere modicum of respect too much to expect?
YES mate, what can I do for you?" offered the person perched behind the bar of one of Worcestershire's most celebrated hotels. This form of greeting in such a hostelry took me completely by surprise. And no, just in case you're wondering, this is not
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Sixways spree delights Brain
JOHN Brain today hailed Worcester Rugby Club's summer shopping spree "very successful" after capturing his final post-season signing. The Sixways director of rugby was delighted with the 14 new signings brought to the club since the end of the season
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Worcestershire must wait
WORCESTERSHIRE Cricket Board are in a strong position to reach the ECB 38-County Cup quarter-finals for the first time. They completed their group matches with a fine eight-wicket victory over Herefordshire at Kidderminster yesterday, with Nathan Round
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Leroy in battling points reversal
WORCESTER welterweight boxer Leroy Williamson suffered a points defeat at the Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre in London yesterday. Stepping in at short notice to provide an opponent for unbeaten Camden Town fighter Brett James, Williamson defended
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Festival of racing draws large crowds
TWENTY crews gathered on the banks of the River Severn in Worcester to compete in the 12th annual 'Race The Dragon' organised by Worcester Dragon Boat Racing Club. There were 15 local crews, supplemented by two from the Birmingham area, both of whom had
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Crime-busting idea dates back to Saxons
THIS summer Neighbourhood Watch, the community crime prevention scheme, officially celebrates its 20th anniversary, but historically it may well be underselling itself. Because it could be argued the idea goes back around 1,000 years. In fact, only a
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Youngsters hang on to boost KCC
WORCESTER claimed a winning draw against local rivals Kidderminster in the Birmingham Cricket League . Having amassed 226-6 off their 55 overs, Worcester looked odds-on to complete the victory with chasing Kidderminster eight wickets down. However, the
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Determination sees County to Leics triumph
WORCESTERSHIRE recorded a 62-shot victory over Leicestershire at Worcester Bowling Club in their latest Midland Counties match. They took a maximum 22 points thanks to det-ermination and tenacity. The County were 30 shots ahead after just five ends and
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Why Mike Foster should be asking questions about the Israeli regime
I AM extremely concerned and disgusted at the lack of coverage for the latest atrocity being perpetrated against the Palestinian people by the Zionist regime of Israel. Setting up a 70-mile long fence is an apartheid-style crack-down on basic human rights
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I (Who Have Nothing)
SHIRLEY Bassey says she can't find a man for keeps. I can't find a woman either - but I'm not really sure I want one. I'm a bit set in my ways and too selfish - I prefer my freedom to play Shirley Bassey or read a novel when I feel like it, without being
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It does not glorify war
UNLESS Mr Mountford has an excellent knowledge of history, I should be surprised if he can name more than three wars motivated solely by religion. I am sure, however, that he can name several wars that have not been motivated by religion in the slightest
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Thieves' threat to meadows
ONE of the pleasures of this time of the year is the sight of the few remaining fragments of wildflower meadows in Worcestershire. You may have seen the recent report by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust that highlighted the dramatic loss of our meadows -
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The £124,000 job that no one wants
THERE is a very well-paid job going in Whitehall. But the Government cannot seem to fill the post and has been forced to call in headhunters. It is difficult to imagine why. Home Secretary David Blunkett is only looking for someone to run the country's
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Just answer the question, please
THERE is an (unofficial) art to the way civil servants - on behalf of their Ministers - answer written Parliamentary questions. In some cases, they give as much information as possible. A "friendly" Labour MP asks what the Government is doing to tackle
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Chamber reports scepticism in small business
THE Government does not understand how small businesses work, according to the country's largest and oldest Chamber of Commerce. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCI) has said a new Government initiative aimed at helping to combat late
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Stores show a subdued demand
BRITAIN'S biggest supermarket chain has said sales growth is slowing as consumer demand becomes more subdued. Tesco, which has stores in St Peter's, Worcester, and Warndon Villages, Worcester, said like-for-like sales in its 700-plus supermarkets for
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Brownfield sites are goldmine for developers
BUILDERS are "on the hunt" for brownfield sites in villages and on the outskirts of towns, according to a Worcestershire land survey and valuation firm. Anthony Mayell, a specialist with Fisher German, in Dumbleton, near Evesham, said the Government had
