Archive

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Stourport batting collapse

SATURDAY proved to be a disappointing day all round for Stourport whose firsts could only muster 77 runs. Entertaining Alvechurch and Hopwood on an excellent Walshes Meadow wicket, Stourport faced a daunting total of 234-8 from the visitors. Ian Delo

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Green gliding in

NEIL Fletcher and Charles D'Auncey led Cutnall Green to a comfortable win over Stone in Worcestershire League Division Five. Green are now 11 points off Brintons at the top of the table following their 10-wicket success which saw rivals Stone bowled out

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Brintons still top

LEADERS Brintons had to be content with a losing draw in Worcestershire League Division Five after bowling out Barnards Green. Steve Morris (5-19) was in great form with the ball to help them dismiss their Malvern opponents for 184. The runs of D White

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Roberts' run rush is vital

MATT Friedlander ripped through the Astwood Bank batting with 5-49 for Kidderminster Victoria in the Worcestershire Sunday League. Martin Roberts (76 not out) and Peter Stevens (56) top scored in KVCC's winning innings of 177-1. Astwood Bank 173-8, KVCC

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Cricket fixtures

SATURDAY (1.30pm unless stated) BIRMINGHAM LEAGUE DIVISION ONE KVCC v Harborne (1pm) SECONDS PREMIER DIVISION Harborne v KVCC 2nds WORCESTERSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Brockhampton v CHADDESLEY CORBETT (2nds home) Kington v BEWDLEY (2nds home) DIVISION

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Arrest

A man was arrested at Droitwich Road, Worcester on suspicion of causing criminal damage. The man, who was arrested at around 11am last Thursday, was charged with the offence and is due to attend Worcester Magistrates' Court today. Charged A man was arrested

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'Secret plot to pull down all High St trees'

WORCESTER'S High Street could have ended up with no trees whatsoever, according to Worcester Greenpeace. This month, city council contractors began uprooting 14 of 23 trees along the High Street as part of a £1.25m redevelopment. But Peter Robinson, the

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Thief at the door...

POLICE have been driving home the safety message by encouraging the elderly to think twice before opening their doors to strangers. Officers say that over the past few years, particularly during the summer months, would-be thieves have been adopting a

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Nush samples Gordon Bleu

BIG Brother star Nush Nowak has sampled some of the dishes cooked up by celebrity contestants of the reality TV show Hell's Kitchen. Miss Nowak, of Malvern, who starred in the hit Channel 4 show last year, attended chef Gordon Ramsay's specially-created

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Grand to see rower's beard sheared!

AN adventurer who rowed single-handedly across the Atlantic is calling on generous Evening News readers to raise money for St St Richard's Hospice. Richard Wood is desperate to rid himself of his beard, grown during his epic voyage, completed last month

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Picture postcard boost

TOURISM in Tenbury has had a boost from Worcestershire County Council. A picture postcard of the town's unique pump rooms is included in a batch of 1,000 cards sent by county tourism officer, Kathryn Wagstaff to addresses across the Worcestershire and

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Development boosts local homes hope

MORE homes for residents, particularly young people of Tenbury Wells, is the reason behind a new development of affordable housing in the town. In her final week as Mayor of Tenbury, Councillor Janice Gluyas officially opened the social housing scheme

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FURY AT HI-TECH SNATCH

HORRIFIED Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor says he is "absolutely devastated" that hi-tech equipment worth thousands of pounds has been taken out of Kidderminster Hospital. After finding out yesterday that a video link between Kidderminster nurses and

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Fire chiefs fear more deaths if jobs are cut

GOVERNMENT spending chiefs have been told putting a cap on fire brigade spending would heighten "probabilities of deaths and injuries". A total of 195 jobs would also be lost, Whitehall was warned, if action was taken against Hereford and Worcester Fire

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Petition fails to silence bar's live music

CONTROVERSIAL plans to have discos and live bands at a Stourport wine bar have been given the go-ahead in spite of protests from neighbours. The owner of the bar must first fit sound insulation and CCTV at his York Street premises, however. Neighbours

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Life defends on nature's effective recycling system

ALL of us in Wyre Forest district have a new way of getting rid of our waste this year. No longer is it just the few environment conscious individuals who regularly recycle their waste, for the district council's new curbside collection has brought this

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Vic wants to be a busy bee again

BEE fanatic, Vincent Lamb, is desperate to get bee-zy - but his swarm buzzed off while he was undergoing an urgent eye operation. Now Vincent, 88, is hoping to get his hob-bee back on track by getting his hands on a new swarm. Vincent, also known as Vic

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Stop this discrimination!

I AM writing to ask readers of the Evesham Journal to support the Mobilise campaign which is fighting to end the injustice of age discrimination in disability benefits. The Mobilise campaign has the backing of organisations including Help the Aged, Disability

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Burns has the winning habit

CYCLING: On-song cyclist Steve Burns powered to his second victory of the season in as many weeks. The Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club rider beat a quality field to win the VTTA 10-mile time trial at Fosseway, Leamington, on Saturday. On a perfect day with

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International honours for Samurai duo

JUDO: Two Samurai juniors are continuing to make waves on the international front. Kelly Edwards returned from the Tournoi de Rouen in France with a silver medal, while Kate Walker has been picked to compete for Britain in a Russian tournament. Edwards

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Membership boost at club

TENNIS: A dramatic boost to Kidderminster Tennis Club's membership from an open day has set up a bright summer. The fundraising event for Kemp Hospice has also led to a partnership between the two groups with a dedicated competition for the charity being

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Two are early pace setters

BOWLS: St Johns A and Brintons A are battling it out at the top of Kidderminster and District Midweek League Division One. Both recorded victories with St Johns beating Franche A by 22 shots and Brintons winning by a 27-shot margin at Stourport B. Kinver

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Quest for cups

POOL: Snooks A face Roundhead in the Kidderminster and District League's Roland Hill Cup final at the Sportsman pub this evening. Also today is the Howey Robinson Memorial Cup final between Bridge and Peacock B at the Dog, Dunley. Sportsman A take on

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Great Garth

GOLF: Lady captain Allison Garth won Bewdley Pines' May Ladies Stableford competition with 41 points. Garth's handicap has been cut from 13 to 12, while second-placed Dot Clinton's 38 points helped reduce hers to 26. Emma Horton was third with 35 points

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Lombard chance

GOLF: Little Lakes pair Russell Adams and Nick Emery have a regional date when they will bid to qualify for the Lombard Trophy. They head to Whittington Heath Golf Club on June 24 for one round of better-ball medal play and a possible place in September's

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Sugar site is key to relief road

THE fate of Stourport's long awaited relief road looks set to become entwined with the future of Kidderminster's British Sugar site, with the drafting of an area-wide transport blueprint set to go ahead. Councillors at last night's environment scrutiny

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Dawn's delight

GOLF: Dawn Gregg took the honours in Wyre Forest Ladies' May Medal with 102 gross and 80 nett off a 22 handicap. Val Bow managed second place with 97-13-84, sealed off the back nine. Pat Bowater (120-36-84) and Barbara Fascione (122-36-86) took third

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Burston's level with the course

GOLF: John Burston completed a superb level-par round in Wharton Park's Men's May Stableford. Results, Div One: Burston 47 points, Richard Clarke 46, Richard Millinchip 43; Div Two: Brian Dean 45, Paul Williams 42, Andrew Barrie 39; Div Three: John Thorp

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Taylors on top

MOTORSPORT: One of Kidderminster's Taylor brothers came out on top in a motorcycle trial for the second week running. Last week it was Steve but on Saturday at the Stourbridge club's event in Hanley Childe, it was Kevin who claimed the spoils. K Taylor

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Bridging the gap

PARISH GAMES: Churchill and Blakedown scored 70 points to take first place in Wyre Forest Parish Games' bridge competition. They finished ahead of Rock (15), Wolverley and Cookley (-22) and Stone (-31), while Upper Arley failed to include a team. Teams

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STEVE BURTON - Left-back 10/10/82. 6ft 1ins. Squad number 4.

The defender joined Harriers for a second spell in March 2004, signing a contract until the end of the season. A left-footed player who can deliver a good set-piece and likes to attack down the flank with a fine range of passes, Burton played just 14

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Barry reels in big catfish

THE biggest catfish recorded on the Gainsborough Lake at Shatterford Fishery was caught by a jubilant Barry Leworthy. The giant, tempted by popped-up trout, hit the scales at 40lb 7oz for Leworthy, while a 37lb catfish and seven carp to 19lb 8oz fell

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POOLE HALL

ANGLER of the week was Don Andrews who landed 87lb of mixed fish on the Kingfisher Lake. The best was a 9.25lb common carp which Andrews caught with mixed bait of sweetcorn and maggot. Throughout the week, other weights have varied from 26lb to 71lb and

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Teenager avoids custody

A TEENAGER from Kidderminster who claimed he "didn't have time" to do unpaid work for the community has been given another chance to avoid custody. Brendan Flaherty was ordered to do 100 hours community service when he pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown

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Treatment for burglar

A BURGLAR who stole electrical equipment from a house has been ordered to undergo treatment for alcohol abuse. Paul Worrall, 28, of Rifle Range Road, Kidderminster, pleaded guilty at Worcester Crown Court in March to the break-in at Park Wharf, on July

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Extraction of NHS dentistry

OUR MP and many local councillors were elected on promises to deal with health concerns, but I wonder what action they propose to stop the scandalous decline in NHS dentistry in the area. Currently, it is not possible to register as a charge-paying adult

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Birthday treat runs off road

MY daughter was 17 on Saturday and two weeks ago I booked her three hours on a driving simulator with BSM at Shrewsbury (as part of a five-hour course at nearly £60). I arrived home from work the evening before to an answerphone message sent at 11.30am

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OLD BEAR AC

LARFORD Lakes: P Rowe 68-8-8, L Coldrick 46-13-8, G O'Shaun 45-12-0. A cutting out party for Saturday on Stackpool has been cancelled until further notice.

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'No' to peacock idea

I READ with interest the letter in last week's Shuttle/Times & News entitled "Peacocks are not criminals" together with the suggestion that Bodenham Arboretum would make a good home for them. I am sure that the peacocks would love Bodenham, just as

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Delayed date on roadworks

THE contractors building the Chadbury to Twyford link near Evesham have announced that the Worcester Road is not likely to reopen before June 14. Halcrow's project manager Mike Windsor said that the work on the B4624 was delayed at the outset due to poor

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Birthday Brownies

ON behalf of Kidderminster South District Guides I would like to thank everyone who made the Brownie 90th Birthday Party on Sunday such a success. Thanks to our sponsors, guests, Guiders and helpers who worked so hard to make it such a lovely afternoon

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'Put up or shut up' vandals told

A WICK villager at the centre of a controversial housing development has told vandals who daubed graffiti on his new garage to "put up or shut up". Michael Cox was disgusted to discover the words 'built by a corrupt council' daubed in 18-inch high white

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Plans unveiled for medical centre

EVESHAM people will also be getting a better deal with their health care if plans for a new medical centre on Merstow Green are accepted by planners. An application has been submitted to rebuild the surgeries of both the Abbey Medical Practice and the

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Residents complaints over gypsy caravans

CONCERNED householders inundated the police with complaints after a group of travellers parked up on council-owned football pitches in Evesham. Wychavon District Council has now taken legal action against the group of Gypsies, who have been illegally

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Rebate over fire strike?

AS the situation regarding payment for the fire service has now changed to being a forced tax from individuals will we be given a rebate on our council tax in the event of the fire service going on strike or refusing to do normal duties? BEN NOCK, Kidderminster

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End of the gangs

NEW laws to regulate gangmasters have been welcomed by Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, who was on the train in collision with a minibus in Charlton last summer. The Gangmasters Licensing Bill passed unopposed through the House of Commons last week and

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Bogus call by fitters

VALE police are appealing for information after two bogus gas fitters forced their way into a woman's home and began searching her kitchen. The incident happened in Alexandra Road, Evesham at around 2.10pm on Sunday, May 24. The suspects pushed passed

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Village view Kane's plan

ANGRY residents criticised plans to expand a food processing plant in the Vale at a special village meeting. Kane's Foods has applied for planning permission to build a new 5,900sq-metre building on its site in Cleeve Road, Middle Littleton. More than

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No nightmares

DREAMERS Reserves moved up the table with a solid 4-0 victory over FC Irrelevant in the Kidderminster Six-a-side League. Sealine International also recorded a good win, beating higher-placed Manor Boys 5-3. Other results: AD's Lads 1, Walshes Warriors

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Take a book at the library

EVESHAM Library will be closed for three weeks of refurbishment from next Monday. Library users will be able to see the benefit when the library re-opens on Monday, June 21, as Worcestershire County Council is investing in new carpets and a fresh coat

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DJ cleared of attack on a love rival

A DJ who headbutted a love rival breaking his cheekbone has been cleared of an unlawful attack. Mark Franklin told a jury at Worcester Crown Court last Thursday that he had acted in self defence. Violence erupted outside The Ambassador club in Evesham

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Percival heading to worlds

JAMES Percival will be bidding to help England U-21s build on their Six Nations success at the IRB World Championships next month. The Kidderminster lock, who plays for Premiership new boys Worcester, has been selected in the 26-man squad who head to

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KCs rebuilding is not over yet

THE final seventh position was about as much as Kidderminster Carolians could have hoped for from a season of team rebuilding. Midlands Three West (North) side KCs have given many young players a chance and they did well along with some veterans who will

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Disappointment for Bromsgrove crew

AFTER rolling on the fourth round of the Silkolene 1400 National Rally Championship, the MG ZR crew of Bromsgrove's Nathan Crewe and Mark Ammonds were hoping for better success on round five, The Red Dragon Rally based in Swansea. The rally used the famous

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Bowman stars for Nomad firsts

STEVE Bowman and Malcolm Jones were the star performers for Worcester Nomads cricket teams. Bowman claimed 6-23 against Feckenham while Jones struck an unbeaten 98 at Elmley Castle. Worcester Nomads proved too strong for Feckenham in the weekend's league

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Breathe Easy (Malvern and Worcester)

ON May 4, 17 members turned up to hear the chairman talk about the Breathe Easy conference that he and Philip Mee, the group secretary, attended last month. They gave out a lot of information about possible future changes to the British Lung Foundation

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Wyre Forest Business Club

ON Wednesday, a "panel of practitioners" will be happy to answer questions, in "Tips and Tricks 5" - good housekeeping for computers. The meeting will be held at the Ramada Hotel, Bewdley, where the welcome mat will be in place by 7.15pm, with business

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Stourport Floral Art Club

THE demonstrator for the April meeting was Jane Woodfield from Worcester. Jane put on several designs illustrating aspects of England finishing with a large arrangement depicting St George, which impressed the members. Everyone then sat down for supper

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Stone WI

THE Denman bursary was awarded to Hilda Bailey and Brenda Barratt. At the May meeting Shirley Gledhill reported on the group meeting at Cutnall Green, when Judy Neil spoke about her work as chairman of the performing arts. Entertainment was provided by

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Neen Savage WI

ON May 12, a produce show was held at the Parish Hall and 66 entries were arranged on tables ready to be judged. Categories included "take one egg" and a flower arrangement as well as the more usual preserves, pies and cakes. Judge Pam Powell provided

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Phoenix Club, Kidderminster

JOYCE Finnemore originally set out to investigate her own family tree, but her study of archives and parish records uncovered so much interesting material that if developed into a general social history. Joyce entertained club members with the story of

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Somerleyton WI

AT the April meeting Pat Mullard gave a report on the Council Meeting at Malvern. Members approved the purchase of a new president's badge. The talk was by Judy Berrow from the National Garden Scheme. Pam Upsall won the competition for a miniature garden

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Kidderminster Amateur Radio Society

LEE Volante, G0MTN, from the RSGB HF and VHF Contest Committee, provided an illustrated talk at the May meeting on Amateur Radio Contests. The next event is a Summer Outdoor Activity Night on Tuesday June 1 at Brintons Chainwire Club, Zortech Avenue,

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Kidderminster Cycling Club

AT the weekend, many club members will be at Slimbridge Youth Hostel. An informal ride will leave The Green, Blakebrook, Kidderminster at 9am on Sunday, when all cyclists will be welcome and should take a packed lunch. On Wednesday, an evening ride to

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Far Forest WI

AT their meeting in May, members expressed their views on the Resolutions to be put forward at the National Federation AGM in June. Debate took place on the growing of GM crops, the trafficking of women and children, and the possibility of Government

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Brockencote WI

THE monthly meeting was held on May 19 at Chaddesley Village Hall. The AGM resolutions were discussed and voted upon. The new treasurer will be Val Wood and retiring treasurer Carol Motteram was thanked for her contribution to the institute. Announcements

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Bewdley and District Horticultural Society

AT the May meeting, the talk on tulips proved popular with members and it is hoped that the speaker will return next year to give a talk on violas. The next meeting is on Wednesday when the speaker will be Michael Leech, who will give us a talk on a day

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Areley Kings WI

AFTER initial formalities at the May meeting, Mollie Long reported on her visit to the Nandi Hills Branch of the East African Women's League. She had to travel several hours to get to the meeting, which was held in a member's home. After four days back

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WPC hurt in parking argument

A WOMAN police constable was injured during a midday "parking dispute" in Bewdley town centre. The officer was taken to Kidderminster Hospital with bruising after the incident near to the Guildhall in Load Street on Friday. She was discharged the same

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FURY AT HI-TECH SNATCH

HORRIFIED Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor says he is "absolutely devastated" that hi-tech equipment worth thousands of pounds has been taken out of Kidderminster Hospital. After finding out yesterday that a video link between Kidderminster nurses and

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'Progress is being made' is trust's response

A SPOKESMAN for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We welcome this draft report, which has been sent to us for comment, as it examines an issue of major concern to our patients. "The good news is that we are already making significant progress

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27/5/04 Cobblers out of Walker running?

JAN Molby's chances of landing Richard Walker could go up a notch if Northampton pull out of the race to sign the striker. Walker, who hails from the Birmingham area and started out with Aston Villa, has been touted as one of Molby's main targets to strengthen

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DRAGONBALL Z: BUDOKAI 2

DBZ: Budokai 2 sees gamers take control of Goku in this cartoon style beat 'em up. Graphically DBZ resembles the anime screened on television with impressive, colourful backdrops and perfect recreations of the popular characters onto the PS2. DBZ is an

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Shut up

WHEN children are little, the are taught to walk and talk. As they grow up, they are constantly told to sit down and shut up. GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester. Poor George HOW could Mrs Tipping be so unkind to poor old George Cowley? I greatly enjoy his letters

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New parking rules hitting town trade

A PETITION has been started in a last-ditch attempt to stop parking restrictions hitting trade and tourism in Pershore. Last year Wychavon District Council reduced the maximum stay in short-stay car parks, such as the one next to Pershore's leisure centre

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A drop in standards

IN reply to Nancy Dyson regarding the Royal Mail, I, too, have had letters delayed in the post. I posted a card to my niece in Portland before the noon collection of Saturday, May 8 from the Bilford Road post box, in the hope that it would arrive on Monday

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MEPs and the people

SINCE when have MEPS placed the citizens first? Since the UK joined the "Common Market" we have witnessed the biggest upheavals and forsaken the workforce both rural and urban. When the Tories had the majority in the early 1980s they formulated farming

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Why did he bother to write?

FATHER Anthony Shaw argues that the ordination of women priests in the Church of England is invalid (You Say, Wednesday, May 19). I fail to see why he has bothered to write this letter. As far as I was aware, the Roman Catholic Church, to which Father

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Amazed at response to her smiling face

HOW amazed I am at the response to a harmless image of a smiling soldier in the pages of the Evening News. Terry James's letter (You Say, Thursday, May 20) makes several assumptions that I feel it is essential to answer. First, it is basically instinctual

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Promising National Hunt star gallops in to open fete

AN up-and-coming star of National Hunt racing helped to open St Mary's Primary School fete in Broadway. Lord Broadway, which is owned by Treasure Trove owners David and Jean Robinson, helped to kick off activities on The Green last Saturday, which included

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May 27, 2004

I HAD a ringside seat for the exciting events in the chamber last Wednesday when the flour bomb glanced off the Prime Minister's back. Ridiculously, the first thought that struck me was what a powerful and accurate throw it was. After this, members left

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Snooker club is saved

VICTORIOUS members of Evesham's Ambassadors Snooker Club were celebrating after discovering plans to demolish the club have been scrapped. The future of the Avon Street club was in doubt when owners of the site, West Midlands Leasing Ltd, submitted plans

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Homes saga ends

EMOTIONS ran high at a tense meeting to decide the fate of a housing plan which neighbours claimed would blight their lives. Cries of "rubbish" greeted the developer's application for 10 apartments and four houses in Sutton Park Road, Kidderminster -

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Teenager's day trip with a difference

TEENAGER Georgina Grant, from Pensax, has been on a unusual day trip - to Lambeth Palace in London to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Georgina, 15, of Pensax Common, was put forward by her church - St Michael in Abberley - to be

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Centre 'won't solve county's problems'

THE much-vaunted Treatment Centre at Kidderminster Hospital could not be as great an answer to Worcestershire's health problems as predicted by hospital bosses, a watchdog has warned. Although the building, which opened in February, was a pivotal return

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Piano plans spark row

PLANS to turn Kidderminster's Piano Building into shops and flats led to a furious row after planners warned the scheme would suffer from a lack of parking. The plan - which came a year after civic leaders controversially stopped it being knocked down

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Wedded bliss cut short

A COUPLE who had their newly-wedded bliss abruptly curtailed when the groom was taken prisoner of war by the Germans four months after their wedding are celebrating a diamond date. Former army sergeant Bill Morris was captured on the final day of the

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Centre's debt aid doubled

EFFORTS to tackle people's debt problems in Wyre Forest have been boosted by a £50,000 cash injection. Debt is the biggest problem dealt with by the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Kidderminster and two new members of staff have been drafted in to step up

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MAS bands share stage with pop chart-toppers

ARTISTS signed to Kidderminster College's Mighty Atom Smasher record label are set to appear on stage with chart-topping pop stars, Big Brovaz, Liberty X and McFly, in a music festival. The Bozwelz - which is made up of four 18-year-olds and 25-year-old

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Let down by poor attendance

A FIRST school in Kidderminster has been given the thumbs up by Government inspectors but poor attendance was judged to be a major problem. St George's CE First was "a good school where children achieve well" and had made satisfactory improvement since

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Dancers aim for West End roles

A DANCE teacher from Stourport has high hopes for the future after building up a school with more than 80 pupils in just 10 months. Twenty-two-year-old Claire Boulton started dancing when she was three and fulfiled her childhood dream when she set up

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Rocks at roadshow

A ROCK and fossils roadshow is being held at Bewdley Museum on Monday. More information on the display, which is being put on by The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust, can be obtained by calling telephone 01299 403573. The museum will

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Night for the ladies

A GROUP of male strippers are set to start pulses racing at a Kidderminster club next week. Ultimate Fantasy are performing at Elements Nightclub in Blackwell Street on Thursday. More information on the event, which starts at 9pm and also includes an

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History comes to life at Harvington

ROUNDHEAD mobs may be seen searching Harvington Hall this bank holiday weekend as part of an entertaining Living History Weekend. The 17th century-style event will take place at the historic landmark on Sunday and Monday and enable visitors to see preparations

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Poland's entry to EU boosts band's hopes

A GROUP of musicians from Poland are winging their way to England in the hope of being signed up by Kidderminster agency, Upfront Entertainments. Warsaw-based band 36.6 have performed in front of the Polish Prime Minister as well as celebrities including

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Gent's outfit

FORMER Vodafone boss Sir Christopher Gent has been named by drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline as successor to chairman Sir Christopher Hogg. The 56-year-old will join the board of the Anglo-American group as deputy chairman before stepping up to the top post

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Firm's quiz for NSPCC

A WORCESTER law firm has raised more than £1,500 for the NSPCC. More than 200 people turned up for the Harrison Clark annual business quiz, at Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways, and with 39 teams taking part the event was the most successful yet. The winners

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Pictures perfect for art store pair

THE new owners of a Malvern shop are hoping to tap into the town's artistic temperament to take the business forward. Adrian and Hannah Sutton took over Malvern Hills Art, in Belle Vue Terrace, in October, and have so far concentrated on learning the

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Prince and princess are crowned

FOUR youngsters who will lead the procession in this year's Salford Priors fete have been chosen at a junior disco. Anthony Jeffery and Gemma Knight were chosen as the Prince and Princess of the fete and Macaulay King and Bethany Hunt will act as attendants

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Booze ban baffler's not the beer goggles

IT was confusing times for beer lovers in Worcester, when publicans attending their annual trade fair were met with an alcohol-free-zone. Luckily landlords arriving at the Licensed Victuallers' Association event were not put off by the warnings, and arrived

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Tesco plan criticised

LINKS between the relocation of Christopher Whitehead and a new Tesco supermarket have been criticised by a senior Worcester council official. The city council's planning manager, Peter Yates, told a public inquiry that the possible move was inspired

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Surely driver should have read English?

DEATH crossing...why do we need to get a multilingual message across at a level crossing when car drivers should be in possession of a British driving licence, and incidentally insurance, which automatically requires the applicant to be able to speak

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Advantages of using town's Abbey Park

At last week's town council meeting the council was 100% in favour of the provision of a skate park for the young people in Pershore. This is long overdue, Evesham and Droitwich have has theirs for some time, and I hear that Cropthorne village is also

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£1m up for grabs to revamp Lido...

UP to £1m is available for the campaign group fighting to reopen the Droitwich Lido - if it comes up with a viable business plan. That was the promise from Wychavon District Council as it met with members of Save a Lido Today (SALT) for the first time

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Royal lift for Tufnell's tough trek

ROYAL Zara Phillips and ex-England cricketer Phil Tufnell have been trekking to Worcester as part of a mammoth 500-mile walk for charity. Tufnell arrived at Evesham Cricket Club at around 8pm on Monday night. After an overnight stay in Evesham, Phil joined

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Smith sinks title-chasing visitors

VISITING Brockhampton were knocked off the top of Worcestershire League Division One by a classic display of stroke-play from Simon Smith. Bewdley looked to be in trouble chasing 176 when reduced to 45-3 in the 12th over but Smith was soon unleashing

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Shame of the village?

AT Wick annual parish meeting in April, a resolution was passed desiring that all debate on the Cox's new house in Wick should cease. Two weeks ago Henrietta McMillan-Scott sought to assure Drs Cox that their campaign was nothing personal. This can be

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Sofa clue led PCs to drugs

A DRUG dealer caught in a chance visit by police who found heroin down the side of a settee has been jailed for five-and-a-half years at Worcester Crown Court. Officers had visited Simon Wheeler in Wasdale Court, Warndon, to discuss stolen cars, said

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China cycle

A CYCLIST has returned to his Worcester home after completing a charity ride around China's capital, Beijing. Nigel Rees pedalled his way through a five-day 280-mile trip, raising £2,600 for the Alzheimer's Society in the process. The 50-year-old has

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In the red schools are sitting on £2m nest egg

WORCESTERSHIRE'S schools, which warned of a cash crisis at the start of last year, have managed to stash an extra £2m in the bank. The total amount of unspent "reserves" held by county schools stands at £14.2m, even though 21 of Worcestershire County

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Vital early points for Cookley

COOKLEY moved off the bottom of Worcestershire League Division Two with a winning draw at fellow strugglers Pedmore. The villagers earned 15 points in a morale-boosting performance which did much to restore their pride after losing three of the first

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Super Stuart drives club on

A MAGNIFICENT century from opener Lee Stuart led Chainwire to their first Worcestershire League Division Five victory of the season. After being put into bat, opponents Alvechurch and Hopwood started steadily and put on 53 for the first wicket. But the

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Win number one

CLEOBURY Mortimer chalked up their first Worcestershire League Division Six victory of the season on Saturday. The villagers claimed an impressive seven-wicket win over Worcester side Old Elizabethans in a good all-round display. They restricted Elizabethans

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Two 50s inspire Spennells' plight

DAVE Bannister and Paul Upton both bagged half-centuries in a high-scoring win for Spennells A in the Stainweld Sunday League. Bannister blasted 53 and Upton 52 for the Kidderminster side in a six-run Premier Division victory over Waterfront. Moat Farm

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Honours board

BATTING TOP 10 134no Andrew Kimberlin (KVCC 4ths) May 22 123no Tom Sheriff (KVCC Sun) May 9 112no Gavin Evans (KVCC 2nds) May 22 102no Sean Williams (Moat Farm) May 9 100no Lee Stuart (Chainwire) May 22 100no Matt Yardley (Chaddesley 2nds) May 15 98 Pete

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'Our teams are useless'

PUB quiz teams in Worcester could be missing out on an opportunity to prove themselves equal to the best of the country's brains. Local landlords seem unaware of a major tournament to find the UK's best quiz team, which was launched this week by Who Wants

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Can you give a bunny a good home?

AN ANIMAL rescue centre is bursting at the seams with rabbits, especially after Easter. Danemere Animal Rescue has the capacity to house a maximum of five bunnies, but it currently has 13. Lucy, Specs and Fluffybits are a few of the furry friends it has

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Help stop the raves

POLICE have appealed for anyone with information about planned illegal gatherings or raves to pass on information. West Mercia Police says it has already intervened in four illegal rave gatherings at locations in Herefordshire and north Shropshire this

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Less litter, more parking

TACKLING flooding, parking and litter problems and improving facilities for youngsters are wishes of Nunnery ward businesses and residents. The ward, which contains Ronkswood, Newtown and parts of Tolladine and Shrub Hill, has seen a wealth of difficulties

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Life-saving scan can screen for condition

A POTENTIALLY life-saving ultrasound scan for screening a heart condition has been introduced at a private hospital in Worcester. BUPA South Bank Hospital can now carry out the simple scan to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms - a condition that is

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Scheme for cottage hospital is back on track

THE plan for a new health centre and cottage hospital in Pershore is back on track following months of uncertainty. Funding is now confirmed for the new facilities which will be built by Wychavon District Council at its Civic Centre site and then leased

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Kids clean up in history lessons

INQUISITIVE youngsters got the dirt on how the laundry was done in the days before washing machines. Members of Kimbolton Nursery Group dropped in to Tenbury Museum to look at the wash day equipment on display before visiting a nearby laundarette for

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Caf 27 sails through floods

NOT even floods could stop a Tenbury Youth Centre - which has just launched two new services. Caf 27, in Teme Street was recently washed out after a plumbing problem meant water poured down the walls, through light fittings and covered the front room

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Fire service to appeal on cap

Hereford and Worcester Fire Service is to appeal against being capped over its respective council tax rises. Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority unanimously backed an appeal against its cap, which effectively shaves £2.3 million - or £7 off an average

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On the up and up!

Tenbury is on the up - that's the good news from town centre co-ordinator Anthony Collis. New shops are opening, others are moving to more prominent positions and the newly-revived farmers' market is set to become a strong monthly attraction, he says.

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Famed traveller mugged at home

BY his own admission, Mad Mac - Kidderminster's globetrotting binman - is from "the school of hard knocks" so when muggers picked on him they were not going to get away with easy pickings. The 59-year-old - famed for his global travels - was assaulted

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Girls, 12, may get morning after pill

GIRLS as young as 12 could soon be given the morning after pill in Wyre Forest schools without their parents knowing. Some high schools in the district have been asked to consider allowing school nurses to issue the emergency contraception on site in

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Rail link axe 'will cause hardship'

ANGRY district chiefs have condemned a decision to axe the direct link between Kidderminster and Birmingham's main connecting hub at New Street. The news - first revealed in the Shuttle/Times & News a fortnight ago - provoked angry protests from councillors

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Parents await school move news

ANXIOUS parents are beginning to find out where their children will go after a Wolverley special school shuts its doors for good next month. Fears the 30-plus pupils at Alexander Patterson School will not be catered for by other schools will be put to

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Bells are ringing to support young mums and families

BELLS will be ringing out at Bewdley to herald a cash raising initiative with a difference. Bellringers at St Anne's Church in Load Street are being sponsored in their attempt at a quarter-peel, beginning at 6.30pm and due to go on for 45 minutes, on

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Farewell to Jim

THE funeral of former Kidderminster mayor, Jim Bourke, will be held at St Ambrose RC Church tomorrow at 11am. It will be preceded by a Requiem Mass today at 4.30pm at the church in Birmingham Road. Everybody who had connections with Mr Bourke is welcome

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Keeping a close eye on residents

THE Wyre Forest district's main housing company is launching its own "Big Brother" style house, crammed with sensors and monitoring devices keeping a close eye on residents. The hi-tech demonstration home being unveiled next month by Wyre Forest Community

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Queue chaos at town loos

WOMEN had to use men's loos as the number of weekend visitors to Stourport overwhelmed the town's toilet facilities. Queues tailing back from the women's facilities highlighted "a spectacular failure" in Wyre Forest's toilet provision, according to a

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Mark veggie week by being a 'rotter'

NATIONAL Vegetarian Week is being celebrated this week and Worcestershire County Council is taking the opportunity to remind residents they can maximise the benefits of a veggie diet by composting their peelings. The message comes as part of the council's

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Trouble in store for Elgar innocents

THE banning of a thousand Elgar Technology College students from a city store will cause eyebrows to rise across the Faithful City. We must say, from the outset, that Lidl has every right to run its business how it sees fit. But we also feel uneasy because

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Jockeys vying for title on Monday

POINT-TO-POINT: The race to become the West Midlands' leading male rider has gone down to the wire yet again and will be decided in Chaddesley Corbett on Bank Holiday Monday. Chaddesley hosts the Albrighton Woodland meeting, with the first race running

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Bennett bursts into top three

MOTORSPORT: Racer Lee Bennett finished a fantastic third place in the latest UK Monoposto Single Seater Championship meeting at Mallory Park. The Kidderminster man, driving his Team Foley Vehicle Rentals/Mortgage Doctor Reynard F3, qualified fifth for

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Veterans roll back years at nationals

ATHLETICS: Alan Jackson posted one of the fastest legs on the day as Kidderminster and Stourport tackled the National Veterans Road Relay Championships. The club's veteran 40 team finished 37th overall at Sutton Park on Saturday, while the ladies claimed

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Forest are Diddy finalists

SWIMMING: Robert Smith was the only Wyre Forest swimmer to pick up a speeding ticket in the Ross Diddy League's third round at Worcester. Smith, 13, swam an excellent time in the 50 metre butterfly but did not receive any points due to competition rules

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Humphries in Cobra canter

ATHLETICS: Amazing Feet's star man Brian Humphries took the Cobra Classic 14km race title on Sunday by a margin of more than 40 seconds. Humphries won in 50 minutes 22 seconds with John Amos next home for the club in 12th position. Amos also scooped the

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A sunny shield brought home

BOWLS: Stourport's Vicki Evans shone in the sun as she lifted the Millenium Shield in Tenerife. The Stourport and Chainwire Bowling Club member won all five matches in the ladies' singles, pairs, triples, mixed pairs and mixed singles. While staying in

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Heidi at her best

ATHLETICS: Kidderminster athlete Heidi Jarosinski set a new personal best in the long jump at the Women's League in Nuneaton on Sunday. The Halesowen Athletic Club member was first with a fantastic distance of 5.16 metres. Jarosinski also finished second

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Neighbours lose out in pitch battle

A SPORTS pitch for five-a-side football and basketball has been shown the green light by planners - despite objections from neighbour- ing residents. The 24x15-metre tarmac pitch for Manor Road play area in Stourport would be a magnet for trouble, councillors

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Cup knockout

VOLLEYBALL: Cleobury Mortimer Ladies were knocked out of the West Midlands League Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 home defeat to Tettenhall seconds. They should have been warmed up following a friendly victory over Kineton but failed to exploit their strengths

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Close medal call

GOLF: Bob Cummins won the Kidderminster May Medal Division One on the back six as three players tied on 70 nett. Cummins was equal with Mark Brabazon, second on the back nine, and Neil Hawkins. Other results, Div Two: Jeff Gilbert 61 nett, Robin Corbett

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Freke in spotlight

MOTORSPORT: Kidderminster's Nathan Freke hopes to be a television hit when the TVR Tuscan Challenge is screened today and tomorrow. Sky Sports is showing footage from the Knockhill round and Freke had a camera on board his car for the event. He is still

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Knights in semis

CHESS: Kidderminster Knights reached the semi-finals of the Worcester and District Cup with a 3.5-0.5 victory at Redditch. Results (Kidderminster first): J Wrench 1, I Clack 0, M Bissell 1, M Clack 0, P Yates 0.5, R Turner 0.5, D Close 1, M Robinson 0

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MOORLANDS FARM

WEDNESDAY Medley: Dave Highfield (Moorlands) 97-4, David James (Midlands Mossley) 91-3, Mal Watson (OGL) 74-2. Thursday: James (Mids Moss) 112-12, Carl Daly 67-12, Harry Ward 55-0. Summer League round two, Saturday: Darren Clewley (Strike) 93-8, Mark

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Famed traveller mugged at home

BY his own admission, Mad Mac - Kidderminster's globetrotting binman - is from "the school of hard knocks" so when muggers picked on him they were not going to get away with easy pickings. The 59-year-old - famed for his global travels - was assaulted

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WILLOW MARSH FISHERY

WEIGHTS at the popular Friday evening open continue to improve. Andy Newton weighed in with a 105lb catch during the four-hour contest, using meat and sweetcorn baits. Willow Marsh Open, Dragonfly Pool, Friday: Newton 105-12-0, Roger Kinsey 54-1-0, Fred

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Arsonists blamed for major grass fire

ARSONISTS are thought to have caused a major fire which saw eight feet tall grass go up in smoke at a Kidderminster nature reserve. Thick gorse was set alight on Tuesday night at the Vicarage Farm Heath nature reserve in the Birchen Coppice area of Kidderminster

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FURNACE MILL FISHERY

THE Sunday Open was dominated by anglers fishing for MN Autos as Sean Moss landed 92lb from peg 36 on Mucky Meadow Pool to win. Using luncheon meat, Moss' catch was predominantly carp which he fished up in the water at medium range. Fellow MN Autos angler

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Death crash man 'also took drugs'

A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a Kidderminster teenager by dangerous driving in a crash on the outskirts of Bewdley. James Birch, of Stanbrook Road, Tenbury Wells, who also admitted driving while disqualified and without

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BANKSIDERS AC

BOLDINGS, Saturday: Shaun Boulter 10lbs, 11oz, Trevor Hyrons 9-2-8, Craig Price 7-5-0. There is a challenge match against Tom Shepherd's seven at Wharton Park on Saturday. Den Moles, Craig Price, Sean Boulter, Mark Brickles, Brett Gibbons, Mick Swalwell

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WRENS NEST AC

STACK Pool, Sunday: K Woodhead 11-5-0, P Jenkins 7-14-8, M Morris 4-4-0. The next contest is on Sunday, June 6, on the canal by the Watermill pub with an 8am draw at Caldwell Lock.

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Mother asked to be jailed

A KIDDERMINSTER mother-of-five has asked to be jailed rather than return to old drug haunts in the town where her habit could be exploited by unscrupulous people. Sentencing Samantha Crowther to six months at Worcester Crown Court, Recorder Elizabeth

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WOODWARD GROSVENORS AC

WELLFIELD (Meaton), Sunday: T Cooke 14-12, D Saunders 14-4.5, K Green 12-14, R Campbell 8-10, S Campbell 7-14.5.

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KIDDERMINSTER & DISTRICT AA

SILVER Fish match, The Pool, Sunday: Ken Cooper 6-0-0, Trevor Wills 4-8-0, Mick Millington 3-14-0. The next match is on Saturday from 8am.

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WILLIS BUND AC

THE Camp: Harrold Willey 40-15-0, Roy Griffiths 32-5-0, John Guest 31-2-0, Graham Billingsley 28-2-0. There will be a contest on Wednesday at Cob House Farm for the Cyril Moore Cup. Draw is 9am and members are reminded that no tins are allowed at the

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Skateboard fears

I HAVE recently noticed that youngsters are creating a hazard to pedestrians through their skateboarding antics outside Kidderminster College. On a recent Thursday morning four of them were causing potential danger to passers-by, some of whom were already

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Community bins, Spanish-style

IN reply to the letter by William Hutton (Shuttle/Times & News website, May 20) I would point out that whilst the bins are emptied every night in Spain, including where I live on the Costa del Sol, these bins are community bins used by residents within

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Wassell triple lifts champions

VICTORIOUS year 10 students at Wolverley High School are celebrating lifting the Worcestershire U-15s County Cup. A hard-fought final, against Kingsley College, Redditch, resulted in a 4-0 victory for Wolverley who dominated most of the match with superb

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'Tuf' going for cricketer Phil

CRICKET celebrity Phil Tufnell was joined by Zara Phillips as he came to Evesham as part of a 500-mile fundraising walk. Hundreds of well-wishers welcomed the I'm a Celebrity star when arrived at Evesham Cricket Club's ground on Tuesday evening before

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Schools qualify for Youth Games

STOURPORT High and Birchen Coppice Middle took away the shields from a Wyre Forest Schools' six-a-side tournament. Wolverley's Brown Westhead Park staged the action last Thursday with six schools involved in each of the age categories. Holders Stourport

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Racing for life

STAFF at Evesham's Tesco store are preparing to swap their pricing guns for a starting pistol when they take part in Race for Life. As official sponsor of the Cancer Research UK fundraiser, the store's staff are aiming to set their customers a good example

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Players scouting

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers stars presented players with their medals and trophies at the annual Kidderminster District Beaver, Cubs and Scouts five-a-side tournament. K11 were scouts champions, KD10 triumphed in the cubs competition and KD9B chalked up a

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Help stop raves hitting the Vale

POLICE trying to control the number of illegal raves and gatherings in the area have asked for the public's help in preventing them. West Mercia Police officers have already intervened in four illegal raves in Herefordshire and north Shropshire this year

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Fit for a King?

ARELEY Kings U-10s are looking for new players to join their team. They will need to be in year four at school and anyone interested can call Pete on 07890 408750 or Denise on 07779 941445.

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Warriors snap up Celtic prop

WORCESTER Warriors have beaten off interest from Sale, Cardiff and Newport to land Chris Horsman. The 27-year-old tight-head prop has become Worcester's 11th close season signing and director of rugby John Brain is already licking his lips at the prospect

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County bowlers under the cosh

WARWICKSHIRE'S lower batsmen Dougie Brown and Neil Carter led a remarkable recovery which earned their side maximum bonus points in the Frizzell County Championship Division One derby with Worcestershire at Edgbaston. The Bears were reduced to 50 for

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Barton has player talks

WORCESTER City manager John Barton is stepping up his efforts to strengthen his squad for next season's challenge in the newly formed Conference North. The St George's Lane boss is holding further talks with a potential signing today and believes he will

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Ahmed bounces back with 7-54

SHAHID Ahmed hit the wicket trail in spectacular fashion with 7-54 to win the Evening News/Fearnley Factory Shop Cricketer of the Week award. His seven-wicket haul came during Eastnor's 20 run victory over Netherton in Division One of the Worcestershire

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Higgins rolls back years

ALEX 'Hurricane' Higgins rolled back the years to delight more than 300 fans at Perdiswell Lei-sure Centre last night. The 55-year-old, world champion in 1972 and 1982, showed he can still string the shots together during an exhibition match with John

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Dawkins races to fourth place finishes

JUSTIN Dawkins claimed two fourth place finishes in Formula Ford 1600 races at Mallory Park, despite doing more than enough to retain his second position in the Daly Systems Star of the Midlands Formula Ford 1600 Championship after four rounds. The 20

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Vegetarian Society (Wyre Forest)

ALL are welcome to attend a food tasting and talk on the health and other advantages of vegan and vegetarian diets sponsored by Alpro Soya on Sunday at 3pm at St George's Annexe, Radford Avenue, Kidderminster. Free recipes and literature will be available

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Stourport Divers

ON Sunday May 9, volunteers joined forces with Redditch divers to provide 'safety river cover' for the charity fund raising raft race event organised by The Lions Club. The Redditch club supervised the launch of the rafts at Arley and the first half of

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Chance of lifetime for actor Will

A BUDDING actor from Broadway will carry out the dreams his mother once had after landing the opportunity of a lifetime to train with the National Youth Theatre. William Close, a 16-year-old student at Prince Henry's High School, was selected out of 5,000

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Mamble-cum-Bayton WI

TRAFFICKING of women and children, GM crops in the UK and Air Ambulance funding are the subjects of the resolutions to be heard at the AGM in Sheffield in June. At the May meeting, the discussions on these topics were led by Barbara Lees, Lynn Bowen,

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Franche WI

MARGARET Lillis opened the meeting and asked members for any thoughts on potential future speakers, volunteers for August's members night and also those interested in, and where to go on outings. Eileen Jones explained that they had just one skittles

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Cleobury Mortimer WI

MEMBERS have enjoyed two evenings out to Tenbury Operatic Society's production of The Gondoliers and the Spice Empire Indian restaurant. President Gill Clarke, the delegate at the AGM in Sheffield, asked members to vote on the resolutions. Former member

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Law a threat to shooting

THE Home Office consultation Controls on Firearms threatened to seriously damage shooting sports, according to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. Christopher Graffius, BASC director of communications, said: "While acknowledging that

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Challenging year ahead

THE new Mayor of Bewdley said his year-long appointment had come during a crunch time for the town and was determined to do all he could to improve life for its residents. Tony Williams explained he saw the next 12 months as a challenge which he would

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27/5/04 - County bowlers under the cosh

WARWICKSHIRE'S lower batsmen Dougie Brown and Neil Carter led a remarkable recovery which earned their side maximum bonus points in the Frizzell County Championship Division One derby with Worcestershire at Edgbaston. The Bears were reduced to 50 for

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27/5/04 - Barton has player talks

WORCESTER City manager John Barton is stepping up his efforts to strengthen his squad for next season's challenge in the newly formed Conference North. The St George's Lane boss is holding further talks with a potential signing today and believes he will

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27/5/04 Harriers go for a Burton

STEVE Burton has become the 11th player to sign on the dotted line at Kidderminster Harriers for next season after agreeing a two-year contract. The defender, 21, travelled down from Hull yesterday to put pen to paper and is now set to move closer to

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27/5/04 Sad day for Pat as Stamps exits

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' final game of the season against Boston proved a particularly emotional one for Main Stand regular Pat Footitt. The Harriers fan makes her own annual presentation to favourite player Scott Stamps at the end of every campaign but

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27/5/04 Last chance on Saturday

HARRIERS fans have their last chance to collect a discounted season ticket on Saturday from 10am until noon. The club, who are on course to top last year's tally, had announced a week extension up until tomorrow but are now set to open the next day as

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27/5/04 Former favourite seals Trophy win

DEFENSIVE rock Chris Brindley enjoyed FA Trophy success at the weekend in an emotional rollercoaster of a game. Centre-half Brindley, a key member of Harriers' Conference success in 1994 during a spell of more than four years at the club, dispatched an

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27/5/04 Larkin on the spot for Stags

EX-HARRIERS loan man Colin Larkin fired home the winning penalty to lead Mansfield into the Division Three play-off final. Midfielder Neil MacKenzie, who also had a spell with Kidderminster, was on target as well in the shoot-out against Northampton.

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27/5/04 Youngsters looking forward to scheme

THE Football in the Community team at Kidderminster Harriers kick off their holiday schemes across the county on Tuesday. There will be courses in Kidderminster and Bromsgrove on Thursday and Friday, June 3 and 4. Earlier in the week, Nick Griffiths'

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My brouhaha in a local teashop

VISITING a local town I decided to indulge myself at an upmarket restaurant. I selected my cake and asked the assistant for an extra teabag in my pot. She gave a knowing nod to the cashier, which I wrongly though meant silly old codger. I took my purchases

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Cook up a sizzling summer

WHETHER it's because the sun creeps up on us every year, or the fact we don't want to tempt fate, many end up relying on the tin foil clad disposable barbecue for their outdoor dining. But if you're hoping to avoid the endless queue of frustrated flamers

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Shortage of care homes

THE shortage of nursing home places in the Pershore area, in particular for the mentally inform, has been taken up with the Strategic Health Authority by Sir Michael Spicer, MP for West Worcestershire. Sir Michael said on Monday: "I have been in correspondence

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Deadlock in skate plans

PERSHORE Town Council has vowed to support a skatepark in the town - but members still cannot agree where it should be built. The council is now calling on officers from Wychavon District Council to explain all the options available for the siting of

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Arts centre charity shop re-opens on new town site

A NEW charity shop has opened to raise funds for the Number 8 arts centre project in Pershore. The old shop on the site of the planned theatre is now closed as contractors move onto site to convert it into a foyer, caf bar and box office. Since it opened

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Mary Magdalene, 13th disciple

FATHER Anthony Shaw (You Say, Wednesday, May 19) describes the ordination of women as "specious". He then goes on to explain to us what "specious" means. In fact, it is his arguments that are specious, or as he explains, "deceptively attractive in appearance

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27/5/04 - Warriors snap up Celtic prop

WORCESTER Warriors have beaten off interest from Sale, Cardiff and Newport to land Chris Horsman. The 27-year-old tight-head prop has become Worcester's 11th close season signing and director of rugby John Brain is already licking his lips at the prospect

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Plea to owner of silver threepenny bit

ORGANISERS of Kidderminster carnival were delighted when generous shoppers donated £630 to their street collection - but are keen to give one coin back to its owner. The search started after a lucky silver threepenny piece, dating back to 1843, was tipped

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Reprieve for bus service

THE last bus route between Kidderminster and Birmingham has been saved from heavy cutbacks, to the delight of campaigners. The 192, which was to have its timetable thinned out from Monday, has been taken on by another operator. The Birmingham Coach Company

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Crafty idea wins cash

A LOTTERY-funded environmental project aimed at uniting key community groups to reduce waste has been opened. The Worcestershire Resource Exchange (WRE) aims to help schools, community groups and businesses in the county to work together to reduce waste

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Materials ready for use again and again

THOUSANDS of tonnes of waste materials ranging from paper to glass have begun flooding into a new recycling facility in Kidderminster. Severn Waste Services commissioned the depot, at Hoobrook, as part of a £730,000 scheme. It opened last week and will

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Vandals spark call for CCTV

PRESSURE from residents has lead to Bidford parish councillors considering installing a third CCTV camera in the village. Angry residents have attended the last three parish council meetings to hear feedback from the police on what has been done to control

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Trio in final shake-up for award

THREE women working for Wyre Forest companies are in the running for awards designed to recognise the importance of the role of the secretary. Winners in the Secretary of the Year competition, run by Kidderminster-based Louise Hewett's employment agency

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Jim's belting idea has Euro theme

A KIDDERMINSTER entrepreneur aims to score a major success as soccer fever grips the nation when Euro 2004 kicks off. Jim Read has launched customised versions of seat belt covers he dreamt up - bearing Euro 2004-themed designs and the cross of St George

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School makes a fresh start

A PRIMARY school is celebrating "a new beginning" after learning the spectre of special measures had been lifted. St Ambrose's RC Primary School has been turned around in two years, thanks to the commitment and hard work of staff, the support of advisors

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Bungalow plan fears

A WORRIED Stourport resident urged councillors to throw out a bungalow plan which she said would leave her "bricked in by the Berlin Wall". Breeda Ahern-Pitt said giving permission to build a bungalow and garage in the garden of a house in Moorhall Lane

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100 up Nell on top of the world

A FORMER Kidderminster resident is on top of the world after celebrating her 100th birthday down under. Nell Wright emigrated to Australia in 1976 after leading a vibrant life in the town, which saw her and her late husband, Syd, set up the S&N Wright

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Local heroes commended

THIRTEEN Wyre Forest-based staff of West Mercia Constabulary have earned official recognition for their efforts to make the district a better place to live in. They received commendations for actions ranging from acts of bravery to securing sentences

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Pub regulars cheer on pair's charity run

STAFF and regulars at a Kidderminster pub are pitting their wits to support another customer's bid to raise cash for children's charities across the West Midlands. When dad-of-three, Lloyd Laskey, announced over a drink he was taking part in the annual

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Historic hall takes step back in time

MEDIEVAL men and women will be setting up an authentic 15th century-style camp at Hartlebury Castle this bank holiday weekend and visitors to the historic landmark will be able to witness everyday life during the time of The Wars of the Roses. Sir William

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Floral celebration at historic church

A FLORAL celebration of village life will greet visitors to Little Witley's historic church during a three-day festival this bank holiday weekend. The Flower Festival at St Michael's Church opens on Saturday and runs to Monday, from 11am to 5pm daily.

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Jake wins grant for own record label

A SINGER/songwriter from Cleobury Mortimer is a step closer to achieving his dream of earning a living out of music after being awarded a grant by the Prince's Trust to set up his own record label. Jake Flowers is in the process of setting up a folk music-based

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* School students banned from store * Buggie mums angry over bus changes * Dracula dentist struck of

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Safari date for breakfast

IT was a business breakfast with a difference when more than 50 companies accepted an invitation to head along to West Midland Safari Park. The event was the launch pad for initiatives available to employers through Kidderminster College's Business Unit

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'tarred with same brush

By Dan Kendrick AROUND 1,000 students from a Worcester high school have been barred from entering a city shop. Lidl supermarket, in Blackpole Retail Park, has banned all pupils from Elgar Technology College after complaining to the school about large

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Dishonest dentist left teen with Dracula fangs

A DENTIST who practises in Worcestershire has been suspended after leaving a patient with fangs like "Dracula" and plundering NHS coffers. Jaspal Singh Bachada charged for unnecessary work or billed for treatment he never carried out on six patients at

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Drug driver in court

A MAN has admitted eight motoring offences including taking the wheel under the influence of cocaine and driving the day after being banned. Worcester Magistrates Court was told yesterday that police officers found Martin Bateman driving a Peugeot car

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Baby's death

A TODDLER from Malvern died after his parents found him lying face down in his bed. Sixteen-month-old Adam Foulkes had been ill for several days before his death on Sunday night, Worcestershire Coroner's Court heard yesterday. County coroner, Victor Round

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Murder suspect in bail hearing

A MURDER suspect is waiting to find out if he will be released on bail after being charged with stabbing a man to death. Gary Cunningham, of Willow Court, off Stanley Road, Worcester, appeared at the city's magistrates court yesterday accused of killing

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Putting my buggy on a bus is real nightmare

IRATE mothers are up in arms over new buses which mean they have to fold their buggies before boarding. The mothers are not allowed to push buggies and prams on to the new longer-style bus serving the Dines Green estate in Worcester. They say having to

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Let sign of the times stay on school's wall

WITH reference to your article about the sign for the Hopscotch Pre-school in Priest Lane, Pershore, I feel strongly that it should be allowed to remain as it is. Pre-school is a vital service in the community largely dependent on voluntary help and it

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Dead man left map pointing to his body

A MAN from Evesham left a map of where he could be found dead in a field, an inquest has heard. Worcestershire Coroner's Court was told yesterday how Robert Bostock had recently separated from his wife and had been suffering from depression for two years

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Youth and experience mix well at KVCC

CHESTER Road was treated to a run feast as Kidderminster Victoria seconds moved up to third place in the Birmingham and District League Premier Division. As the firsts were without a fixture, Andrew Siwicki took his chance to impress the selectors, striking

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Reg's reasons

IT'S great pity that Mr Reg (Snowy) Bailey did not elaborate more about his dismay regarding the state of the river and town. He made the trip to Evesham to meet me and talk about our family as he had once had a close association with my late Uncle Steve's

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Body in wood was depressed man from Hayes

THE man whose badly decomposed body was found last week in woods at Ombersley, near Droitwich, was suffering from depression, an inquest heard. Joseph Thain, a computer engineer from, Hayes in Middlesex, was discovered last Monday in Hawford Woods. An

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My minds not at rest

Evesham Community Hospital - Cuts to Physiotherapy Services. In answer to the letter entitled Pledge over Staffing in last week's issue - no I'm sorry it does not put my mind at rest. Having sat in a meeting recently with the chief executive of the PCT

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Victims' experience

I AM sure we were all concerned to read that, with others, councillor Barry Dare, Chair of Police Authority has become a victim of a cash machine scam. He has now experienced the consequences of his misdirected force that has become ineffective in relation

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Jams forecast during £11m M5 loop works

SPEED restrictions and temporary closures will be necessary at times on sections of the M5 between Bromsgrove and Tewkesbury in the next 18 months. Work to upgrade the communication systems between the M42 link at Junction 4A and the M50 link at Junction

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Droitwich duo clinch a draw

THE final Droitwich Spa pair frustrated Chaddesley Corbett to prevent them recording a second Worcestershire League Division One victory in a row. Fast bowler Rowan Vorster's excellent spell of 6-44 ensured the visitors had no chance of catching the 204