EMBARASSING cock-up of the last week goes to Worcester's new £10.5 million swimming pool, which had to close last Saturday after 'running out of water'.

In scenes the chuckle brothers would be proud of, the city council's showpiece facility closed due to what operators Freedom Leisure called a "water supply issue", although rather than hold a finger-pointing inquest, the Labour administration has opted for humour.

"I see it made a splash for the Worcester News," sighs one cabinet member, ruefully.

* THE future of Worcester's 10K race is now all but assured until 2021, which hasn't half pleased Labour Councillor Geoff Williams - a fanatic runner.

"One of the unique features of events like this is that you can race with the world's best," he said.

"I can safely say I've ran with the finest Kenyan long distance runners in the world."

* THOSE luvvies next door at the Beeb have taken a rare day off from ripping stories from this newspaper to irk a former Worcester MP, it appears.

Mike Foster was scheduled to speak on BBC Hereford & Worcester and challenge current city MP Robin Walker over Brexit, only for our esteemed colleagues to bump him off for a small pre-recorded soundbite instead.

Tut, tut Auntie.

* DAVID Davis has promised to consult elected mayors in North England over Brexit but not the Midlands, leading to some hilarious besmirching from a county MEP.

Labour's Sion Simon said: "It's no coincidence that the Brexit Secretary dismissed the West Midlands - he either thinks the North is anywhere north of the Watford gap, or he just forgot about us altogether."

An odd choice of words, given that Mr Davis' very own constituency is in the Midlands region, in Leicestershire.

* IF you've ever stared at your green bin and felt guilty about not being able to fill it, you're not alone.

Councillor Richard Udall, Labour's St John's lynchpin, says: "Me and my neighbour had a green bin each - but neither of us were actually filling it, so we got rid of one and now share one."

Someone call the bin police!

* CONGRATULATIONS to Sir Peter Luff's wife Julia, who has finally escaped the Commons after 24 years.

Sir Peter, of course, retired as Mid-Worcestershire MP in 2015 but his wife carried on in her role, working for his successor Nigel Huddleston until last month.

Fronting up an MPs' office = the political equivalent of fighting fires. Blazing ones.