A SUGGESTION to change Bromsgrove's long-standing early closing day from Thursday to Wednesday was criticised by the town's trades council as pandering to the new supermarkets. Many stayed open late on Thursday nights. The council said a change would confuse shoppers. For a century and more Thursdays had been the day when shops closed at lunchtime because it was reckoned by this time housewives had run out of housekeeping money.

AROUND 100 workers at the British Leyland car plant, at Longbridge, were expected to be laid off on Friday due to industrial problems. The news marked a week of turmoil at the factory, which had seen its share of the market dip to an all time low of 15 per cent. Sales of Minis and Allegros were steady but this was not so of Maxis, Princesses and Marinas.

THE cost of maintaining the 'good life' was rising. It had been revealed that it was costing Bromsgrove District Council £7,000 in administration charges to collect just £3,000 in rents. Fees were set to rise by 20 per cent in April which would put up the cost of an eighth of an acre plot by £1, to £6 a year.

VITA , a pedigree pug owned by Connie England from Rubery, celebrated her first birthday in her first season as a show dog by taking first prize in her class at the prestigious Crufts show at Earls Court. Connie, from Coppice Close, had bought Vita as pet as a retirement present to herself.