BAYER, who had lately taken over the former Uniroyal site at Stoke and which had originally been the salt works, staged an open day to demonstrate the latex making process to villagers.

RUBERY'S Derek 'Red Robbo' Robinson, a shop steward at the Longbridge car plant, was waiting on the results of an inquiry into his dramatic sacking. It had been a week of high drama for Mr Robinson, who hitherto had been a powerful figure within the plant. He was also disappointed that the men had voted not to continue to strike in his support and had returned to work. The cost of the stoppage to the company had been £70m.

THE League of Friends of Bromsgrove's Hospitals had enjoyed one of its most successful years on record. Their income, from fundraising events, had amounted to £7,244 - a rise of £1,925 on the previous year. The cash would, as always, be spent on equipment and comforts for patients.

ACUPUNCTURE, the age-old Chinese method of relieving migraine pain, was being introduced into a Bromsgrove hospital for the first time. The man behind the initiative, said to be the first in the county, was Dr B Mugabee, head of the pain relief clinic at Hill Top Hospital.

NEWLYWED househunters in Bromsgrove heard this week the heartbeaking news that the mortgage rate was to rise to a crippling 15 per cent. As a result, several estate agents in the town reported many first time buyers had called off purchases.