DUE to a severe cold spell, schools had been notified that they were to close if they had less than a week's worth of fuel left. Parkside Middle, Gannow Middle, Catshill Middle and Bromsgrove CofE School were all closed. The authorities were watching the situation closely and were trying to work out how long they must allow for frost precautions without closing the schools.

AND fuel problems were also hitting commuters. No Midland Red buses would be running on Sunday due to the Texaco tanker drivers' strike. But services were to return to normal on Monday. The fuel shortage was blamed for a rise in crime. Fourteen gallons of petrol worth £11 was stolen from an unattended vehicle in Droitwich.

A North Bromsgrove High School girl had been selected to play for the England under18s netball team. Sixteen-year-old Gillian Albutt, of Rigby Lane, Aston fields, would face her first international match against Scotland in February. Sheila Perks, of Bromsgrove, who was manager of the England team, said Gillian was the first Bromsgrove girl to be selected to play netball for England.

The golden jubilee of brushmakers LG Harris and Co Ltd, of Stoke Prior, was celebrated when the forestry department donated a gold leylandii cupressus to plant.

A PITCH and putt 18-hole golf course could be constructed in Bromsgrove's Sander's Park by the summer of 1980. The course and equipment was expected to cost about £18,500 and income generated from the course per year was expected to be £5,000.