A FULL-SCALE mock up of a railway accident was staged in Bromsgrove by the county police force on Sunday to test the emergency services' responses. To make it as lifelike as possible to represent wreckage, eight tons of timber had been put into a "crashed" carriage which had to be cleared to get at the 40 "casualties," half of whom were presumed dead. Town GP Dr Kenchington was the token medic on duty.

THE continuing dry spell was responsible for keeping Bromsgrove's firemen busy. Calls to attend grass fires at Lickey, Clent and Rednal were among many received this week.

THE Easter offering at St John's parish church, in Bromsgrove, amounted to a record £71. The money traditionally was given to the vicar.

GENEROUS George Cadbury opened a new £500 wooden pavilion on Rubery Recreation Ground, which he donated in memory of his late brother George who had strong links with the village.

ALBERT Wheeler from Highfield Road, Bromsgrove, set off on Tuesday by train and steamer to visit Malta, where he planned to watch the Queen unveil a memorial to airmen who died over the Mediterranean during World War II and who had no known grave. His son Eric was one such victim. He expected to arrive on the island on Sunday.