'IT'S over to you now.' That was the message the temporary committee that had been set up to kick-start Bromsgrove's twinning link with Gronau issued to townsfolk. The formalities had been completed now, it was up to residents to make the link work. The single cost of being a member of the twinning association was £1, £2 for families.

THE future of a row of six former Almshouses in Stratford Road which were being used to house homeless families hung in the balance. Bromsgrove District Council which owned them were torn between bulldozing them as they were in need of urgent repair and the need to keep families housed. Residents who lived opposite had sent a petition to the council urging that they be demolished.

THREE burly raiders got more than they bargained for when they tried to rob finance company manager Dennis Gibbs as he locked his High Street Office on Saturday morning. Mr Gibbs, 55, said he 'saw red' and lashed out at them with his briefcase, which caused them to flee empty handed. The case was badly dented.

FREDERICK Turvey, 65, from Ripple Road, in Droitwich, retired from his job as a pharmacist at T W Austin's chemist shop, in Bromsgrove High Street, where he had worked since 1955. In the early days of his career he recalled the shop used to remain open until 8pm and most medicines were made up on the premises. Grateful customers had collected the sizeable sum of £65 as a farewell gift.