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RSC's Hamlet skull replaced in case it steals the limelight

The Royal Shakespeare Company is to stop using the skull of pianist Andre Tchaikovsky in performances of Hamlet amid fears it is too distracting. Read

Conjoined twin Hope Williams dies after 11 hour operation

A WEEK-old conjoined twin died and her sister has a 50-50 chance of survival after they were separated by emergency surgery, a hospital said today. Read

Kerouac's original manuscript for On The Road goes on display in Birmingham

A roll of fragile paper 120 feet long which forms one of the 20th century’s most iconic literary manuscripts has been carefully unpacked at Birmingham’s Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Read

Lib Dems accuse Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion of beer rip-off

Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion have been accused of ripping off fans by charging premium prices for stadium beer. Read

Mike Whitby defends £7,000 cost of council bosses' party

City council leader Mike Whitby has defended a council manager’s £7,000 festive bash at taxpayers’ expense. Read

Birmingham taxi drivers will have their say, pledges licensing chief

Birmingham’s licensing chief has vowed to consider the views of every minicab driver and every customer in drawing up new industry guidelines. Read

Your chance to bid for a part of the Corkscrew online

The front carriage from the UK’s most iconic rollercoaster is being sold on eBay for charity. Read

Former PE teacher had no 'desires' towards children

A former PE teacher at a Birmingham primary school accused of slapping a girl on the bottom, making another do push-ups in front of the class, and writing personal letters to girls at his former school, has told a professional conduct hearing he had no “desires” towards children. Read

Report on Birmingham hospitals sparks union call for transport regulation

The UK’s largest public sector union, UNISON, has called for urgent action to regulate private patient transport services amid fears of a lack of staff checks and training. Read

Israel stops altar wine from reaching Birmingham

ALTAR wine on its way from the birthplace of Jesus to Birmingham has been stopped by border police because of claims it is a “security risk”. Read

Three child deaths in Birmingham to be reviewed

BIRMINGHAM has been ordered to conduct fresh reviews into whether Child Protection Services let down three children who were seriously hurt or killed. Read

Worcester paratrooper stands to get war medal

A 25-year-old paratrooper from Worcester who lost both legs and an arm fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan has achieved an ambition by standing to receive a medal from the Prince of Wales. Read

Royal Mail misses delivery targets across West Midlands

ROYAL Mail has missed its delivery targets for first class post across the region. Read

Celebrities join petition against Birmingham Airport runway extension

COMEDIAN Mark Thomas and the novelist Will Self are among celebrities opposed to a planned 400-metre extension of Birmingham International Airport’s main runway. Read

Birmingham city planner challenges independent housing report

An independent consultant’s report for the Government, which suggests building almost half a million new homes in the West Midlands by 2026, has been dismissed as “fundamentally flawed” by a senior Birmingham City Council planner. Read

Only firms with happy staff should get Government contracts, says MP Plaskitt

BUSINESSES should be forced to prove their staff are happy before they are awarded Government contracts, a West Midlands MP and former Minister has claimed. Read

Cash boost for centres to help young people

AMBITIOUS Government plans aimed at delivering world-class places for young people are to be tried out in the West Midlands. Read

Jesse Jackson brings message of hope on visit to Birmingham

Civil rights crusader the Rev Jesse Jackson brought his whistle-stop UK tour to Birmingham hot on the heels of American electing its first black president. Read

Jacqui Smith joins Redditch United survival campaign

A struggling Midlands football club was today given the full backing of the Home Secretary after its manager sent out a rallying cry to save it from the brink of extinction. Read

Warwickshire Police to have council tax precept capped

Police force’s council tax precept rise to be capped Read