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Plans for new Birmingham magistrates court revealed

Plans have been submitted for a new £81 million magistrates court in Birmingham city centre, along with the first view of how the building will look. Read

Armed robbers flee Sutton Coldfield post office empty-handed

ARMED robbers threatened staff at gunpoint during a hold-up in a packed post office in Sutton Coldfield yesterday. Read

Chorister of the Year Alice keeps her feet on the ground

A Solihull schoolgirl is keeping her feet firmly on the ground by concentrating on her studies in earth sciences – despite winning a major national singing contest. Read

Midland hospital staff attacks warning

NHS staff in the West Midlands are facing a rising risk of being attacked while trying to treat patients, according to new figures. Read

Worcestershire firm takes on motor giant Nanjing over rights to MG badge

A High Court showdown has been ordered over badge rights to the world’s most expensive MG - with a tiny West Midland firm pitted against one of the world’s biggest car makers. Read

Birmingham councillors help Edgbaston cricket ground plans

Birmingham City Council is ready to use legal powers to force owners of properties standing in the way of a £30 million refurbishment of the Edgbaston county cricket ground to sell the buildings to developers. Read

180,000 West Midland jobs could go in recession

The West Midlands is set to lose 180,000 jobs as the recession bites, local councils have warned. Read

Anger at decision to change name of historic Saracen's Head

It has been centuries since the last bar-room brawl broke out at the Saracen's Head in Kings Norton, but a decision to change the name of the historic Birmingham inn has caused uproar. Read

Jacqui Smith blasts business trips to lap dancing clubs

The Home Secretary has hit out at corporate high-fliers who entertain their clients at lap dancing clubs. Read

Business leaders split over support for Birmingham Metro tram system

Business leaders in Birmingham are divided over support for the Snow Hill-Five Ways Midland Metro tram extension and are beginning to openly question whether the business case for the £180 million project stands up. Read

Twenty West Midlands streets where the property crash has yet to visit

Streets still paved with Read

Post offices given benefits lifeline

The Government has thrown a lifeline to dozens of West Midlands post offices by announcing they will continue to pay benefits and pensions. Read

Walsall star Demontagnac sacked after police arrest

Rising Midland football star Ishmel Demontagnac was yesterday sacked by Walsall FC just four days after being arrested. Read

Birmingham-based Lunar Society looking for stellar talent

SCIENCE Read

No backing for Metro extension

The chances of a £180 million Midland Metro extension from Snow Hill to Five Ways received a major setback yesterday when the leader of Birmingham City Council refused to give the project his personal backing. Read

Summers sees a sunny future for local tourism

The great and the good of the Midlands tourism scene were rewarded at a glitzy awards ceremony in Birmingham. Read

Christmas market brings in millions

Birmingham’s eighth annual Frankfurt Christmas market will bring more than just Glühwein, bratwursts and beer to the second city. Read

Ex-church minister does not attend bigamy trial

The wife of a former church minister accused of bigamy described to a jury yesterday the moment she came face to face with her husband’s new “wife”. Read

Bennetts Hill brasserie closes doors

Myatery surrounds the sudden closure of a city centre brasserie that closed its doors two weeks after an Italian restaurant crashed out of business on the next street. Read

Family of Cerys Edwards call for stiffer dangerous driving sentences

The family of a child maimed when her parents’ car was hit head-on by a speeding driver are urging the Government to increase penalities for dangerous driving. Read