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Tony Collins

Tony Collins

Norma Clarke

Mud forces rapping gran to miss carnival

GRANNY rapper Norma Clarke has fallen victim to the stormy weather. Read

Kitty Flanagan

Preview will have you in stitches

FANS of rib-tickling comedy across the Midlands can get the perfect insight into this year's Edinburgh Festival - without having to travel hundreds of miles to the Scottish capital. Read

Twins Marcia and Millie Biggs. JR030707twins-4

Twins are two in a million!

ADORABLE twin sisters Marcia and Millie Biggs are a pair in a million! Read

Tintin searches for his Snowy

HAS your pet pooch got what it takes to emulate one of the greatest dog heroes in history? Read

Regan Smith. JS010707baby-30

Regan lands the Mail's baby title

THE competition could not have been tougher - but after a hard-fought contest, three little cuties were the ones who captured your hearts the most. Read

MPs join mental unit protest debate

RESIDENTS fighting controversial plans for a secure mental unit in the heart of their Birmingham community are to have their campaign debated in the House of Commons this week. Read

War veterans in Birmingham. DM010707veter-9

War veterans on the march in Brum

THE first National Veterans Day celebrations held in Birmingham were brought to a resounding climax with a majestic parade through the centre of the city. Read

A dragonboat

Dragonboats beat the downpours

IT was very much "jolly boating weather" as dragonboats took to Birmingham's main canal. Read

Aiden the rescue dog. DM010707rescu-2

Rescued dog has her day

THINGS are looking up for Aiden the English springer spaniel. Read

Rooftop rescue after fire at shop

FIVE frightened people were plucked to safety from a roof 30ft up in a dramatic rescue by fire-fighters as fire swept through a shop and office beneath flats in the Midlands. Read

An armed police officer

Security stepped up at city airport

BIRMINGHAM, July 2 2007: armed police stand next to a bullet-proof Land Rover behind a road block. This was the scene at Birmingham International Airport today, preventing cars getting anywhere near terminals. Read

Carnival serves up a real treat

THE scenes could have come straight out of Wimbledon. But at least the rain failed to stop play at Sutton Coldfield Carnival. Read

Buses attacked by schoolchildren

TWO buses were allegedly attacked on a main road in Birmingham by a mob of around 20 secondary school pupils. Read

Jabron Hashmi

Honour for military heroes

TWO victims of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have officially taken their place among Birmingham's heroic war dead during a moving ceremony in the city. Read

Fewer city pupils being expelled

FEWER pupils are being expelled from Birmingham's schools - but the city remains well ahead of the national average, new Government figures revealed today. Read

Claire Ashurst

Students go to the ball after all

PUPILS at a Birmingham secondary school left devastated when their end-of-year prom was cancelled by a city hotel at the last minute, made up for their disappointment last night. Read

Andy Steer

Children set for a very important date

HUNDREDS of disadvantaged children enjoyed their very own Alice In Wonderland when they took part in a very special tea party. Read

Dorrington Primary School sign

Head quits as strikes loom at school

THE head of a Birmingham primary school where teach-ers have been threatening to strike has suddenly quit, it was revealed today. Read

New Street Station

Tories hit out at New Street delay

THE Government has been accused of "dragging its heels" over giving the green light to the long-awaited £550 million refurbishment of New Street Station. Read

Variety Club in appeal to entertainers

MAGICIANS and entertainers are urgently needed to help the biggest ever party for disadvantaged children in the Midlands go off with a bang. Read

Author Profile

Tony Collins joined the Birmingham Mail in 1980.After working in a couple of the Mail's district offices, he became Education Correspondent in 1994. Being regarded as something of a Groucho Marx lookalike, it is no surprise that he is also the Mail's 'Mr Comedy', responsible for interviews with many of our top comics.

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