Birmingham Mail - News - Top Stories

Birmingham Mail front page: Crooked taxi driver, 900 manhole covers stolen, win a trolley dash

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:10:00 GMT

Here is today's Birmingham Mail front page.

Edwina Currie reduces Five Live radio phone-in caller to tears

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:03:00 GMT

FORMER Tory MP and Birmingham councillor Edwina Currie reduced a struggling mum to tears live on air after blaming her debts on having “lived a very good life indeed”.

Amanda Holden in Birmingham for Britain's Got Talent auditions

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:17:00 GMT

Fans have been waiting to see whether Amanda Holden will bring new baby Hollie Rose to the Birmingham auditions of Britain’s Got Talent this weekend.

Birmingham Mail World View: Congo elections protest march in Birmingham

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:42:00 GMT

PROTESTERS brought parts of Birmingham to a standstill as they urged the British government to help end the unrest in the Congo.

Councillor sparks outrage after backing calls for IRA to bomb Conservative party conference in Birmingham

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:38:00 GMT

A LABOUR councillor has sparked outrage after she backed calls for the IRA to bomb the Tory Party conference which is being held in Birmingham this year.

Metal thieves steal 900 manhole covers from across Birmingham

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

METAL thieves have been putting lives at risk by stealing more than 900 manhole covers in just six months from Birmingham streets.

Lord Digby Jones will not stand for Mayor of Birmingham

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:49:00 GMT

LORD Digby Jones has ruled himself out as a candidate to become the first elected mayor of Birmingham – ending years of speculation that he would throw his hat in the ring.

Police declare war on Birmingham drug lords selling narcotics 'like ice cream men'

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

POLICE have drawn up a new plan to drive drug lords out of Birmingham communities after dealers were seen peddling narcotics like ice cream sellers.

Secret MI5 files released: Was Charlie Chaplin originally from Smethwick?

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

SECRET files have added to the riddle of where silent movie legend Charlie Chaplin was born – amid claims the star hailed from the Black Country.

Birmingham riots police investigation to be shut down as 150 remain free

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:09:00 GMT

POLICE are preparing to wind up the operation to identify rioters who went on the rampage in Birmingham – even though almost 150 suspects are still to be named.

Bournville flats plan refused over fears it could close down Cadbury factory

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

PROPOSALS to convert a six-storey office block into flats in Birmingham have been rejected, amid claims the development could have led to the closure of the Cadbury factory.

Chef Richard Turner's Edgbaston home burns down as he cooks in his restaurant

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:58:00 GMT

A TOP Birmingham chef’s house burnt down as he served hungry diners at his city restaurant.

West Midlands families sitting on debt timebomb, according to new study

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:53:00 GMT

MIDLAND families are sitting on a debt timebomb – with more than a fifth struggling to pay their mortgages, according to a new study.

Solihull Council rejects plan for gypsy camp at Hockley Heath

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:03:00 GMT

RESIDENTS are breathing a sigh of relief after councillors rejected plans to turn greenbelt land into a gypsy site.

Train fan's books on Moor Street and Snow Hill railway station

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

TRAIN company worker Ian Baxter has taken a real busman’s holiday – by writing books about two historic Birmingham railway stations.

West Midlands pubs boosted by CAMRA Community Campaign

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

LICENSEES across the West Midlands have been urged to take part in a month-long campaign to raise the profile of the region’s community pubs.

Black Country paedophile downloaded 37,500 child porn images

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:02:00 GMT

A 43-YEAR-old Black Country man who maintained he downloaded more than 37,500 pornographic images of children out of “curiosity” has avoided spending time behind bars.

BBC TV Hustle stars decked out in Birmingham optician's designer shades

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

OPTICIAN Shafik Haji is being dazzled by the glare of publicity – with his glasses starring in hit BBC drama Hustle.

Birmingham hedgehog population 'could be wiped out in 15 years'

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE city’s dwindling hedgehog population could be wiped out completely in 15 years, an expert has warned.

Staffordshire University Acacdemy plans are set to go before planning committee.

Birmingham Mail — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

PLANS for Staffordshire University Academy are set to go before planners.