Stats for past 12 months fuel fears over crime

CONCERNS about crime continue to hang over North Solihull, with more than 1,000 offences reported in the area in the first three months of the year.
Councillors from across the political spectrum have voiced their fears, with the latest data showing that total recorded crime across the borough has risen by 10 per cent in the past 12 months.
Robbery, burglary and vehicle crime were among the offences that shot up over this time period. Police have said they will continue to drive efforts to bring the figures down, noting that the number of offences did fall in the final quarter of 2017/18.
Emotions ran high at a recent meeting of Solihull Council’s cabinet, which was meant to focus on the planned closure of Solihull Police Station but rapidly expanded to wider anxieties.
Coun Ted Richards (Con, Castle Bromwich) said it was wrong to lay the blame on budget cuts, arguing that the local authority had also lost millions and had "had to manage".
“[In the ward] we used to have our own sergeant and police, we’re now covered by Smith’s Wood, Castle Bromwich, Kingshurst & Fordbridge...
“The problem I’ve got as a resident and as a councillor covering my constituents is that there is a total lack of confidence in the service we’re getting from the police.
“And I have to say that is right across the borough, not just in my ward. That is the view of the people. Where are the police on the beat?”
Chelmsley Wood councillor James Burn (Green) quoted an incident in which off-road bikes were riding round and round local parkland for five hours on a Sunday.
“People ring 101, it rings out... I’ve had two residents tell me they rung 999 and had no response,” he told the meeting.
Although he disagreed that the reduced resources available to officers should be put to one side.
“The reality is that the [police budget] has been cut, since 2010, by a quarter. You cannot get Marks and Spencer’s quality at Woolworths’ prices.”
Debate again raged at a meeting a few weeks ago, in which police were grilled about the latest quarterly figures.
Smith’s Wood councillor Mark Wilson (Green) highlighted concerns about the handling of a recent case in Swift Close.
A couple had dialled 999 because of youths running across bungalow roofs, but the response car was stuck in rush hour traffic around 10 miles away and the pair waited four days to see an officer.
“The police need the proper resources to do their jobs properly,” said Coun Wilson, who described the current situation as “Victorian”.
Superintendent Simon Inglis acknowledged there had been challenges, particularly around burglary, but said there were encouraging signs in the figures for January to March.
“There are 211,000 people resident in Solihull – and that doesn’t include the people that come and visit here every single day,” he said, arguing that, given the size of the patch, offences in the borough were still low overall.
The force has also said it is encouraging more local people to set up Neighbourhood Watch and Street Watch schemes to help deter the criminals.

What matters to you in Marston Green?

SOME of the pressing issues facing Marston Green will be discussed at the next meeting of the village's residents' association.
The committee are keen that more local people attend the monthly sessions to raise their concerns and have their say on ongoing matters.
Issues discussed at the previous meeting included the developments at Cambridge Drive and Chelmsley Lane, parking problems in Elmfarm Avenue and the airport's night flying policy, although only 11 members of the public attended.
A spokesperson for the residents' association said: "Your participation is important. Don't just complain to your friends and neighbours."
The next session is scheduled for Thursday, May 10 and will be held at the Baptist Free Church, in Land Lane.
It is due to begin at 7.30pm.

Smith's Wood councillor won't defend his seat

SMITH'S Wood councillor Stephen Holt will be standing down at this week's local elections.
Coun Holt (Green) has represented the ward for the past four years but will not be defending the seat.
Tributes were paid to the outgoing councillor at last week's meeting of the planning committee - his final decision-making session.
All other incumbent councillors representing areas in the north of the borough - Mike Robinson (Castle Bromwich), James Burn (Chelmsley Wood), Debbie Evans (Kingshurst & Fordbridge) and Alison Rolf (Bickenhill) - are seeking re-election.
Click here for a full list of candidates where you live and read more about the election next week.

Wheelie irritating: Defect causes Solihull's bins to split

WHEELIE bins across North Solihull have split, with recent cold weather having apparently made an existing problem worse.
Several years ago it came to light that the brown containers - used for residents' recycling - had a tendency to crack due to a manufacturing fault.
But the problem has become more and more apparent since last December and Solihull Council confirmed this week that its team was continuing to receive around 100 enquiries a day from residents who required a placement.
As it stands, almost 10,000 of the bins have been collected for replacement in just over three years and the council's waste contractors have put on an extra delivery crew to help cope with the increased workload.
While the local authority was first made aware of the defect in 2015, it believes that far more of the receptacles have failed in recent months because freezing temperatures tend to make the plastic more brittle.
In a memo earlier this year, the council said: "The manufacturer is aware of the problem and as the bins are guaranteed for ten years they are obligated to replace them.
"To date the manufacturer has been unable to confirm what is wrong with the bins or how many are affected by the fault.
"They have acknowledged the additional time and resources that it is taking to deal with collecting damaged bins and delivering new bins, and regularly provide a batch of black bins free of charge by way of compensation."
This week, Chelmsley Wood councillor Chris Williams (Green) said that bins which had split open were a common sight around his ward, with some residents having resorted to using brown tape to try to repair the damage. He feared the problem could ultimately cause levels of recycling to fall.
At the final Full Council meeting ahead of next week's elections, it was acknowledged that many members would have been contacted by householders.
Cllr Alison Rolf, the cabinet member for the environment and housing, said that discussions with the supplier were ongoing and that efforts were being made to catch up with the backlog as quickly as possible.
"We are working on it, but you'll just have to bear with us I'm afraid - it was something we weren't expecting to happen."
Solihull Council has confirmed that it will replace the damaged brown bins free of charge. A replacement can be ordered by calling 0121 704 8000.

Castle Brom teenager scoops Space Agency prize

A TEENAGER from Castle Bromwich has won praise for an idea that might not be out of this world, but is certainly some way above it!
Kari Lawler, aged 15, is among the young people who pitched ideas for how satellites could improve life on Earth.
Her submission, which impressed boffins at the UK Space Agency, suggested ways that technology could be utilised to identify what causes natural disaster, in order to work out if there were ways to prevent future incidents.
Kari has now won £5,000 after being named among the winners of the SatelLife Challenge, which attracted entries from around the country.
Science Minister Sam Gyimah said: "The UK leads the world in building satellites and we want to encourage young people like those entering this competition to get involved in every part of our thriving space sector.
"The creative use of data from space can solve many challenges and help establish successful businesses. It’s a vital part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy to back the entrepreneurs of tomorrow as we build an economy that’s fit for the future."
Aside from representatives from the UK Space Agency, the judging panel included experts from the European Space Agency, the Satellite Applications Catapult, in Oxfordshire, and industry.

Marathon man keeps his unbroken run going

A MEMBER of a Chelmsley Wood running club, who has completed every London Marathon since the event started, safely crossed the finish line at Sunday's event.
Dale Lyons, aged 81, tackled the 26.2 mile course on crutches, but still managed his target of getting round in just under eight hours.
The ardent competitor, from Centurion Running Club, is one of just 11 men who have entered and finished every race since the inaugural marathon in 1981.
Dale, who ran this year's event for the national disability charity Sense, has had quite the running career.
Writing last year, he recalled running two London Marathons in a single day, breaking the Guinness World Record for going the distance while tossing pancakes and "flying" round the course dressed as a bustard - a species of bird which was reintroduced to Britain in the mid-noughties.
This year every one of the dwindling band of "ever presents" lined up for their 38th consecutive year and every one of them made it to the Mall.
Sunday's event - the warmest on record - involved more than 40,000 runners. This is more than four-times the number of men and women who pulled on their running shoes for the first ever event, which took place on a rather drizzly March day.
The "ever presents" website said: "The 11 have completed all 38 London Marathons - some times quicker and sometimes slower.
"They are all club runners and all except one have PBs inside three hours, in some cases well inside! They cover the whole spectrum of today's athletics; they come from all walks of life, different locations and assorted occupation. Most are now retired!!"
You can find out more about the Centurion Running Club, which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at North Solihull Sports Centre, by visiting their homepage.

Village business helps raise thousands for charity

A LOCAL estate agents has raised more than £7,000 for Marie Curie.
Ferndown Estates, based in Station Road, has working alongside the charity's Marston Green Fundraising Group.
The family-run business had drawn together the donation by putting money aside from each property sale and letting last year. The cheque for the four figure sum was presented earlier this month.
Posting on their Facebook page last week, the fundraising group said: "Yet another example of the community’s support for this very worthy cause."
The volunteers set the group up a few years ago and have organised events including quiz nights, tin collections and the Blooming Great Tea Party - an annual fundraiser held in support of the charity, which provides care and support to those living with a terminal illness.

Spitfire flypasts planned for Castle Bromwich

A SPITFIRE will once again be taking to the skies of North Solihull next month.

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens have confirmed that the famous fighter plane will complete two flypasts during the upcoming 1940s Weekend.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight plan to send the aircraft on both the Saturday and Sunday (May 12 and 13), although organisers stress that the event does depend on flying conditions.

The flypasts are currently scheduled to take place around lunchtime and Other Side of Solihull will confirm as soon as a more precise time has been made available.

Council takes steps to keep travellers off Solihull's parks

STEPS have been taken to make it more difficult for travellers to set up camp in Solihull's parks and open spaces, a councillor has said.

Councillor Tony Dicicco, the cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships, said that he was "very satisfied" with the local authority's efforts to make it harder for caravans to move onto land.

The recent work at 25 sites - including several in the north of the borough - has seen steel fencing, bollards, timber barriers and ditch and mound earthworks created, ahead of the months of the year when councils tend to see an increase in the number of unauthorised encampments. 

Coun Dicicco said the defences, which have been put in place as part of a three year plan, would make access more difficult for travellers, although he argued it was important to stop short of turning sites into "fortresses" which members of the public would be reluctant to visit.

"There's that balance there which we need to try to maintain," he told this month's Full Council meeting.

"But it's of course impossible to make all our open spaces totally incursion proof and we'll never do that. There is always a risk, as we saw at Babbs Mill recently."

Aside from efforts to 'target harden' local sites, the council recently took out a High Court injunction against a group of named individuals to attempt to tackle the problem.

In addition, the local authority has, in recent weeks, promoted a consultation - being run at national level - in which the Government is asking for the public's opinion of the current powers available to remove unauthorised camps.

Coun John Windmill, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: "Central government is only now going out to consultation at a time when we are expecting a new surge of travellers coming into our midst, with the problems that are likely to arise.

"[Does the cabinet member] have any information why it has taken the Government six months after the 'muddy season' started in September/October...to realise they have a problem?"

Coun Dicicco said he was not able to comment on the policy nationally, but added that he was pleased by the efforts taken locally to ensure Solihull had "a fairly quiet summer" and did not experience the difficulties that it has done in previous years.

Eighty-one-year-old tackles 38th London Marathon

A MEMBER of a Chelmsley Wood running club is tackling today's London Marathon, and hopes to preserve his record of completing every race in the event's illustrious history.
Dale Lyons, aged 81, is one of just 11 "ever presents" - the dwindling band of men who have crossed the finish line at every marathon since the first was held in 1981.
Last year, he completed the course in six hours, 23 minutes and will be pounding the streets of the capital for the 38th time today - although the father-of-two will have to do the route on crutches, as he continues to struggle with sciatica and a number of injuries.
This year he will be raising money for the national disability charity Sense and has set himself the target of finishing the 26.2mile route in under eight hours.
To find out more about the "ever present" runners, visit their website

Factbox:

• The "ever presents" were first recognised in 1995 - the year of the 15th London Marathon. Even back then there were only 42 runners who had completed every race, with the club reduced to 11 at last year's event.
• Four years ago, Dale released a book - The Real London Marathon Men - charting the group's endeavours.
• Dale has notched up a number of achievements over the decades and previously broke the Guinness World Record for fastest marathon tossing a pancake.

Lunch club launched in Marston Green

A LOCAL charity has recently launched a brand-new club for older residents.
Age UK Solihull started the Lunch Club at Marston Green Tavern earlier this year, the latest in a series of weekly meet-ups for the over 60s.
The group meets every Tuesday from 11.45am-3.45pm, with the lunch followed by a range of social activities. The total cost is £8.
It is one of a number of initiatives the charity is running to alleviate loneliness, which continues to be a major challenge for the borough.
At last week's Full Council meeting, Chelmsley Wood councillor James Burn highlighted the sense of isolation felt by many thousands of local people - although he acknowledged that it wasn't just the elderly who felt cut off, with a growing number of younger people also experiencing loneliness.
To register for the event at the Station Road pub call Age UK Solihull on 0121 704 7846.

Chelmsley chippy will reopen for business next week

A DATE has been set for the official reopening of Chelmund's Fish and Chips.

Yesterday the business announced on its Facebook page that it would be welcoming customers from next Thursday (April 26).

The outlet, at Chelmund's Cross, had closed its doors a short while after opening, following the resignation of its chief fryer. 

Acknowledging "teething problems", the team behind the venture said they would not rush to reopen.

Now however, around a month on, the chippy has hired a replacement and confirmed the date for reopening. Doors are scheduled to open at 4pm.

The fast food business is unique in that it invests profits back into the community. Indeed it is thought that it is the first chip shop to operate in this fashion in the whole of the UK.

Chelmsley man charged with wife's murder

POLICE have charged a man with the murder of Tracy Stonehouse, who was found fatally stabbed at an address in Chelmsley Wood last week.
Arthur Stonehouse, 73, of Coralin Close, had been arrested for the 51-year-old’s murder in the early hours of April 6.
He had been admitted to hospital himself, having been taken ill following his arrest, and was charged with the offence on Sunday evening.
His wife Tracy’s body was discovered at the address at around 1.25am. A post mortem examination confirmed that the victim had suffered multiple stab wounds and other injuries to her head and neck.
The defendant appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday.

Sunshine and mirth in Marston Green

MARSTON Green’s May Market is now just a few weeks away.
The annual favourite will be taking place at St Leonard’s Church on May 5.
Aside from a traditional Maypole dance, there will be stalls, a tombola and other attractions from 10am-2pm.
Admission is £1 for adults and children get in free.

New night flight plan is agreed

A NEW set of restrictions to night time flights at Birmingham Airport is scheduled to come into force later this year.
At the most recent meeting of Solihull Council's planning committee, members approved a new policy relating to air traffic during the night time period.
The arrangements were agreed following discussions with airport bosses and consultation with the local community.
The council's officers argue that the new policy, which is to replace an agreement last reviewed in 2013, will go further in limiting the impact on communities such as Marston Green.
The report presented to the committee acknowledged that the current set of restrictions did not discriminate between arrivals and departures or take account of noisier aircraft.
With this in mind, the new policy will insist:
1. That there is no increase in the annual number of departures between the hours of 11.30pm-5am.
2. That certain aircraft will not be able to operate between 11.30pm-6am.
3. That the noise limit during the night flying period is reduced from 85dba to 83dba, with a further reduction to 81dba to be considered at a future date.
The new restrictions, which will take effect in October and remain in place until 2021, have been welcomed by a well-known ward councillor.
Coun Jim Ryan (Con, Bickenhill) suggested that the situation had been made easier by advances in technology, which had made for quieter flights in recent years. Nonetheless, he paid tribute to the airport for coming to an agreement which he described as "a major improvement."
In a statement issued earlier this month, an airport spokesman said: "We welcome Solihull Council’s support for the new Night Flying Policy which is in place for the next three years.
"We also thank them for their positive comments about the airport’s approach to community engagement and the way in which it has worked in collaboration with key community representatives throughout this process."

Cromwell's troops come to Castle Brom

PERIOD DRAMA: The Regiment of Cromwell's Brigade.

TAKE a trip back in time to one of the most important periods of our history this weekend.

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens is playing host to Colonel John Pickering’s Regiment of Foote - a group which specialises in Civil War re-enactments.

Members will be holding demonstrations, invoking the events which would tear 17th century Britain in two.

It's not widely known that the first skirmish between the Roundheads and Cavaliers took place, in 1642, just a few miles away from North Solihull.

The Regiment will be giving visitors a glimpse of what preparations for the Battle of Curdworth Bridge, fought in the fields to the south of the Warwickshire village, may have been like.

The event will be taking place from 12.30-4.30pm both today (Saturday) and tomorrow.

Further details are available at the official website.

A loaf or death matter for Meriden Park's ducks

PEOPLE paying a visit to Meriden Park are being urged not to feed bread to the ducks.

Posters have recently been put up at the Chelmsley Wood site, warning that the hunks of Hovis and Kingsmill thrown to the waterfowl can cause water pollution.

The problem arises when the chunks of loaf rot and lead to harmful algae forming on the surface.

Not only can this spread diseases to the birds, it can kill fish and cause an unpleasant smell.

The public notices, which are being promoted by Solihull Council's Love Solihull team, also draw attention to the fact that bread isn't too good for a duck's diet.

This is because the food, while filling, is lacking in nutrition and can lead to deficiencies if birds aren't eating much else.

For this reason, visitors are asked to consider other offerings, such as cooked rice, bird seed and oats - which are rather better for the Mallards and other species which flock to the waterside.

Concerns about bread causing water pollution have previously been raised by conservationists at a nationwide level. 

Three years ago, the Canal and River Trust carried out a survey which suggested that something like six million loaves each year are being sunk into ponds, lakes and other waterways by well-meaning members of the public.

Tributes to former Mayor

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Mayor of Solihull who passed away last month.

The public service of Arthur Harper, who was a Fordbridge councillor for more than 15 years, was mentioned at last night's meeting of Full Council.

Mr Harper, who was first elected to represent the ward in 1986, also wore the borough's chains of office from 1999/2000. 

Away from local politics he had worked as a head porter at Heartlands Hospital and was described by his constituency party as being passionate about the NHS.

Chair of Solihull and Meriden Labour Party, Nick Stephens, said: "It was a privilege to know and work with Arthur who was a great servant to the Labour Party.

"Even when he was not reselected to fight Fordbridge ward in 2002 he was happy to help the party and stood as our candidate after this three times in Shirley. He was also a great family man and all who knew him will be very sad to hear of his death."

Mr Harper passed away on March 15 following a long illness. He was 81-years-old.

His funeral will be held at Woodlands Cemetery on Tuesday, April 17 (12noon). The service will be followed by a reception at The Onward Club, Chelmsley Wood.

Have your say on the local health service

RESIDENTS will have chance to air their suggestions or concerns about local health services at an event in Chelmsley Wood tomorrow (Wednesday).
Healthwatch Solihull, an independent "consumer champion" for health and social care services, would like to hear about local people's experiences.
It has once again been a difficult winter for the NHS, with added pressure on hospital wards and doctor's surgeries, and there have also been a number of major changes locally.
On April 1, Solihull's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) merged with two others in Birmingham to form the largest organisation of its kind in the country. The combined body serves a population of more than a million people and has an annual budget of around £1.8billion - which means that its spending is equivalent to £57 a second.
Healthwatch hopes that by inviting residents to have their say on local services, the feedback can be used to drive improvements.
A spokesman said: "Whether you have an experience that you want to share about your GP, dentist, hospital, mental health service, local care home or any other NHS service, come along and speak to us confidentially."
The session will be taking place at Chelmsley Wood Library between 11am-1pm. For further information call 0800 470 1518 or email enquiries@healthwatchsolihull.org.uk

Elections 2018: Who's standing where you live?

DETAILS have been published of the candidates standing for Solihull Council at next month's local elections.
The borough will head to the polls on May 3, with a third of the local authority's 51 seats to be contested.
The statement of persons nominated confirms that both the Conservatives, who have control of the council, and Labour will field a full slate of candidates.
The Greens will be standing in 14 of Solihull's 17 wards and the Liberal Democrats will be represented in ten. UKIP will be contesting two seats, both in the north of the borough.

Full list of candidates in North Solihull:

Bickenhill (inc Marston Green): 
Stephen Caudwell (Green), Reece Colley (Lib Dems), Alison Rolf (Con), Joe Wood (Lab).

Castle Bromwich:
Cheryl Buxton-Sait (Green), Emma Chidler (Lab), Mike Robinson (Con).

Chelmsley Wood:
James Burn (Green), Hazel Dawkins (Lab), David Skelding (Con).

Kingshurst & Fordbridge:
David Cole (Lab), Debbie Evans (UKIP), Diane Howell (Con), Carol Linfield (Green).

Smith's Wood:
Adrian Duffen (UKIP), Ben Groom (Green), Lee Skinner (Lab), Angus Young (Con).

Double tragedy at Marston Green Railway Station

BRITISH Transport Police have said two deaths reported at Marston Green Railway Station in the space of a few hours are being treated as separate incidents.
The first person was struck by a train at around 5pm on Thursday (April 5), with a second fatality reported at the station some three hours later. Neither individual has been named.
Officers have confirmed that neither death is being treated as suspicious and the cases have been referred to the Birmingham and Solihull Coroner.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: "Officers are making a number of enquiries into both these incidents."
The emergency response caused major disruption to train services, with operators confirming that the lines had reopened at around 9.30pm. Journeys to Birmingham New Street, Coventry and London Euston were among those affected.

• If something is troubling you and you would like someone to talk to, call Solihull Samaritans on 0121 705 2255. For more information about the support available visit the charity's website.

Cat Show taking place in Chelmsley Wood

FELINE FINE: A Bengal cat, one of the breeds to be seen at today's show.

AN INTERNATIONAL Cat Show will continue in Chelmsley Wood today (Sunday).
The event, taking place at North Solihull Sports Centre, will feature more than 120 cats of various breeds, including Bengal, Persian, British shorthair, Devon Rex, Peterbald and Selkirk Rex.
There will also be stalls selling feline-themed items, as well as a raffle for visitors to enter.
Organisers said the event was a great opportunity to speak to breeders if someone is considering buying a pedigree cat, or a nice day out for fans of the animal generally.
The show will run from 10am-4.30pm. Admission is £3 for adults and £2 for children

Tribute after victim of Chelmsley stabbing is named

WONDERFUL MUM: Tracy Stonehouse with son
Lewis Cottrill and daughter Kerry Ann O'Connell

POLICE have today named the victim of a fatal stabbing in Chelmsley Wood, which came to light in the early hours of yesterday morning (Friday).
Tracy Stonehouse, aged 51, was pronounced dead at an address in Coralin Close - a residential road near Chelmsley town centre - at just before 1.30am.
A post mortem examination established that she had suffered multiple stab wounds and other injuries to her head and neck.
In a statement issued through West Midlands Police, Tracy’s family said: "We are absolutely devastated by the tragic loss of Tracy who was a wonderful mother, sister and grandmother.
"We ask for our privacy to be respected to allow us time to grieve as we try to come to terms with what has happened."
Det Insp Caroline Corfield, from the force's homicide team, said: "This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with Tracy’s family and friends. Specialist officers are working with them to offer support during this traumatic time.
"We’re treating this as an isolated domestic murder and a 73-year-old man remains under arrest whilst receiving treatment in hospital.
"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation."
Anyone with information should call officers on 101, quoting log 130 of April 6.

Murder investigation launched in Chelmsley Wood

A MURDER probe has been launched after a woman's body was discovered in Chelmsley Wood in the early hours of yesterday (Friday).
Officers were called to a Coralin Close address at around 1.25am. The 51-year-old was pronounced dead a short time later.
The woman had suffered a number of injuries, and a post-mortem will take place in due course to establish the cause of death.
A 73-year-old man, who was at the same property, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police have said that he was taken ill at the scene and remains in hospital undergoing assessment.
Det Insp Caroline Corfield, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the family affected.
"We are treating this as an isolated domestic incident, and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation."
Anyone with information should contact officers on 101.

Life-saving device acquired for Marston Green

A LIFE-saving device is being placed in the centre of Marston Green.
The defibrillator - which can help revive those who have suffered a cardiac arrest - will be located in the vicinity of the village railway station.
The scheme is a partnership between Marston Green & District Lions and the One Stop store in Station Road.
Defibrillators can allow civilians to administer vital first aid before paramedics arrive on the scene and increasingly have been installed in public places around the country.
If used in the first five minutes of someone suffering a heart attack, St John Ambulance suggest that survival rates can increase by 70 per cent.
However, a report this week warned that a spate of thefts - which have seen devices stolen from communities around the UK - could be putting lives at risks.

Dizzy Duck Race back at Babbs Mill

IT has become a staple of spring in North Solihull and today (Wednesday) those dizzy ducks will be back on the water at Babbs Mill.
The 2018 event will once again be taking place at the Local Nature Reserve, in Kingshurst, with families invited to pit their wildfowl against the currents.
There will be prizes for the first three birds to cross the finish line, with a £1 charge for every duck entered. The event gets underway at 11am.

Singers looking for new recruits

CASTLE Bromwich Singers are on the look-out for new members.
The group meets at the Baptist Church, in Timberley Lane, on Tuesday evenings (from 7.30-10pm).
For further details call Stella (0121 748 7635) or Greg (07825 969298).