Festive fun in Castle Bromwich

YULE be a fool if you miss the Christmas Fair taking place in Castle Bromwich tomorrow (Saturday).
St Mary and St Margaret's Church will be hosting the annual event, with stalls, games and raffles. Hot soup and mulled wine will be among the refreshments.
The fair is open from 11.30am-2pm. Admission is 50p for adults, 20p for primary schoolchildren and anyone younger gets in free.

An evening of winter's tales in Chelmsley Wood

STORIES perfect for a winter's evening are to be told at a Chelmsley Wood venue.

A series of yarns will be entertaining visitors at the Three Trees Centre tomorrow (Thursday) night.

Sharon Carr, Cath Edwards and John Sullivan-Blakeney will all be giving readings.

The event runs from 7.30-10pm, with an interval in the middle. Admission is £3.50 and there will be refreshments on sale.

Trip the lights fantastic in Castle Brom

THE first in a series of Christmas lantern events will be taking place in Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens this weekend.
Visitors can drop in to make their own 'star' and then, when darkness falls, venture into the garden to explore a planetarium amid the plants.
The events will be taking on consecutive Saturdays (December 1, 8 and 15).
The first two events run from 12.30-4.30pm, with the final one in the series scheduled between 1-6pm.
For further details about the highly-anticipated Stars and Shadows events visit the Hall Gardens' website.

Kingshurst driver jailed after fatal crash.

A KINGSHURST man has been jailed following a crash which caused the death of a schoolgirl.
Nicholas Buck had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, after the bin lorry he was driving collided with a school minibus.
Fourteen-year-old Holly Brown (pictured) suffered fatal injuries - and several of her classmates were hurt - in the crash, which happened in Birmingham last year.
Court heard that the defendant's vehicle had emerged from an intersection on the A38 Kingsbury Road, in Castle Vale, and ploughed into the side of the coach.
Buck, 52, of Kingshurst Way, was today handed a 40 month prison sentence and banned from driving for over five years. He would be required to take an extended retest before being allowed back behind a wheel.
Det Sgt Alan Hands, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "A young girl tragically lost her life as a result of dangerous driving.
"Holly had her whole life ahead of her and this sentence should serve as a reminder of the importance of taking care on the road.
"Although this result will never bring Holly back, I sincerely hope her family find some comfort knowing Buck is behind bars and we continue to do all we can to make the roads safer."
Holly, a pupil from John Taylor High School, in Barton-under-Needwood, in Staffordshire, had been on a school art trip. Twenty other students had been on board at the time of the crash, which happened on July 7.
The family had paid tribute to the teenager, who had a twin sister, Emma, during today's hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.

Castle Brom Indian beats local rival to clinch top award

A CASTLE Bromwich takeaway has been crowned the best in the West Midlands.

Chutney Express, in Hurst Lane, was up against the cream of curry houses and chip shops from around the region - including local competitor Lime Pickle.

And it was announced this month that the Indian eatery had been named the 'Best Takeaway' by the British Takeaway Awards.

Winners from 12 different regions around the UK were recognised at London's swanky Savoy Hotel earlier this month. 

Former Dragons' Den judge Sarah Willingham, who began her business career in the restaurant trade, and Just Eat boss Graham Corfield were among the panel appointed to pick the winners.

North Solihull had the bragging rights, with two of the five finalists based in the area.

Aside from Chutney Express and Lime Pickle, the shortlist included Cafe Balti Birmingham, based at The Radleys, Sheldon, and two chip shops (Mr Chips, in Stourbridge, and Fiddlers Elbow Fisheries, in North Herefordshire).

Scouts stage festive event in village

A CHRISTMAS Fayre will be taking place in Marston Green this afternoon.
This year's festive event will be held at the Scouts HQ, behind the Village Hall, in Elmdon Road.
Visitors can enjoy a whole range of stalls and games and pop in at Santa's grotto.
Homemade cakes will be on sale and there is also the chance to make popcorn on an open fire.
Admission is 50p for adults and children get in free. Drop in from 2-4pm.

Cooks Lane housing scheme set for approval

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build eight new homes in Kingshurst are expected to be rubber-stamped next week.
Council officers have recommended that the care scheme, at 214 Cooks Lane, is approved - despite concerns about homes being packed in and limited access for vehicles.
Back in September, councillors had agreed to defer a decision on the development until further details about the parking arrangements had been provided.
Kingshurst and Fordbridge councillors David Cole (Lab) and Robert Hall (Ind) had both spoken at the meeting to raise concerns about the proposal.
Coun Cole told the decision session that the plans were "ill-thought out" and likely to lead to tensions with existing residents.
Discussions about the development of the land have dragged on for more than a decade, during which time a number of different proposals have been brought forward.
The latest version of the scheme is intended to provide supported living for people with disabilities.
Following the decision session a couple of months ago, Sandant Care Ltd has agreed to incorporate extra parking spaces into its plans.
The firm has argued that the facilities should be "more than sufficient", given that the residents won't drive and the majority of the company's carers use public transport.
The planning committee will consider the updated plans on Wednesday (November 28).