THE mystic powers of asparagus are in no doubt after it was used to predict that Britain would have a hung parliament. Asparamancer Jemima Packington made the forecast last year – and previously foretold the demise of Gordon Brown. She said: “My ability
THE family of Adrian Palmer, who was killed in an attack four years ago this week, have launched a fund to help young people suffering from Asperger’s syndrome. Mr Palmer, of Tenbury Wells, who suffered from the illness, was just 21 when he was found
A WORCESTER hospice is urging people to sign up for its World Cup sweepstake. St Richard’s, Wildwood Drive, is proposing that half the proceeds go to the office, pub or group winner and half to the hospice. To get hold of your sweepstake pack, contact
WORCESTERSHIRE were forced to go to the wire in their eight-wicket victory over Derbyshire in LV= County Championship Division Two. The New Road side were set a target of 126 from 30 overs in the final session of the last day after being held up by Garry
A TEENAGE boy who ‘groomed’ young girls for sexual contact has avoided being locked up. Daniel Scully got to know his victims – some as young as 12 years old – through the instant messaging website MSN, when he was 17 years old. As a Btec student, Scully
HOW very smug we felt after our conversation during the interval. My companion and I had gone through our list of suspects and reckoned we’d got our killer bang to rights. The trouble was that we’d casually overlooked one thing… Agatha Christie
TOWERING defender Exodus Geohaghan has emerged as a possible target for Kidderminster Harriers. The 6ft 7ins player is currently on Peterborough United’s books, where he has three years left on his contract, but has been told by Posh boss Gary Johnson
A WORCESTER schoolboy is keener than ever to pursue a footballing career after he was chosen to be a mascot for the FA Cup final at Wembley. Jack Pinfield, aged nine, walked onto the pitch on Saturday with Ports-mouth’s football team, holding the hand
MORE than 200 crews will descend on the river Severn tomorrow for Worcester Rowing Club’s spring regatta. Competitors from across the country are set to take part in the annual showpiece, which sees boats race over a 750-metre course from the road bridge
WORCESTERSHIRE international racing ace Tim Matthews was happy with his return to competitive racing in Norfolk. The Worcester driver was 14th overall and sixth in class in the first round of the UK Sports 2000 Championship at Snetterton. It was Matthews
A RE-CREATION of how people in a Worcestershire town lived during the Second World War will take place next summer. The Tenbury History Society is hoping to re-create how the people of the area lived on the home front in 1941. The society, which was
AN elderly couple who died after a car crash in Worcestershire have been named as Lily and Joesph Fellows. The crash, which involved their silver Suzuki Wagon car and a silver Volvo V70, took place at around 3pm on Tuesday, May 18 along the A451 Stourbridge
WORCESTERSHIRE-based Apache Quads is on the move to larger premises following a highly successful year. The importer and distributor of quad bikes, ATVs and trailers has moved to a new larger warehouse following a 23 per cent year-on-year growth in sales
STEVE Smith has been given permission to join Worcestershire for their Friends Provident t20 campaign by Cricket Australia. The leg-spinning all-rounder has received clearance from the Australian board to play at New Road from June 4, however
BARBOURNE AC matchman Pete Hughes has a record second to none on the club pool at Cotheridge and this was enhanced once again when he comfortably won round two of the summer league on the venue. Drawn on permanent peg four, Hughes decided to target cruising
RISING stars Matt Kvesic, Andy Short, James Freeman, Rob Wood and Louis Silver have all pledged their futures by signing new contracts with Worcester Warriors. The Sixways academy has produced a conveyor belt of talent in recent years with the likes
WORCESTER’S much-loved jacket potato van has returned to the city’s streets just months after its previous owner died. Kevin Kolb served thousands of customers from the van in the High Street for more than 20 years. He died, aged 57, in March after suffering
WORCESTERSHIRE recorded a clean sweep of pool victories against rivals Herefordshire. The men’s ‘A’ team bounced back from a 27-17 defeat against Buckinghamshire last month to win 26-18 in region five of the English Pool Association at Rileys, Shrub
A NEW driver was told that he will have his licence revoked after being caught driving at more than double the speed limit. Aakash Rashid, aged 19, of Primrose Crescent, Worcester, was caught by police travelling at an average of 66mph on Spetchley
WORCESTER’S new MP has got straight down to constituency business with his first surgery. And Conservative Robin Walker was pleased to resolve his first case fairly easily. Mr Walker had five appointments with residents at the Guildhall, High Street
NHS staff at Worcestershire acute hospitals treat patients with privacy and dignity but need to listen more, according an inpatient survey. The survey, published by government watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) yesterday, shows Worcestershire
ANGRY Labour councillors snubbed traditional drinks for the city’s new mayor after a spat over his selection. Former soldier, railwayman and city political veteran Mike Layland, who represents Nunnery ward as an independent, was elected by majority on
THE University of Worcester men’s first team has been promoted after a successful play-off match against the University of Bedfordshire. The city side won the home match 5-4 on penalties after a closely-fought game, which saw both teams score
TWO youngsters have bright futures ahead of them after being selected as tennis stars of tomorrow. Georgina Cupper and Joshua Hadley, both aged nine, have been chosen to take part in the Lawn Tennis Association’s Regional Talent ID programme.
TUDOR Grange Academy have organised a cross-country challenge for their feeder primary schools tomorrow. The Worcester school has teamed up with the local sports partnership to stage the event at RGS The Grange, Claines. Year six pupils will
INTEREST rates may be at their lowest rate for more than 200 years, but small loan rates have more than doubled. Yet there are ways to get loans more cheaply. BORROW MORE, PAY LESS We have a fascinating phenomenon at the moment. The
GRAB some Sex And The City glamour on the eve of the film sequel release with these items from local shops. What we’re lovin’ 1. Sex and the City 2. New films 3. Carrie necklace 4. Bold style 5. Sunshine What we’re hating 1. Not in the City
THE winner of this year’s Worcester News Baby of the Year competition has been announced. Harvey Dimmock, aged two, of Goodrest Close, off Goodrest Walk, Rainbow Hill, Worcester, the winner of the 19-36 month category, beat 450 children to be crowned
CENTURION Gavin Spares survived three dropped catches — including one on 99 — to steer Birlingham to a two-wicket success. The 26-year-old rode his luck en route to an unbeaten 111 against Kidderminster Victoria in his first appearance for
BBC diplomatic correspondent, Bridget Kendall MBE and Chief Executive of east midland development agency (emda) Jeff Moore, will be joining us to officially open “Himalaya” our new Visitor Centre at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire, on Thursday
Worcestershire win by eight wickets Worcestershire (2nd inns, target 126 off 30 overs) Mitchell c Borrington b Lungley 5 Jaques c Madsen b Peterson 94 Solanki not out 18 Kervezee not out 4 Total 126 (for 2
THE partnership between James Phillips and Maletton did not get off to an auspicious start as they failed to complete the course on several occasions earlier in the season. Their last two runs, however, have exceeded all expectations, so they must have
West Mercia Police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a missing Worcestershire man. Eric Giles, aged 77, of Pinvin, near Pershore was last seen walking from his home towards Pershore at about 3.30pm yesterday. Mr Giles, who suffers
SHOW your dad some well-deserved appreciation this Father's Day (June 20) with a special gift from Grant's, the award-winning family owned blended Scotch whisky. Whether your dad is a discerning whisky lover or someone who just enjoys the
HAPPY FAMILIES: Laura Elliott sent us this picture of blackbirds nesting in some ivy in her garden. She tells us that at least three of the birds fledged and are happily thriving in the garden – often seen with their parents.
SIR – It’s obvious that Chelsea didn’t win the Premier League. Manchester United and Arsenal together had more points than Chelsea and so it is that they should share the title. MICHAEL PARTRIDGE Shrawley
Election coverage wasn’t ‘impartial’ SIR – I cannot join Antony McIver (May 12) in congratulating you on your general election coverage as “impartial, interesting and informative reporting”. It was not impartial because you launched a campaign
SIR – In your editorial on May 12 you stated your belief that Gordon Brown is “a decent man”. It was Brown who offered Israel the cooperation of Royal Navy vessels to help enforce the criminal blockade of Gaza – a blockade which amounts to
SIR – As a long-standing Liberal Democrat, I was taken aback by the letter on May 14 from former Worcester councillor Alex Kear, in which he announced his defection to the Green Party following the launch at Westminster of the Liberal Conservative coalition
PLANS to build 25,500 new homes across south Worcestershire will be scrapped. West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said she had written confirmation from Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin that the controversial West Midlands regional would go.
THE scrapping of the controversial regional spatial strategy by the new coalition government will be welcomed by many opposed to the building of more than 25,000 homes across the south of the county. This newspaper has questioned often the
TRAFFIC in and around Worcester city centre is bad enough at the best of times. A variety of council roadworks in the past couple of weeks have made the situation worse, though most of the work has taken place during the night. Yesterday the city had
TRAFFIC chaos hit Worcester yesterday due to roadworks taking place in the city. Two lanes were shut on New Road as workers re-marked lines outside Worcestershire County Cricket Club while a match took place. Meanwhile, traffic was backed
