This week in 1992:

Army bomb disposal experts were called to the centre of Worcester on Sunday evening after a suspicious car was left outside the Forces Recruitment offices in Foregate Street. A full-scale alert was launched and nearby buildings evacuated as a controlled explosion was carried out on the suspect car. However, it was found to be safe and was towed away to a police pound while inquiries were made to trace the owner.

* Farmers in the county have set up a new telephone hotline with the police in a bid to beat the menace of New Age travellers. The NFU has created Rural Watch networks to combat not just mass trespasses but also livestock rustlers, vehicle thieves and other rural criminals.

This week in 1987:Captain Phil Neale predicts that more Worcestershire honours will follow Sunday's Refuge Assurance League title triumph. After the county clinched the Sunday crown and a £20,000 prize by thrashing Northamptonshire by nine wickets, Neale said: "This side is basically young enough to stay together for 10 years and now we have captured one trophy we can hope to go on for more."

Sunday's win was watched by a crowd of 6,500 with receipts topping a record £11,000. According to Neale, big factors enabling the county to celebrate their first major trophy success for 13 years, were the influence of Ian Botham and Graham Dilley and the consistent batting of Tim Curtis.

* City Mayor Clifford Lord has been chosen to spearhead efforts to develop friendship links between Worcester folk and residents in its German twin town of Kleve. He takes on the chairmanship of the city council's twinning sub-committee and hopes to call a public meeting to get Worcester people involved in the twinning activities with Kleve.

This week in 1977:FUNDS for a proposed roller skating rink on Pitchcroft are rising and events are being organised all over Worcester. A total of £2,000 has to be raised by next March to prove to the city council that there's a real demand for this concrete rink in the centre of the racecourse. The official fund so far stands at £506 although there is another £200 in the pipeline from donations and fund-raising events. The latest was a sponsored three-legged race on Pitchcroft organised by the Young Socialists. Contributions have also come from the Friends of Rose Hill Special School, a garden fete organised by a Claines resident, and a sponsored walk around Perdiswell arranged by 11 years-old Philip Hughes of Longfellow Road, Worcester.

* Fast bowler Mike Ciric of the Fox Cricket Club, Bransford, set up a new record for the club on Sunday when he took all 10 Hanbury wickets for 11 runs in a shattering spell at Bransford. Five of his victims were clean bowled in his spell of 14 overs, six of them maidens. Hanbury were all out for 63 in reply to the Fox's 151 for nine.

This week in 1967:TWO outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed on Monday in the Snitterfield area of Stratford-upon-Avon. As a result, 110 cattle and 50 pigs have been slaughtered and buried on the two farms and disinfection is now in progress. There is a third suspected case under investigation. A cattle movement ban has been imposed, covering the Stratford, Redditch and Evesham areas. The holding of markets is also restricted within these areas.

* With winter approaching, house owners will soon be getting out their portable heaters and electric blankets. But they would be well to have them checked before use because lack of maintenance is often the cause of fire or injury. This is the advice from Worcestershire fire chief Gerald Eastham.

This week in 1957:THE staff of Maggs Limited of Worcester and the County Furnishing Company had a very enjoyable annual outing in glorious weather to Bournemouth. At an excellent lunch at the Pavilion Hotel, Mr B Marshall, the managing director, and his wife were welcomed by the staff. Director Stanley Marshall stressed to all those present the importance of personal attention to customers' requirements.