New director

A LEADING firm of auctioneers, valuers, surveyors, land and estate agents has appointed a new director at its Kidderminster office.

Chartered surveyor and auctioneer Daniel Lovatt, aged 31, is on the board of Halls. He has been working closely with fellow director Roger Sadler to develop the company's agricultural professional and sales departments in Kidderminster over the past decade.

Mr Lovatt, who lives at Ombersley, near Worcester, began his association with Halls in 1994, when he enjoyed a placement with the company while studying at Harper Adams University College.

His work incorporates land and property valuations and sales, compensation claims, management of rural properties and estates for both corporate and private clients across Worcester-shire and bordering counties.

'No' to strike

HSBC staff at Worcester have ignored a nationwide strike over pay on Friday.

Only four per cent of the bank's staff in the UK had voted to strike.

The action by members of the Amicus trade union is being taken against HSBC's decision to impose a pay deal in the UK.

The union claimed that 10 per cent of staff would receive no pay rise this year and that a further 45 per cent would get increases below the rate of inflation.

Union activists handed out packets of peanuts to shareholders outside the meeting to mark their anger at what they described as "a derisory pay offer".