THE coach company at the centre of an horrific crash on the M25 that killed six people is today shutting its doors after nearly half a century. The final journey of WR Spring & Son is set to end at 5pm, bringing to a close 44 years of Evesham history
BEER lovers are toasting a return to the days of Spandau Ballet and Lady Diana with prices set to plummet at a Worcester watering hole. The Postal Order, in Foregate Street, is offering Theakston's Best Bitter at 50p a pint, rolling back the cost of ale
A GOVERNMENT grant of more than £170,000 has been awarded to promote Worcestershire's rural economy. The Worcester Rural Hub, established earlier this year to support farmers, growers and rural businesses, will use the funds to appoint a rural communities
ASPIRING young Worcestershire actors will have the chance to audition for Britain's top youth theatre. The National Youth Theatre offers young people a chance to act and work backstage in a professional environment. Anyone between 13 and 21 can apply
NOSTALGIC Christmas revellers have secured a new record for Severn Valley Railway. The steam train operator has set a new all-time passenger record for its Kidderminster to Bridgnorth "heritage" line, beating its current record of 230,436 passengers in
TRAVEL agents across Worcestershire have reported a healthy number of holiday bookings - despite fears a recent surge in last-minute deals would affect sales. Industry workers said they had taken deposits for both foreign and domestic breaks as people
A 26-YEAR-OLD man sustained serious head injuries in a fight in Angel Place, Worcester. During the fight, which happened just after midnight on Monday, December 23, the victim was forced to the ground and stamped on. He was taken to hospital where he
THE Worcester branch of the charity Age Concern has launched a new health insurance plan for older people. Age Concern Herefordshire and Worcestershire's "health cash plan" is tailored to meet the needs of the over 50s. Premiums are kept low by discarding
BO Henriksen admitted Kidderminster Harriers were "quite happy" after extending their unbeaten Division Three run to three games. Harriers were poised to take all three points at one stage due to Henriksen's 49th-minute penalty. But Bury did enough to
THE FA Basic Treatment of Injury course will begin on Friday, January 17, at Kidderminster Harriers, running for seven weeks. The evening sessions will be from 6.30pm until 9.30pm and the cost of the course will include a study book. Course tutors are
HARRIERS 3 LEYTON ORIENT 2 A DANISH slice of brilliance from striker Bo Henriksen steered Kidderminster Harriers to an unlikely Boxing Day success over Leyton Orient. It had been a quiet game for Henriksen until he turned to lob the 84th-minute winner
Versatile Hinton began his career at right-back before reverting to a centre-half role during the Conference championship-winning season. The change of position proved the making of the former Birmingham City trainee who was once rated at £1 million and
After starting off as a trainee at Liverpool, Williams was released at the age of 19 to return to his native Wrexham. The Wales U-21 international played on-off for the Second Division club but made a good impression with many for his uncompromising style
The son of former England goalkeeping legend Peter spent two seasons at Hartlepool before his free transfer move to Third Division opposition Harriers. An attacking midfielder who also filled in at wing-back, he moved from Plymouth Argyle to Coventry
Vastly-experienced Flynn took over the captaincy in Mark Blake's absence after putting pen to paper on a year's deal before the first league game with Lincoln. The influential central or right-sided midfielder is known for his tough tackling and will
Signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the creative Dublin-born playmaker has made a good impression and extended his deal for a second month. Restricted to reserve appearances at the Division One club, his manager Dave Jones wanted Melligan to
Pacy Foster was top scorer during the Conference-winning season and appears to have overcome the injury problems that have plagued him as a professional over the years. An England schoolboy and later semi-pro international, he was released by Liverpool
Tall target-man who made an immediate impact with his aggression, spirit and goal-scoring on being signed for £50,000 from Peterborough in January 2001. Despite his disciplinary problems, Broughton is a first choice when fit and wins a lot of aerial challenges
A player with an impressive reputation in homeland Denmark, Henriksen signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Aggborough in February 2002. The flamboyant striker, who impressed in an initial three-month loan spell with an immaculate first touch, signed from
A MISERABLE festive points return has piled extra pressure on Worcester City ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Hednesford Town tomorrow (3pm). Ian Painter's Pitmen visit St George's Lane with John Barton's team desperate to unearth three points
GRAHAM Turner has warned his Hereford United side to expect a backlash in their return clash with Telford United tomorrow (3pm). The Bucks visit Edgar Street still smarting from a 1-0 defeat at Bucks Head with their manager Jake King furious at seeing
BO Henriksen is planning another smash-and-grab raid tomorrow as Kidderminster Harriers go in search of their first Nationwide League Division Three 'double' of the season against Exeter City at St James' Park (3pm). The Danish front-runner bagged a brace
PERSHORE Town boss Nigel Russell is out to exact revenge in a home clash against Continental Star tomorrow (2.45) in the Midland Combination Premier Division. The Birmingham side put four second half goals past Town earlier in the season and the memory
England have gambled on the fitness of three players by including them all in their 15-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa in two months' time. All-rounders Andrew Flintoff (hernia) and Craig White (side strain) were named today in the party despite
Sat July 20 Halesowen Harriers (a) 3-1 Mulders, Stanier, Dobson Sat July 27 Boldmere St Michaels (a) 1-4 Giddings Mon July 29 Stourbridge (h) 3-2 Giddings, Stanier, Fletcher Thurs Aug 1 Rushall Olympic (h) 2-3 Bailey, A Nicholls Sat Aug 3 Telford United
EVESHAM United manager Phil Mullen is out to increase his former club Stourport Swifts' festive misery when they arrive at Common Road tomorrow (11.30am). Swifts have suffered a three-match losing streak which has plunged them back into relegation danger
THE Government intends to compel large churches, cathedrals and abbeys, churches and chapels which stage five or more cultural events in their premises to obtain licences from their local authorities. Surely in the light of the slyness and deviousness
I WAS amused to read Mr Margrett's letter (You Say, December 18) in which he said we were lucky to live in the "relative tranquillity" of Worcester rather than the south-east of England where people work "appallingly long hours". This was the day after
n THE lack of support for the Swan Theatre is nothing new. I recently read a book entitled Worcester Old Picture Postcards, which featured the Worcester Theatre Royal. It also explained the reason for its decline - like most provincial theatres it could
HOW dare the county council suggest possible tax increases of eight times the rate of inflation to cover their fiscal ineptitude? The last two years have seen increases of four and five times the rate of inflation and I for one have yet to see where this
BO Henriksen is planning another smash-and-grab raid tomorrow as Kidderminster Harriers go in search of their first Nationwide League Division Three 'double' of the season against Exeter City at St James' Park (3pm). The Danish front-runner bagged a brace
ONE of Worcester's premier law firms has appointed a new senior partner and a new associate. Harrison Clark Solicitors, in Deansway, Worcester, will soon be celebrating its 100th year. It announced the major appointments on December 1. Jonathan Brew is
WORCESTER will be under the spotlight at a major travel show in a bid to lure visitors to the area. Worcester City Council will join 600 other organisations exhibiting at Destinations 2003: The Travel Show. At the show, due to take place at Olympia, in
NEW Year's Eve revellers will once again be able to enjoy 36 hours of uninterrupted drinking in Worcester, thanks to special licensing arrangements. In theory, drinkers will have been able to raise their first glass at 11am today and not have to put one
CARPETS and furniture were being lifted in Kempsey and Upton-upon-Severn today as the River Severn threatened to burst its banks. Water has been lapping close to the door of Upton's low-lying Swan Hotel as staff moved furniture from the bar and rolled
A KEMPSEY calendar featuring bygone scenes from the parish has proved a sell-out success for the village cricket club. Initially, just 100 calendars were produced, but they sold so quickly that further batches of 100, 50 and 25 were printed, which in
A 25-year-old local man has been found dead on railway tracks near Droitwich Spa station. The driver of the 11.34pm train from Kidderminster to Worcester Shrub Hill, which was empty, reported hitting a person between Droitwich station and Chawson Crossing
WORCESTERSHIRE Royal Hospital is on red alert again following a diarrhoea and vomiting outbreak in the wards. Patients are being diverted out of the county because of outbreaks at both Worcester's new hospital and Redditch's Alexandra Hospital over the
POLICE have named two people who were killed in a car crash near Evesham on Christmas Eve. Michael Osborne, aged 49, and Helen Osborne, 45, both from Weston Subedge, near Chipping Camden, died when their red Audi A4 ran out of control on the B4084, between
NEW Year's Eve revellers in Worcester city centre will not be able to gather around the city's giant Christmas tree to hear the midnight chimes. On police advice, the Christmas tree, a traditional focal point for New Year's Eve festivities, was taken
A WOMAN was threatened at knifepoint by a man who robbed her of her handbag in Upton-upon-Severn. The gloved robber drew a knife when the woman refused to hand over the handbag after he accosted her in School Lane. She was undoing the steering wheel lock
OLD electric blankets have been recycled to keep stray pets warm over the winter. People who were told their electric blankets were unsafe by the Safety in the Home and Electric Blanket Assessment donated them to keep animals warm. Blankets where the
THE Territorial Army has launched an officer recruitment campaign to attract the hottest young talent in Worcestershire. The TA - which is based in Silver Street, Worcester - is seeking new recruits, between the ages of 17 and 35, to boost the number
THE Boxing Day result was far more important than the display, according to relieved boss Ian Britton. Harriers limped to a 3-2 win over 10-man Leyton Orient, thanks to Danish ace Bo Henriksen's excellent late winner. It was their second win in a row,
BURY 1 HARRIERS 1 THOUGH Bury's equaliser prevented Kidderminster Harriers returning to the play-off zone, Sunday's draw was yet another impressive away result. Harriers, never the strongest on their travels before this season, were only denied a Division
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers have arranged their Division Three home clash with Oxford United for Tuesday, January 28 (7.45pm). Unsettled centre-back Abdou Sall has extended his loan spell with Oxford for a second month but has been restricted to substitute
Released by Aston Villa, Brock signed for Harriers in September 1997 after a short spell at Northampton Town where he failed to make an appearance. He made his Harriers first-team debut in November of the same year and has proved himself a fine shot-stopper
San Diego-born Joy began his footballing education at Tranmere Rovers but did not make the first team. After leaving Prenton Park, he moved to Scottish side Stirling Albion and made a couple of substitute appearances before joining Montrose last season
Rangy Ayres joined Harriers as a youth-team player from Walsall but progressed to the reserves after impressing at the heart of the defence. A big future is predicted for the youngster who signed a two-year deal and made his competitive debut in the tough
Senegal-born Sall began his career with French Third Division Montauban and impressed enough to be snapped up by Toulouse. However, a switch to England earned the giant defender a trial with Harriers and a two-year move in August 2001. Powerful in aerial
The third player signed by Ian Britton on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, following Mark Clyde and John Melligan. Stocky six-foot defender Coleman, only just turned 20, has been a regular reserve teamer for Wolves but is yet to break into
Bennett was a then club record buy of £30,000 from rivals Bromsgrove Rovers in January 1999 and proved a goal-scoring menace to Conference opponents in the title-winning season. The ex-England semi-professional international signed a two-year deal at
Dubliner Doyle began his career back in his native Ireland with Cherry Orchard before being snapped up by Premiership Coventry City for a nominal fee in 1998. However, he was mainly confined to academy football and a trial spell with Harriers earned him
Summer signing Parrish has enjoyed three promotions before from Division Three, twice with Northampton Town and once with Chesterfield. The competitive left-footed midfielder with an eye for goal turned down a one-year deal with Chesterfield to sign for
Has joined Harriers on loan for a month from Division One side Walsall to gain experience of first-team football. A prolific scorer in the youth teams at the Bescot Stadium, Bishop also found the net for the reserves this season but was yet to make his
CELEBRITIES and showbiz personalities throughout Worcestershire were today congratulating each other as President Blair's New Year's honours were announced. The President - addressing his loyal and loving people from the balcony of Number 10 Downing Street
TEENAGE striker Ashley Read has given Bromsgrove Rovers' management team a selection headache after scoring twice at the weekend. Read, whose ability earned him a trial at West Brom, will be in Rovers' squad for their Dr Martens Western Division derby
EVESHAM United manager Phil Mullen is out to increase Stourport Swifts' festive misery when they arrive at Common Road tomorrow (11.30). Swifts have suffered a three-match losing streak which has plunged them back into relegation danger in the Dr Martens
Glenn McGrath has been forced to pull out of Australia's squad for the fifth and final Test against England in Sydney. The inspirational former Worcestershire fast bowler sustained a strain to his left side during the fourth day of the fourth Test in
IT matters not what you call it but we in Britain have stuck with the word "pound". There is nothing sacrosanct about the word itself, but since sterling is the fourth strongest currency in the world, we should not throw it away in favour of the Euro
n THERE have been many letters in the Evening News crying out for the independence of the UK. Could I ask that the writers of these letters stop and think for a second or two? In being a major nation, the UK must form alliances with other major nations
Sat July 13 Stratford Town (a) 1-1 Lewis Mon July 15 Evesham United (a) 4-0 Ducros, Broughton, Corbett, Shilton Fri July 19 Reading (h) 2-4 Broughton, Henriksen Sun July 21 Solihull Borough (a) 3-4 Shilton, Foster (pen), Corbett Wed July 24 Wolverhampton
A MISERABLE festive points return has piled extra pressure on Worcester City ahead of their New Year's Day clash with Hednesford Town tomorrow (3pm). Ian Painter's Pitmen visit St George's Lane with John Barton's team desperate to unearth three points
A WORCESTER company has won an award for an innovative product that has been hailed as an example of "the best in British manufacturing". Metal Castings Ltd. has been awarded top honours for its aluminium alloy Range Rover door casting. The accolade was
BUSINESSES in the two counties producing food products using cereals have just over one week left to try and bag a slice of £300,000. The money is on offer from the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) in the form of Enterprise Awards. The awards, which
