BROMSGROVE'S oldest inhabitant Lucy Barnes celebrated her 103rd birthday this week. She came to Bromsgrove with her husband in 1903 when he got a job at the world famous Guild. Lucy had run a small shop in Aston Fields where she lived for many years.

LITTLE Dean Brazier caused his mum Gillian to panic when he got his head stuck in his tubular steel rocking horse. Unable to push or pull the 18-month-old toddler out she called the fire brigade who sent six men to her home in Woodrow Close, Catshill. A few cuts with a hacksaw soon had him free.

THE JINKS family from Burcot were very much involved in the girl guide movement. Mum Pauline was the Guider for the 5th Bromsgrove company and this week her fourth daughter Charlotte, aged ten, followed her three sisters' footsteps by enrolling.

LABOUR pledged to scrap the highly controversial 10p parking charge imposed by the Tory controlled district council, if they won next spring's local elections, Councillor Trevor Porter, the group's secretary said. Angry Cllr Cathy Mole declared that the Conservatives had initially said the charges would be temporary, now they planned to enforce them and fine non-payers £5. The council's action was defended by Cllr Nick Psirides.

FOUR members of North Bromsgrove High School's under 18-netball team were picked to take part in the final trials for the England schoolgirls' squad. They were Tracey Weate, Gillian Albutt, Carol Brown and Gillian Holmes.