BROMSGROVE police were puzzling over the identity of an elderly man killed in a road accident on the A38, just 500 yards from Lydiate Ash. They believed the man to have come over to England from Northern Ireland 25 years ago. They were planning to fly friends or relatives over from the Emerald Isle to help identify the man's body.

CHESHIRE-born Nora Byng, of Fairfield, was named the new chairman of Bromsgrove District Council, the local authority for the area. She was the first woman to chair the local authority and took over from Jim Beken, who died after a short illness. Nora, a Yew Tree Lane resident, was a graduate of Liverpool University and former biology mistress at Bromsgrove County High School. She had been elected as a district councillor eight years ago and was also vice-chairman of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Community Health Council and a member of Belbroughton Parish Council. Her husband Leslie Byng was a florist who owned a shop in Churchfields.

A BRIGHT future was predicted for school leavers as unemployment figures in Bromsgrove fell by 85 to 816. Head careers officer Roy Slade said it was going against the expected trend. However, Sheila Gorman, of the Unemployment Office, attributed it to people going back to school or college rather than seeking work.

JEWELLERY, ceramics, furniture and fabrics from all over the world, were to be exhibited at the 15th annual arts festival at LG Harris in Stoke Prior. Handicrafts from places like India, America, Egypt, Italy, Belgium and Germany promised there would be something for everyone.

MARILYN O'Sullivan was hauled before Bromsgrove Magistrates after being caught drunk on Rubery highway. Inspector Roger Harris, who was doing his duty on Callowbrook Lane, found the 23-year-old Birmingham woman. He said she was in no fit state to look after herself. The magistrate said it was disgusting behaviour and fined her £5.