BROMSGROVE'S workhouse would be a less chillier place in future. A plan was being drawn up to scrap the old open ranges and install a steam heating plant. The net expense for the next 15 years, it was estimated, would be £20 per annum, which was good news for ratepayers who financed the institution. The Board of Guardians was also delighted to hear that the cost could be reduced to £25 if slack coal was used in the boiler.

TRADERS in Bromsgrove were considering giving employees an extra hour off on Thursdays, the town's early closing day. If adopted stores would close at 1 instead of 2pm. Trading at this time of the day was slack and takings would not be seriously affected. The early closing movement was introduced in Bromsgrove 16 years ago.

BY tradition some early strawberries were usually on sale on June 24, Bromsgrove Fair Day, along with new season potatoes. However, although a huge crop was anticipated, few of the luscious fruit would be on offer on the day due to the cold spring weather. Late frosts had wiped out most stone fruit crops and apples, it was said, would be scarce because blight was affecting the trees.

JOBLESS Joseph Gwilliam, from Church Lane, Wychbold, was hailed as a hero after saving ten-year-old Laura Kettle from drowning when she fell into a canal near Northfield. The girl had regained consciousness and he was taking her home when he was met by a constable who, on hearing he was unemployed, gave him some money.

BROMSGROVE Town Cricket XI was fined a guinea by the Birmingham and District Cricket Secretaries' Association for failing to turn up for an away game at Harbourne when the team missed the train.