A NEW lunchtime system came into operation at Catshill Middle School. There would be no more Monday morning dinner money collections as pupils in future would pay for the meals they chose on the day. The menu consisted of six main dishes and four puddings. But, to encourage healthy eating, chips would not be served on their own. And at the village's first school, children had started to pay for their mid-morning milk which had stopped being supplied free at Easter. It cost 6p a bottle.

A PROPOSAL that Barnt Green should break free from Alvechurch to form its own parish council was becoming bogged down by red tape. Many Barnt Green villagers said they feel neglected under the present system.

BRITISH Leyland's make or break new Mini Metro was unveiled to the press at Longbridge. BL dealers in Bromsgrove had many orders for the new model and believed the 1,500 coming off the production line would not meet national demand.