PARENTS of youngsters in Bromsgrove who had school meals were bracing themselves for a rise in prices of up to 40p a day from April. However, schools providing a 'cafeteria' style service would be cheaper at 35p. The new charges would bring in an extra £1.4m a year and go some way to helping the county council cut £4m from its education budget.

THE first big freeze of the New Year brought traffic chaos to Bromsgrove and district. Roads, covered in snow and ice, resembled ice rinks and police had to withdraw all but emergency car patrols and buses were marooned in their garages. Queues some five miles long built up on some main roads as traffic attempted to negotiate even small hills, making Bromsgrove one of the worst affected towns. The situation was made worse by a lack of gritters brought about by the county council's shortage of cash.

TWO pets owned and trained by Paula Mercy, of Old Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, travelled to Yorkshire to take part in the hit TV programme All Creatures Great and Small, which was produced at Birmingham's Pebble Mill Studios. The script called for Shep, Paula's sheepdog, to delicately carry a chicken, also owned by her, in its mouth.

A NEW extension to Rubery Social Club was opened ahead of schedule by top entertainers Lonnie Donnegan and Lennie Bennett. The club also had plans to extend membership to between three and four thousand people.