SCORES of revellers enjoyed Droitwich's annual town ball at Salters' Hall. The ballroom was tastefully decorated with flags, bunting, banners and drapes for the event which began at 9pm through to 4.30am. The catering was ably carried out by Mr Emery, landlord of the Spa's Barley Mow pub.

A MEETING of Belbroughton's Distress Committee resolved that because of the weather having improved there was no longer any need to distribute soup to the needy in the village. Soup kitchens had been in use for the past seven weeks since winter had arrived with a vengeance.

A LETTER signed by 'Householder' appeared in the Messenger deploring the apparent return of the 'epidemic' of thieving from people's gardens. The writer said he had recently had some chrysanthemum roots stolen from his garden and suggested the offenders, if caught, deserved a good flogging or a stiff fine.

CHARLES Slade, a groom, appeared before magistrates at Bromsgrove Petty Sessions charged with galloping his horse for 200 yards on the footpath at Worcester Road, Stoke Heath. The arresting officer said Slade had refused to co-operate and give his name and had been marched off to the station, protesting he had not encroached onto the path by more than an eighth of an inch. He was ordered to pay 8/- costs (40p).

SUPERINTENDENT Beal gave his annual report to Bromsgrove Brewster Sessions at the police court. He said the town, with a population of 17,714, had a choice of 71 licensed premises, or one for every 249 people. Last year, four landlords had been charged with various offences, but the number of cases of drunkenness, especially among women, had decreased. "It is bad enough for men to get drunk but simply horrible for a woman," he remarked.