Researchers at the University of Birmingham say they have developed a Covid test that delivers results in just five minutes. The development, hailed as a world first, could be the breakthrough to help get crowds back to sporting events and festivals this summer. It is on course to be fully tested and ready by Easter, … Read more
Police helmet worn by John Lennon when the Beatles performed in Birmingham in 1963 appears on Antiques Roadshow – and is valued at up to £8,000 It belongs to a daughter of one of the police officers who escorted the Beatles to the concert past throngs of screaming fans Ivor Gordon Russell died in early … Read more
England’s schools system is in meltdown today after schools revolted against Boris Johnson’s plea to stay open leaving millions of parents to begin homeschooling their children for at least a fortnight with often only a few hours’ notice. Many headteachers ordered to stay open have decided to shut their gates anyway this morning despite the … Read more
Parents are facing chaos over classroom closures as primaries across the country stay shut today despite Boris Johnson insisting ‘schools are safe’. The Prime Minister told families yesterday that children should return to school in all areas where they were due to open today and tomorrow. But as Covid-19 rates soar, teaching unions said that … Read more
Girl, seven, suffers multiple skull fractures in three-car crash before police arrest 17-year-old boy and girl ‘who fled the scene’ Youngster who was travelling in Toyota Yaris is at Birmingham Children’s hospital Two other children, and woman driving the Yaris, were not seriously injured Two teens in silver Renault Scenic failed to stop after crash … Read more
Britain’s former fattest man who once tipped the scales at 65 stone has died aged 52 Barrie Austin, from Birmingham, died yesterday and his family have paid tribute His partner’s daughter Dannie Louise said she was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ At one point Mr Austin consumed 29,000 calories a day and weighed 65 stone By Emer Scully … Read more
Most unsavoury criminal of 2020: Man who tried to smuggle a SAMOSA between his buttocks is among last year’s strangest arrests Suspect was found with snack in his underwear at police station in Birmingham He wanted to sneak treat into cell as he wasn’t happy with standard of food being offered by West Midlands Police … Read more
Child litter louts are going ‘unpunished’, warn experts as figures reveal 72% of fines for dropping rubbish are given to men in their 20s Children are getting away with the unsociable crime by escaping fines Litterbugs caught in 2020 were overwhelmingly aged between 20 and 29 years But littering is an ‘unpunishable crime for youngsters’, … Read more
THREE police officers wrestle mask-less couple to the ground and arrest them after stopping them for not wearing face coverings in Birmingham shopping centre Dramatic footage emerges of a man being wrestled to the ground by police Wearing a face covering is compulsory by law in such shopping centres The man, 20, and woman, 19, … Read more
A retired GP who offered to return to the NHS and fight the Covid pandemic has today accused the health service of incompetency by failing to properly utilise its army of volunteers. Dr Brian Cooper, 73, who used to work at Birmingham City Hospital, was one of tens of thousands of former medics to sign … Read more