Local News

Millions of savers could be affected by significant changes to Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) after the Government confirmed a series of reforms due to come into force in April 2027. The changes include a new 22 per cent charge on interest earned from cash held within Stocks and Shares ISAs and other non-cash ISA products, alongside a reduction in the amount younger savers can place into Cash ISAs each year. ISAs have long been one of Britain’s most popular…

THE Astwood Bank Carnival Royalty has been announced ahead of this summer’s spectacular Wonderful World of Books themed celebrations. Taking place on Saturday, July 11, Queen Sarah will lead the festitvities, alongside Aerona and Nevaeh, the Carnival Princesses, Prince Luke and Eleanor and Charli – the Carnival Rosebuds. This year will be the 39th Carnival and organisers say it is set to be another unforgettable weekend packed with community spirit, entertainment, and celebration. The theme ‘The Wonderful World of…

ARTRIX’S Studio was a wonderful choice for Sleuth – written by Anthony Shaffer and staged by All and Sundry. The intimate venue where the audience are close to the action made this this ‘cat and mouse’ story even more intense. The play has just two main characters – a crime writer and his wife’s lover who he has invited round to his house ‘for a chat’. Andrew Wyke – the author – hosts Milo Tindle at his Wiltshire mansion for…

FECKENHAM Wake returned at the weekend, providing the village with fun for all. Thousands of people attended the event which started at 12.30pm on Saturday, June 20, across The Square, recreation field and village hall. The day was a truly memorable celebration which offered a mixture of new and traditional attractions, including Punch and Judy,  Arrow Valley Brass Band, All Round Voices Choir, Massed Morris Dancers and Feckenham Country Dancers. The annual Fun Dog Show and circus skills workshop…

HANBURY C of E First School has opened its doors on its new £750,000 extension, writes Elena Pereslucha. The development has been added onto the main school and boasts two larger classrooms, a new meeting room, new toilets and a new storage room. The two new larger classrooms replaced two aged mobile classrooms which were proving costly to repair and maintain. The new project not only gives students an engaging space to learn but the new classrooms have been designed…

SEVERN Trent has produced an extra 400million litres of water a day since Tuesday to help keep the Midlands hydrated during the heatwave. Temperatures have been around 32°C across the region and the company says it is producing around 20 per cent more water than usual, enough extra to supply almost than 3 million people As people are up later enjoying the World Cup matches, the company is noticing more water is being used late into the evening as…

The UK was forced to pay exceptionally high prices for emergency electricity imports during this week’s heatwave after domestic power supplies fell short of demand. The National Energy System Operator (NESO), which is responsible for balancing Britain’s electricity network, paid up to £1,379 per megawatt hour for imported electricity on Wednesday evening. Wholesale electricity prices are normally around £80 per megawatt hour, meaning emergency imports cost around 17 times the usual price. Industry estimates suggest the extra balancing measures…

TRIBUTES were paid to UK servicemen and women past and present with the annual Armed Forces Day flag raising services in Redditch on Monday. The Mayor and leader of the borough council took part in raising the Armed Forces Flag at the town hall to mark the start of Armed Forces Week. The annual flag raising ceremony is held in honour of the Armed Forces community, to show support and appreciation for their service. Those attending included local dignitaries,…

A UNIVERSITY of Worcester lecturer will take on a challenge which will see him kayak 310miles throughout the month of July, as he raises funds for a local charity which supports people who live with neurological disorders. Steve Ennis, business lecturer and managing director of advisory service Business Doctors Worcestershire, will paddle ten miles a day on the River Avon as he completes the equivalent distance of rowing between Worcester and Paris to raise £2,000 for Herefordshire charity Megan…

SEVERN Trent has produced an extra 400million litres of water a day since Tuesday to help keep the Midlands hydrated during the heatwave, writes Elena Pereslucha. Temperatures have risen to above 35°C today (Thursday) and the company said it was producing around 20 per cent more water than usual – enough to supply almost 3million people. World Cup impact As people are up later enjoying the World Cup matches, the company has noticed that more water is being used…