NewsBank (Birmingham Mail (England))

THE police have been informed that a van containing 2,500 pies, worth £25,000 in total, has been stolen in Yorkshire.

OMPETITION in a vibrant Birmingham suburb is set to heat up as a posh bakery chain moves in.

"Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times - The Princess of Wales' Christmas message about the importance of love to those attending her annual carol service.

43 BC: Cicero (Marcus Tullius), the great Roman orator, was executed for a series of attacks on Mark Antony.

If you only need a small Christmas tree, buy one that is already growing in a pot. You'll need to water it like

Willow's Story by Louise Allen is the tenth instalment in the popular Thrown Away Children paperback book series. Curious things begin to happen when Willow arrives in the Allen household. Just exactly who is the strange child dressed in outlandish clothes who refuses a mobile phone, and what are the mysterious allegations that have been made about her?

A RELIC of Birmingham's proud motoring history has been left behind in a city estate - and car fans travel from miles around to see it.

Aries March 21-April 20

1. Which long-running Corrie character will leave the show on Christmas Day? 2. Sir Elton John has written the music for which stage musical?

GARY O'Neil has insisted Wolves will always come before whoever is manager as they attempt to secure their Premier League status.

MUST RISE TO CHALLENGE - BLUES DEFENDER

MIDLAND theme park Alton Towers has shut its oldest ride - after 44 years.

A SUTTON Coldfield secondary school was shut for two days after a sickness bug swept through its student community. The Royal Sutton School, in Reddicap Heath Road, closed on Thursday.

I NOTICED a council notice attached to a lamppost near where I live so took a look at it. It concerns the lowering of speed limits on numerous roads in the city and I ask the following questions:- 1) The city is in a financial mess, will speed cameras be erected so that motorists become cash cows outside of the ulez area too?

It's showtime. MARION McMULLEN looks at theatre performances well worth the wait 1

THE best primary schools in the West Midlands have been named in The Sunday Times' 2025 Parent Power Guide.

FOR all the banter Kyle Morrison has enjoyed with some of his onetime team-mates ahead of today's visit by Radcliffe, it is actions rather than words that will inspire the Solihull Moors defender.

ROMELLE Donovan has returned to Blues early after his loan at Burton failed to get going.

Nothing spoils Christmas like a seasonal scammer and this year the festive fraudsters are out in force. From dodgy social media adverts to fake messages from retailers and banks, we all need to be extra vigilant this year so we don't get caught out.

VILLA manager Unai Emery says he will not be able to pick his team to face Southampton until the morning of the match.

ONE of biggest entertainment venues on Birmngham's 'golden mile' has been rebranded with another traditional girl's name.

IRON Bridge can win the Boyle- Sports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.07pm) at Aintree Racecourse this afternoon.

VILLA defender Tyrone Mings made his first Premier League start in more than a year in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Brentford at Villa Park - but admitted he had questioned whether he would play football again.

HARRY Brook hailed a game-changing century against New Zealand as his best yet after taming a tricky Wellington pitch and rescuing England on day one of the second Test.

Emma Bridgewater's festive collection is the perfect Christmas crockery. It will make your table look merry and bright whether you're having a cosy Christmas with close friends or hosting a Yuletide bonanza for your whole family.

Supermarket loyalty schemes offer "genuine savings" - but are still not always the cheapest option, says a consumer watchdog.

JAMIE COOKS CHRISTMAS Tomorrow, Channel 4, 8pm CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver has a few favourite things about Christmas. But at the top of his list is his youngest son, River, seven, who is still at the age when everything is completely magical.

OUT and about on the manor the other morning looking down, I spotted a 10p piece. Now in the great scheme of things it's but a blink in the space time continuum, but looking at that shiny silver coin, it suddenly occurred to me that as a kid in the 1950s, it represented two months' pocket money.

CHRISTIAN Horner described George Russell's spat with Max Verstappen as "pantomime season" before hitting back at Toto Wolff.

Any greenhouse needs a good end-of-season clean-up so that the over-wintering plants can enjoy hygienic surroundings and make the most of winter light.