A MAN lost two fingers and needed emergency surgery to save his hand after an horrific accident with his lawnmower. John Farmer was adjusting its cutting level when his left hand slipped from the lever into the razor-sharp, rotating blades. The quick-thinking
A WOMAN pedestrian has suffered serious injuries after being crushed against a wall by a bus in Worcester city centre. Roads were blocked off by police, causing gridlock during last night's rush hour. The woman was in collision with the First Midland
A MOTHER-of-two has spoken of her terror after being held hostage at knifepoint by her suicidal husband. Sandra Burton, aged 40, said she thought she was going to be killed during the hour-long ordeal at her home in Beauchamp Road, Malvern, on February
RESIDENTS and guests at a hotel were evacuated in the early hours of this morning after a building was filled with gas. The leak from the external main also ignited the meters outside the Barclays Business Centre, in Commercial Road, Hereford, sending
BUSINESSMAN and owner of the Faithful City's rugby club Cecil Duckworth has just made it on to the Sunday Times 2003 Rich List. Mr Duckworth is ranked at 976 with an estimated fortune of £30m. Much of this has come from the sale of his central heating
A DISTRAUGHT mother has vowed to get professional help after being punished for failing to send her teenage son to school. Diane Underhill was too embarrassed to take up the parent counselling Dyson Perrins CE High School offered her when Gareth Hitchings
CLAIMS that schools are being cheated out of funds have been disputed by Worcestershire County Council. It says Education Secretary Charles Clarke is wrong to accuse councils of diverting money meant for classrooms. The Education Secretary said millions
THE curtain will once again rise on the Swan Theatre almost four months after it was closed. Great Witley Operatic Society will reopen the theatre with its production of Gilbert and Sullivan's popular operetta Pirates of Penzance. But the road from the
The final away trip of the season takes Kidderminster Harriers to Hull's impressive 25,000-capacity Kingston Communications Stadium. Harriers can keep their slight play-off hopes alive with a victory today and then another three points at home to Bristol
IF YONTY Solomon had listened to his parents then the world would have been deprived of one of its finest pianists. Like all good parents they wanted the young Solomon to study something sensible at university rather than pursue a career in music. Solomon
QUESTION. Who has sold more singles for Decca Records than any other artist, including The Rolling Stones? Clue. The same act scored more hit singles in the 60s than The Beatles. The answer - and this surprised me, even though I was there - is Billy Fury
A CHARITY gig will be taking place in memory of a Worcester artist who died suddenly on October 14 last year. Les Harper, who lived in Martley, Worcestershire, was well known on the county circuit as a solo guitar player and singer. He died suddenly at
BRIT award-winning The Stereophonics will be playing at the NEC Arena on Sunday, November 16. The NEC concert is part of their biggest UK tour to date. Stereophonics fans should look out for their new single called Madame Helga, which is out on Monday
HOME bird and songbird Emily Slade isn't one for junk food - especially when it comes to cheese burger soup and spray can cheese. Emily came across these culinary delights when she toured America, and said it was one of her strangest experiences there
DIRECTOR of Cricket Tom Moody is challenging Worcester Royals to go one better than they achieved last season in the National League Division One which opens tomorrow with a match against Gloucestershire Gladiators at Bristol. The County finished runners-up
PAT Lyons believes Worcester City manager John Barton deserves credit for coping with the spate of injuries that have decimated the squad since Christmas. The St George's Lane boss has seen City's Dr Martens Premier Division title challenge crumble as
HEREFORD United duo Paul Parry and Tony James are being tipped to be part of the Welsh non-league team bidding to retain the Unibond Four Nations Semi-Professional Tournament title next month. Welsh manager Tommi Morgan has been keeping a close eye on
JOHN Brain believes Chris Hall has made massive strides this season for Worcester Rugby Club. The Sixways director of rugby has been delighted with the former Gloucester man's contribution in the National One campaign, particularly as fellow hooker Chris
Another error allowed Hull to seal their win 10 minutes from time with a Walters beating Hinton to the ball close to the touch line and running inside to fire past the advancing Brock from an angle.
McAuley was given a chance to impress after coming on at half-time for Scott who was guilty of the mistake for Hull's second goal. Williams moved back to centre-half with McAuley taking his role in midfield. The visitors went on to dominate the second
SEAN Parrish believes Kidderminster Harriers will benefit from the experience they have gained from their exploits this season in the Nationwide League Third Division. Despite their financial problems Harriers have surprised some supporters by keeping
ONE of the last living links with the Worcester families who, for centuries, earned their livelihoods by netting salmon from the River Severn is about to leave the Faithful City for America. Mrs Catherine Fincher, whose grandfather was the last of 10
THE abiding image I have of the Iraq war is not George W Bush's self-satisfied smirk, but the 12-year-old Iraqi girl, looking down in bewilderment and disbelief at where her right leg used to be. GEORGE COWLEY, Worcester.
IN Francis Lankester's recent leaflet he asks residents if they think the new children's playground should be on Tallow Hill or by the new Community Centre. Is it not true that planning permission has already be given for an extension to Tallow Hill Car
JUDGING his letter (You Say, April 19) Gerald Harris, Chairman of the Board Worcester Arts, Swan Theatre Ltd, having successfully presided over the Swan's demise, still doesn't recognise the failings of the board and management to succeed even with grants
WHAT a great pity that Gerald Harris (You Say, April 19) cannot let the new management of the Swan Theatre get on with the job that they are good at without taking an embittered swipe at those keen on ensuring that OUR theatre becomes a success. The fact
PAT Lyons believes Worcester City manager John Barton deserves credit for coping with the spate of injuries that have decimated the squad since Christmas. The St George's Lane boss has seen City's Dr Martens Premier Division title challenge crumble as
n Tonight: Rock and Roll Night with Brian's Supersounds at Barbourne Ex-Servicemen's Club, The Moors, Worcester. All welcome. n April 26: Ballroom & Sequence Dance, in aid of Leukaemia Research Fund 2003 at St John's Sports & Leisure Centre, featuring
Until April 26: Dilly Ward Bundy Exhibition at Number 8, High Street, Pershore. For further details contact Charlotte Saunders on 01386 561906. n Until April 27: David Hockney: Grimm's Fairy Tales at MAC The Centre for Birmingham. Telephone 0121 440 3838
n Tonight: All About Eve, The Marr's Bar, Worcester n April 26: Rock & Soul Revue, Sketchley's Social Club, Worcester; Harmony Duo, Barbourne Ex-Servicemen's Club, Worcester; The Amy Wadge Band, The Marr's Bar, Worcester; Hawkes Drift, Royal British
n Until April 26: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe at the Courtyard, Hereford. Box office 01432 359252. n Until April 26: Ballet Creations present The Nutcracker. The Roses Tewkesbury. Box office 01684 295074 n April 25-26: English National Ballet
Another defensive mistake cost Harriers again on 38 minutes with Burgess poaching Hull's second goal. And defender Scott failed to clear Walters' flick-on and the Hull forward nipped in to prod the ball past the diving Brock from 10 yards.
A BUILDING worker has been jailed after he beat up his near-naked girlfriend then threw her out of their home in the early hours. Susan Sharp had to beg Gary Sinnett to let her back in, Worcester Crown Court heard. He had earlier dragged her out of bed
CHARITABLE art lovers in the county enjoyed all the cut-and-thrust of a Sotheby's-style auction on their own doorstep last night. Malvern-based auctioneer and antiques expert Philip Serrell hosted the evening, at Worcester's Guildhall, in aid of St Richard's
Hull took just minutes to take the lead as their recent signing Burgess steered home his first goal for the club from the penalty spot. It had been awarded after a Stamp's foul on Regan who had been found in acres of space on the right from Keates' accurate
TWENTY one years after Nothing On Noises Off opened at the Savoy Theatre, London, where it ran for five years and won every major Best Comedy Award, it is coming to Malvern. Nothing On Noises Off is a comic romp which offers two plays for the price of
THERE was a time when Emma Fielding lived above a betting shop in Malvern, and now the actress is playing two of Shakespeare's most powerful women with the Royal Shakespeare Company. "It's a beautiful part of the world," said Fielding, fondly remembering
WORCESTERSHIRE'S John Bickerton was tied for 36th place after the second round of Canaries Spanish Open in Tenerife saw him record a 69 to go with his first round 66 to be nine under par. This left the Droitwich Golf Club member six shots adrift of joint
WORCESTERSHIRE had to settle for no more than a morning's batting practice on the final day of their three-day friendly with Oxford UCCE in The Parks. A mere 33 overs were possible before rain arrived at lunchtime yesterday and caused an abandonment by
Kidderminster Harriers finally waved goodbye to their play-off dreams after a terrible defensive collapse at Hull. They conceded four goals for the first time in Division Three this season but the kind of mistakes that gave them away have been common
SEAN Parrish believes Kidderminster Harriers will benefit from the experience they have gained from their exploits this season in the Nationwide League Third Division. Despite their financial problems Harriers have surprised some supporters by keeping
TOMORROW'S annual Clifton-on-Teme point-to-point meeting at Upper Sapey near Bromyard is a seven-race card with a 2pm start. The feature race will be the Men's Open which is a qualifier in the Land Rover series. Either Northern Deal or Well Ted, both
Harriers were spurred on by their goal, inparticular midfielder Parrish who sent an angled volley onto the side netting on 72 minutes after collecting Broughton's nod-down. Hull midfielder Regan was booked on 74 minutes for a foul on McAuley before Williams
n PHONE BOOTH (15): New York publicist Stu Shepherd (Colin Farrell) is walking past a phone booth, when he stops to answer a call. He listens with increasing unease as gravelly-voiced The Caller (Kiefer Sutherland) offers him a chilling choice confess
Burgess completed his hat-trick for Hull with a flick header over the stranded Brock after he was left unmarked from a right-wing cross.
JOHN Brain believes Chris Hall has made massive strides this season for Worcester Rugby Club. The Sixways director of rugby has been delighted with the former Gloucester man's contribution in the National One campaign, particularly as fellow hooker Chris
INTERMITTENTLY over a period of a month, I rang a 101-years-old Worcester exile living near Bournemouth in Hampshire, seeking a telephone interview, but Jack Ellis was always "too busy"! It was, of course, a source of some surprise and not a little amusement
IT was good to read that the Government is taking steps to control Christmas trading.The only problem it does not go far enough - it should be all stores. Why not swap Easter Sunday closing for Boxing Day. It is ridiculous that garden centres close on
REGARDING the UK Independence Party's belief that the UK should be an independent state in the world, I take independence as meaning "freedom from control or influence of another or others". Could they tell me when this country was every independent?
I WAS prepared to respect the call by Chris Jaeger that the time had come to stop the mud-slinging over the events at the Swan Theatre and that instead we should all look forward to the Swan's re-opening next week and not backwards. However, the letter
WORCESTERSHIRE had to settle for no more than a morning's batting practice on the final day of their three-day friendly with Oxford UCCE in The Parks. A mere 33 overs were possible before rain arrived at lunchtime yesterday and caused an abandonment by
An exciting run from Hull winger Elliott on 32 minutes nearly brought a second goal for the home side but he dragged the ball well wide after bursting past Williams and Hinton. Shilton, who had earlier put in several useful crosses, then tested keeper
n April 26: Chamber Concert. Works by Mozart, Beethoven, Dvorak Blochmann Quartet and Yonty Solomon (piano). Huntingdon Hall. Box office: 01905 611427. There will also be a free talk before the concert. n May 1 & 3: CBSO at Symphony Hall, Birmingham
DIRECTOR of Cricket Tom Moody is challenging Worcester Royals to go one better than they achieved last season in the National League Division One which opens tomorrow with a match against Gloucestershire Gladiators at Bristol. The County finished runners-up
Harriers were immediately left chasing the game after Burgess six minute penalty though they created a chance close to the quarter hour mark. Flynn's corner from the left picked out an unmarked Scott but the defender headed over when he should have done
