Sunday Mercury (Birmingham, England) back issues from January 2008:
CAMERON PLANS STRICT CHANGES TO CLAIMING DISABILITY BENEFITS.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: MERCURY REPORTER TORY leader David Cameron has pledged to root out scroungers by forcing people on Incapacity Benefit to prove they are really ill. A new Conservative plan unveiled last night could see as many as 200,000 people moved immediately off benefits ...
DOCTORS TOLD ME TO QUIT OR DIE; Smoking ultimatum that saved darts champion's life.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... A MIDLAND darts world champion has revealed the ultimatum that saved his life. Steve Beaton was warned by his doctors to quit smoking - or die. The sportsman's cigarette habit spiralled out of control after he won the British Darts Organisation world title in 1996. ...
Train driver hurt in crash.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... A TRAIN driver was injured when his engine hit a lorry on a level crossing. The driver of the lorry escaped injury in the ...
Dad's death.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... LITTLE Britain star David Walliams is mourning the ...
Visit Frane for just pounds 5; Brittany Ferries.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... WANT TO TAKE THE CAR? TAKE your car for only pounds 15. That's based on standard-sized vehicles up to 5 metres long and a maximum of 1.83 metres high. A minimum of two people must travel together in the same vehicle. WANT TO UPGRADE? YOU can ...
FREE entry, card and bet at Mercury race night.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... GET under starting orders for an odds-on family treat at the third Sunday Mercury Race Night at Perry Barr Stadium on Saturday February 2. Whether you fancy a flutter or not, the whole evening will be packed full of things to see and do to ensure each and every mum, dad, child ...
LAWLESSNESS ON THE STREETS AS KENYA DESCENDS INTO MAYHEM.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: MERCURY REPORTER RIOTERS attacked a woman as she attempted to return home with food to her family in the slums of Nairobi yesterday. The victim screamed as she saw the muggers launch their attack before they knocked her to the ground and made off with her ...
NEW APPEAL TO AXE REGIONAL ASSEMBLY; Half of Midland politicians do not attend meetings.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY FIONNUALA BOURKE NEARLY half of Midlands politicians nominated to a local government body - which has cost taxpayers pounds 9 million - have failed to attend a single meeting. The West Midlands Regional Assembly is due to be axed in 2010. But ...
your life: NEW NEIGHBOURS SNUBBED PARTY.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: Ask Anna Q WE have always been a close-knit community in our road. When we held a little New Year gettogether for the neighbours, we made a point of inviting a couple who only recently moved in. We thought it would be a great opportunity for them to ...
your life: Why have we gone off sex?(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: Ask Anna Q ME and my husband slogged hard all last year at setting up our own little business. It went very well, so we treated ourselves to a Christmas break in the sun, hoping to do nothing but eat, sleep and make love. We ate and slept alright ...
your life: TOO MUCH BITCHING.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: Ask Anna Q I WORK with eight other girls and two of them are always sniping and bitching. They ruined our staff New Year party by getting drunk and unforgivably nasty. Now we are back at work we are still waiting for some remorse from ...
your life: 10 top tips to staying young.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY ZOE CHAMBERLAIN, Lifestyle Editor THE tell-tale signs of ageing creep up on most people. When you are in your 20s, crow's feet and laughter lines sound like something only your gran has to worry about. Then suddenly you hit your 40s and you start ...
holidays: Easy does it; EVEN THE TRAVEL FILE ONCE CHOPPY FERRY CROSSING TO GALWAY IS RELAXING The ferry crossing to the emerald isle used to be notoriously rough. MARTYN LEEK takes the world's biggest car ferry to Ireland and discovers that it's as easygoing as Galway itself.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: MARTYN LEEK WE were halfway across Ireland when we saw the sign. In big garish letters it blasted us, all but yelling: "Belt up now! It's the law!" Not that I was concerned by the huge safety warning. Or, for that matter, any other facet ...
Nicholls shows that he's still the Master.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: By TOM PEACOCK JIM Lewis made a welcome return to the big stage as his Breedsbreeze beat a number of highly-regarded rivals in the Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. And while the silver-haired owner's silks will forever be associated with the late ...
Lawn Tennis: Murray claims Qatar crown.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: TIMOTHY ABRAHAM in Doha ANDY Murray recovered from a nervous start to beat Stanislas Wawrinka in three sets and claim victory in the final of the Qatar Open in Doha. The British number one was runnerup to Ivan Ljubicic in last year's final but made amends ...
Lawn Tennis: Victory for ailing Venus.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... WIMBLEDON champion Venus Williams overcame injury and testing conditions to land a third title at the JB Group Classic in Hong Kong with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over world number five Maria Sharapova. Williams received treatment for hamstring and back complaints during Friday's ...
Davenport dominates.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... LINDSAY Davenport continued her impressive return to the WTA posting a dominating 6-2 6-2 victory over Aravane Rezai of France to claim the title at the EUR145,000 ASB Classic. The 31-year-old American returned to the Tour in September 2007 following an 11-month absence due to ...
Football: I am so proud - Chasetown chief.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... CHASETOWN manager Charlie Blakemore declared himself "the proudest man in the whole of the world" despite his side's FA Cup dream being ruined by Cardiff at the Scholars Ground. The British Gas Business Division One Midlands side made history by becoming the lowest ranked side ...
SWEET F.A. Cup agony as Blues & Villa crash out MATCH REPORTS - MATCHDAY LIVE.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... IT was F.A. Cup hell for the Midlands' big two yesterday as Birmingham and Aston Villa were both dumped out in the third round. Blues' exit came as the biggest shock as they crashed 2-1 at Huddersfield, who languish 42 places and two divisions below them in League One. ...
Mac strike a stunner for Moyes; The FA CUP e-on ROUND-UP.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... SCOTTISH midfielder Gary McDonald's first-half strike gave Oldham a famous 1-0 win against Premier League Everton at Goodison Park to book their place in the fourth-round draw. The League One side, more than 50 places below the Merseysiders, fully deserved their victory after a ...
Football: WE GOT WHAT WE DESERVED; No excuses from McLeish as Blues flop.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: MAT KENDRICK at the Galpharm Stadium HUDDERSFIELD 2 Beckett 4 mins, Brandon 81 mins BIRMINGHAM 1 O'Connor 19 mins BIRMINGHAM'S big boys were humiliated by humble Huddersfield as Alex McLeish's first taste of the FA Cup ended ...
Football: Giant killers leave Rovers bit Mif-fed!(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: LEE CORDEN at Ewood Park BLACKBURN 1 COVENTRY 4 COVENTRY City produced a sensational FA Cup display to stun Blackburn Rovers. After conquering Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, Iain Dowie's men ...
AGE CONS-CERN; EXCLUSIVE Charity uses donations to help pensioners in jail with gardening and keep fit classes.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY BEN GOLDBY AN OAP charity is using public donations to offer gardening tips and keep fit classes to elderly crooks at a Midland jail. The Sunday Mercury has learned that Age Concern is spending funds on making life more comfortable for over-60s inmates at ...
BT BLAMED FOR PAYPHONE RIP-OFF.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... THE poorest families in the Midlands are being hit by a payphone rip-off. BT boasts that a local or national call costs just 40p for 20 minutes in posters plastered on the kiosks. But the bargain rate excludes 0845 numbers which is a major blow to people who have to ...
Alps woman text for help.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... A MIDLAND woman who died in a snowboarding accident in Germany tried to text friends for help. Monica Davis, 35, from Coton-in-the-Elms, Derbyshire, became separated from her husband, Matthew, after she strayed away from marked slopes in the Bavarian Alps. ...
CRAZY WORLD.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... NEW YORK, USA - A Manhattan librarian has won the title of champion couch potato after spending 29 hours watching TV non-stop. Stan Friedman sat through college American football bowl games and endless highlights loops. ...
OAP in fall from tree.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... A GREENFINGERED Midland pensioner had to be airlifted to hospital after falling from a tree that he was pruning. The 72 year-old man, from Ludlow, Shropshire, plunged 10ft to the ground at ...
Screening for killer disease.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... THE Government is to introduce screening for a condition which kills more than 3,000 men a year. Pilot projects to screen for abdominal aortic ...
WHERE'S THE SNOW GONE? SPECIAL REPORT Midland researcher's revealing pictures of Antarctica.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY ADAM ASPINALL THEY should be waddling in snow. But this startling picture shows a family of penguins making their way through the barren wasteland of a virtually snow-free island near Antarctica. Now Midland scientific researcher Kenelm Richardson claims ...
63% cannot get credit.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... THE number of people being turned down for credit has increased as lenders tighten their lending criteria, a survey showed. Around 63 per cent of people said they had been refused credit in 2007. That is up from 54 per cent when the same research was carried ...
Bangle girl goes to court.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... A LEGAL challenge has been filed in the High Court on behalf of a 14-year-old Sikh girl excluded from school for wearing a religious bangle. Sarika Singh, a pupil at Aberdare Girls' School, in ...
CRAZY WORLD.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... TOKYO, JAPAN: Top women wrestlers celebrated the start of the 2008 Olympic year by plunging into the icy depths of Tokyo Bay in an extreme ...
Wills visits fire hospital.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... PRINCE William met patients and staff evacuated from the blaze-hit Royal Marsden Hospital. The prince, who is president of the hospital, spoke to cancer patients moved to The Royal Brompton ...
Pop star set to wed.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... WESTLIFE star Kian Egan is to marry actress girlfriend Jodi Albert. Egan, 27, proposed to former Hollyoaks star Albert, 23, ...
Viking has the stamina.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: By NICK GRANT STAMINA will be the name of the game in the grandlytitled skybet.com Sussex National over a gruelling three miles and five furlongs at Plumpton today. This will be a slog to the end and definitely a race worth winning with pounds 25,000 in added ...
HUGHIE HAS STAR IN THE MAKING.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... STARZAAN repaid the patience of trainer Hughie Morrison and owner Ben Arbib when staking his claim for Cheltenham glory in the Mike Deverell Insurance Novices' Chase at Wincanton yesterday. The classy hurdler was making a belated fencing debut after a layoff of 639 days and ...
In-form 'Jester' is all smiles.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: By MATT BOZEAT MARK Selby is following 'The Rocket's' blueprint for success. 'The Jester from Leicester' has rocketed up the rankings since deciding to adopt a more carefree attitude to snooker - reaching the final of the two biggest ranking tournaments on ...
Cricket: AMBROSE COULD BE CREAM OF THE CROP; EXCLUSIVE: BEARS CHIEF BACKING TIM TO PASS ENGLAND TEST 'He's a self-sufficient cricketer'.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: By PAUL BOLTON WARWICKSHIRE'S director of cricket Ashley Giles has backed the county's wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose to be a success as a Test cricketer. Ambrose has been included in England's squads for both the one-day and Test series that are coming up in New ...
Cricket: SOUTH AFRICA LEVEL UP SERIES AFTER SMITH GOES TO TOWN.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... SOUTH Africa captain Graeme Smith hit 85 to guide his side to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the second Test at Cape Town. After the Proteas bowled the tourists out for 262 in their second innings, Smith took charge to help South Africa to a decisive ...
Football: I am so proud - Chasetown chief.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... CHASETOWN manager Charlie Blakemore declared himself "the proudest man in the whole of the world" despite his side's FA Cup dream being ruined by Cardiff at the Scholars Ground. The British Gas Business Division One Midlands side were the lowest ranked side to ever play in the ...
Football: SWEET F.A. Cup agony for city as Blues & Villa crash out.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... IT was F.A. Cup hell for the Second City yesterday as Birmingham and Aston Villa were both dumped out in the third round. Blues' exit came as the biggest shock as they crashed 2-1 at Huddersfield, who languish 42 places and two divisions below them in League One. ...
Foxes chief left fuming by defence; SOUTHAMPTON 2 LEICESTER 0.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: HARRY NOBLE at St Mary's LEICESTER boss Ian Holloway slammed his side's defending as "inexcusable" as the Foxes were dumped out of the FA Cup. First-half strikes from Andrew Surman and Gregory Vignal saw the Saints comfortably through to the fourth round after ...
Leeds stay in zone for promotion; CocaCola ROUND UP.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... LEEDS remained firmly in the hunt for an immediate return to the Coca-Cola Championship after a 3-0 home win over Northampton kept them in the Coca-Cola League One playoff zone. Frazer Richardson, Rui Marques and Curtis Weston scored as the Yorkshire outfit took full advantage ...
KIGHTLY SPARES BLUSHES; Wolves wobble scares McCarthy.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: MIKE MOORE at Molineux WOLVES 2 Kightly 69mins, Collins 88mins CAMBRIDGE UTD 1 Rendell 42mins (pen) MICK McCarthy was a mightily relieved man after Wolves narrowly avoided becoming one of the FA Cup fall guys - admitting ...
RICH PRAISE.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: PAUL MARSTON at The Banks's Stadium WALSALL 0 MILLWALL 0 BATTLING Walsall face a tough replay with Millwall at the New Den a week on Tuesday after their side, weakened by injuries and suspension, gave the Lions a torrid time but just couldn't ...
It's time to end Prem jinx - Lee.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: By MARK WALKER SHEFFIELD Wednesday skipper Lee Bullen is banking on making it third time lucky in the FA Cup today when the Owls take on the Barclays Premier League's bottom club Derby. The Owls have been drawn against top-flight clubs in the third round of ...
ROWE DOUBLE IN CRADLEY UPSET; MIDLAND ALLIANCE.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... BASEMENT boys Cradley Town produced the shock of the day, winning 3-2 at Coventry Sphinx. Jerome Murdock struck a goal in each half for the home side but Ryan Rowe proved Cradley's matchwinner with a second-half double after he had laid on the pass for Justin Randison's opener. ...
HIGHGATE REMAIN TOP WITH KIERAN; MIDLAND COMBINATION.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... KIERAN ROWBOTHAM was twice on target as Highgate United maintained their supremacy with a 4-1 win at Cadbury Athletic. A Luke Edwards own goal put Athletic ahead early in the second half but Rowbotham levelled on 60 minutes before Chris Gummery put United in charge on 64 ...
Sidhu is Brakes double delight; DIVISION ONE MIDLANDS.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Leamington .3 Barton Rovers .1 VIJAY SIDHU scored his first goals for Leamington in a victory which leaves them joint-leaders of the table. After successive draws, Brakes got back on the winning trail coming from behind to beat a strong Barton side and ...
RUGBY DENT HALESOWEN'S HOPES; SOUTHERN PREMIER.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Rugby Town 2 Halesowen Town 1 HALESOWEN'S promotion push suffered a setback as Rugby came from behind to secure victory in a closefought encounter at Butlin Road. A long ball almost put Dean Brennan in to score in the opening minutes but goalkeeper Dean ...
Cool Carl completes fightback; WEST MIDLAND REGIONAL.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... LOWLY Brierley Hill & Withymoor stunned title-chasing Dudley Sports by coming from a goal down to win 3-2. Grant Joshua fired Sports in front with a 20-yard strike on 25 minutes but an angled drive from Ian Kirkham drew the home side level shortly after the interval. ...
THE VILLA LIONS LOSE THEIR BITE; O'Neill: We're better than this.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: ANDY WALKER at Villa Park ASTON VILLA 0 MANCHESTER UTD 2 MARTIN O'Neill watched his Villa side crash out of the FA Cup to a familiar foe before leaping to the defence of his young lions by telling Fabio Capello 'we're better than this'. ...
Camp woe as Chelsea toil for win; The FA CUP e-on ROUND UP.(Sport)
Jan 06, 2008 ... CHELSEA were made to work hard for their 1-0 victory over neighbours QPR in their third-round derby clash at Stamford Bridge. They scored the only goal of the game after 39 minutes in fortuitous circumstances as Claudio Pizarro's shot cannoned off the post before rebounding into ...
BOBBY'S BRAIN TEASERS.(Features)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: Compiled by BOB BROWN ON third round weekend here's your chance to test your F.A. Cup knowledge. 1) Name the last club to win the competition in successive seasons. 2) Which was the last club from outside the top two divisions to reach the ...
I DIDN'T KILL HER; Campaign launched as kid's favourite insists.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY ANUJI VARMA AN internet campaign was launched last night to clear the name of Midland TV presenter Mark Speight after his fiancee was found dead in the bath. The CBBC SMart host, originally from Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton, was arrested on Friday on ...
BB STAR'S AUNTIE DIED ON TRAPEZE; Secret heartache of sexy Emilia.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY ANUJI VARMA Showbiz Writer BIG Brother daredevil Emilia Arata is hiding a heartbreaking secret - her aunt tragically died in a circus act. Sexy Emilia, from Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, hit our TV screens on Thursday night in the new look Big Brother: ...
MIDLANDS ALERT FOR RAPIST ON THE RUN.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... POLICE forces across the Midlands were on alert last night after a sex offender escaped from jail. Adam Mark, 31, absconded from North Sea Prison in Lincolnshire on Friday evening. He was jailed for life after admitting rape, abduction and attempted rape in Leeds in the ...
EIGHT ARRESTS IN CUP CRACKDOWN.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... HUNDREDS of extra police were on alert last night over fears that FA Cup ties in the Midlands could attract hooligans. But just eight arrests were made by early evening after security was bolstered at Birmingham New Street station, while additional cops were on patrol across the ...
DON'T LET OAPs DIE ALL ALONE; Charity's plea after man lay dead for 3 months.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY BOB HAYWOOD OLD people must be saved from the scandal of lying dead for weeks in their own homes, campaigners said last night. The plea follows the tragic case of Midland pensioner Kenneth Lakin whose body was undiscovered for nearly THREE MONTHS. ...
I was made to draw a line in the beer garden and walk them up and down; EXCLUSIVE LANDLORD FORCED TO CARRY OUT SOBRIETY TEST ON PUB DRINKERS.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY ADAM ASPINALL LANDLORD Keith Marsden has been warned he could lose his licence after police raided his pub and accused customers of being drunk. The shocked publican fears his livelihood is under threat after "bully-boy cops" filed a report to licensing ...
Newsreader loses estate agent battle.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... TV newsreader Llewela Bailey is counting the cost after losing a legal battle with a Midland estate agent. The Central TV presenter appeared at Birmingham County Court to fight a pounds 1,200 bill from property agent Chamberlains over the sale of her family home. The ...
CRAZY WORLD.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... PENNSYLVANIA, USA - A hardened thief stole hundreds of dollars worth of male erection pills from a drug store ....
Body found during search for walker.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... THE search for a missing walker has been called off after a body was discovered on a Lake District mountain. Pensioner Roy Sinfield disappeared after setting off for a walk at 7am on Friday. Mr Sinfield, who is in his late 60s and from the Preston area, failed to ...
WE'RE CHASETOWN UNITED; FA Cup heroes bring fans from all over the world together.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY MIKE BRADLEY CHASETOWN'S magical FA Cup run ended in glorious defeat yesterday - but manager Charlie Blakemore still declared himself "the proudest man in the world." Yet the part-time players of the nonleague side were still treated like conquering heroes ...
We can't afford to be WAGS..we shop at Primark.(News)
Jan 06, 2008 ... Byline: BY ANUJI VARMA THEY are the WAGS who love to shop - at Primark and Asda that is! The wives and girlfriends of Chasetown footballers were out in force yesterday to support their loved ones as they battled against Cardiff to make FA Cup history. And ...