Veteran dinner lady Thelma Harradence has finally hung up her apron – aged 81. The grandmother-of-two has been supervising the lunchtime break at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School in Solihull for 44 years. But now Thelma has finally decided to retire. “I’m going to have to recover from the shock,” said widow…

A woman has been given a four week jail sentence for committing Housing Benefit fraud. Shama Raja, aged 50, of Maple Leaf Drive, Marston Green appeared in Birmingham Magistrates Court on Friday 3rd October. She faced the charge that she had falsely received benefits totalling £18,140.24, after failing to report a change in her circumstances…

She’s the little girl born out of tragedy after her mum died just a day after she was delivered prematurely, following a freak accident. Seven-months pregnant Debbie Gallagher was rushed to hospital after partner Mike Faultless discovered her lying unconscious at the bottom of the stairs at their Chelmsley Wood home. She had suffered a…

A man lost his £16,000 motor in Solihull after a carjacker left a “slow” sign in the middle of the road. The hoodie-wearing thief, who was lying low in bushes, pounced when unsuspecting Matthew Witts stepped out of his Ford Fiesta to move the obstruction. The Post Office worker watched helplessly as his new car…

A robber who grabbed a taxi driver by the throat before running off with his Christmas takings has been jailed for six years after police linked him to DNA from a glove he left behind in the cab. Christopher Harris was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (29th September) for the robbery in Solihull…

Four parents of children who attend school in Solihull have been fined for failing to ensure their child’s school attendance. All four pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday 24th September 2014. Both parents of a 15-year-old pupil were fined for a total of 76 unauthorised school absences for the period between 3rd March…

A man who raped a 71-year-old woman in her Solihull home has been jailed for 13 years after being caught by his own DNA. Irshad Hussain was arrested just five days after the attack when forensic evidence at the scene matched his DNA – which had been recorded on the national database following a theft…

The family of a young woman killed in a motorbike crash have paid a touching tribute to their loved one. Lauren Roberts, 20, died on Chester Road when her blue Honda CBR 125 R-5 collided with a black Vauxhall Astra just before 8.45pm on Thursday (25th). In a statement issued today (Sunday 28th September), they…

The Mayor of Solihull recently met with four people from the borough who were recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List. The four Silhillians were invited to meet the Mayor, Councillor Mrs Kate Wild, in the Mayor’s Parlour of Solihull Council’s Civic Suite. John Flanner, from Solihull, has received an MBE for his services to…

Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt has welcomed a commitment by NHS bosses to maintain dementia services at Solihull Hospital’s Ward 10 until an improved service is up and running. Dr Anand Chitnis and Dr Patrick Brooke, the senior doctors at Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, made the commitment to Mrs Burt and Lib Dem councillor…