Birmingham Mail

How to Make Sure Your House Values Are Right ; with Derek Abbott, Frics, Chartered Surveyor and Partner Hollier Browne, Part of Team, an Independent Group of Estate Agents Throughout the Country: Askthe Teamexpert

Bright Future for Traditional Semi ; Doitup

AN EXCEPTIONALLY large front and side garden gives this traditional Kings Heath semi a great potential for future extension. Oulsnam's local office invites offers in the region of pounds 199,950 for the house, with a garage.

Spacious Semi has Secluded Gardens ; Dealof Theday

ASECLUDED rear garden and far more living space inside than the narrow face it presents to West Boulevard suggests show up this Quinton semi as well outside the ordinary. The three-bedroom house, close to West Boulevard's junction with Court Oak Road, is on sale through Shipways' Harborne branch at pounds 133,950, including fitted carpets.

Period Feel with Modern Comfort ; Dream Home

From cellar to quaint oriel windowed roof gable, so many original Victorian features have been lovingly preserved in this spacious house in Featherstone Road, Kings Heath. But this spacious five-bedroom family home has also achieved the perfect time-warp trick of keeping well abreast of modern comforts.

Reminder of an Era Long Gone ; Firstbuy

HAPPILY for Conway Road, in Fordbridge, it was developed in the last of the golden era for modern residential development. It was started in the late 1960s and early 70s, before building land became so scarce that greenery and gardens around homes became a luxury and trees were an obstruc-tioto foundations. Planners began balking at mixing people and traffic in residential areas. So there's a lot of grass and gardens around the Conway Road complex close to North Solihull Sports Centre.

Summer Fair

Youth Tred the Boards

CHILDREN aged between eight and 12 can enjoy drama workshops at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre this summer. The week-long drama workshop sessions are part of Stafford Borough Council's summer holiday activity programme and promises to offer "an exciting high quality theatrical experience for young people".

Boost for Disabled

A NORTH Birmingham disability group has secured vital funding for three motorised fold-up scooters and two wheelchairs. The Oscott Disability Group was handed the cash by the Grass Roots Grants scheme, a national programme that supports small, voluntary-led community groups.

Pupils It Trial Plan

BIRMINGHAM schoolchildren will be just a click away from class during the summer holidays. Youngsters at schools in Edgbaston and Ladywood are the guinea pigs for a new IT system designed to give them a powerful voice on how their area are policed. Neighbourhood officers are trialling the early warning scheme after it was successfully rolled out in Liverpool.

Visiting Inventor in Car Clamp Ordeal ; Campaign: Oap On Business Left Fuming by 'Blackmail' Demand for Pounds 150

A WORLD renowned inventor who drove 200 miles to Birmingham for a business meeting had his car clamped when he stopped to ask for directions. Maurice Ward, who created Starlite - a material which can withstand extreme heat - pulled over in what he thought was a disused car park in Sparkhill, when he got lost on the way to a meeting at nearby firm Indestructible Paints.

Win a Wedding!

WE HAVE teamed up with The Ramada Hotel in Cannock, to offer a couple the chance to win a whole wedding package! We are going to treat one lucky couple who are looking to get married in either 2009 or 2010.

Jam Today Is Better Than Ever ; Review

THERE are some bands that prove that there will always be a call for the music that defined the late 1970s. With political unrest in the country and a generation of music fans clamouring for change, the original mod revival/punk rock band The Jam took the call to arms and created timeless music.

Teen Who Attacked Ex-Lover Locked Up

A TEENAGER who attacked his ex-girlfriend after kicking his way into her home because he could not accept their relationship was over has been locked up for ten months. Judge Nicholas Webb told 19-year-old James Payne it was clear he had threatened her with violence, and added: "You deliberately went round to her home to seek a confrontation."

Steering Clear of Carnival Road Woes ; Festival: Organisers Plan to Keep Traffic and Noise Disruption to a Minimum

ORGANISERS of Birmingham Carnival said they want to keep traffic disruption to a minimum for the biennial festival next month. The last colourful event, staged in 2007 and attended by more than 60,000 people, resulted in dozens of complaints about excessive noise and nuisance parking.

Flightdeals

n THESE are the latest flight deals offered by Monarch on services from Birmingham: Scheduled flights: Faro on August 24 from pounds 35.99; Alicante on August 24, 27, 30 or 31 from pounds 37.99; Almeria on August 31 from pounds 37.99; Majorca on August 25 or 26 from pounds 37.99; Malaga on August 24, 25, 26 or 27 from pounds 37.99; Menorca on August 25 or 29 from pounds 37.99; Murcia on August 25, 27 or 29 from pounds 42.99; Lanzarote on August 24, 27 or 31 from just pounds 68.99; Tenerife on...

Lowcost Carriers

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Latedeals

WEDNESDAY, Holiday Mail Deals Birmingham

Yourstars

The morning hours could well see some mix ups in business, so keep your cool and don't accuse loved ones of things they may not have done, or you could find yourself eating your words by tea time. Call now to hear who is playing games in love. Don't be upset when you hear news about people from your past. Instead of worrying what he or she is doing, put your time and effort into the new future you have so successfully begun to make. Call now to hear which family member needs your support now.

Bus Routes Diverted

PEOPLE wishing to take buses through Birmingham on Sunday are advised to check as some might be diverted due to Birmingham Carnival. National Express West Midlands has said the 11C, 11A, 16, 101, 46, 51, 52, 33 and 34 will all be affected.

Going Ape Over a Tasty Church Gift ; Zoo: Animals Enjoy Lovely Bunch of Coconuts After Summer Fte Shy Hopes Topple

MONKEYS and birds at Dudley Zoo cracked open a special gift from a Midland church after bad weather at its summer fete thwarted plans for a traditional coconut shy. Organisers of the event at St Giles Church, in Rowley Regis, were left with two sacks of coconuts after their annual fte, due to to have taken place on July 11, was cancelled So they decided to donate their haul to the zoo for the animals to enjoy.