Evening news round-up for the Black Country and north Worcestershire

A MAN suffered facial injuries after he was hit on the head in Kidderminster town centre on Saturday evening.

West Mercia Police was called to reports of an altercation outside Kidderminster Town Hall, in Vicar Street, at around 8.30pm on Saturday (December 16).

A spokesman for West Mercia said: "A man in his 40s is reported to have been hit in the head, suffering facial injuries that required treatment in hospital."

Read more here.

FRIENDS and family have said a heart-wrenching final farewell to Matthew Gill whose disappearance united people across Stourbridge and beyond.

Mr Gill, of Forge Road, Stourbridge, was tragically found dead on November 26 after loved ones and total strangers spent seven-weeks searching for him after he vanished without a trace on October 6.

The 43-year-old, who was known as Liggy and who worked at B&Q at Kidderminster, was found in woodland off Prestwood Drive, Stourton, and an inquest revealed he died from hanging.

Confirmation of his death left relatives heartbroken and shocked the community who had joined in the extensive Find Liggy search in the hope of finding him alive – and he was laid to rest after a poignant funeral service at St Mary’s Church, Brierley Hill, last Wednesday (December 13).

Read more here.

A REDDITCH soldier who is part of an all-female Antarctica trek team has hit the first milestone of their gruelling three-month journey, by reaching the South Pole.

Major Sandy Hennis and five others from the British Army’s ‘Ice Maiden’ Expedition team reached the marker on Sunday, December 17, after 577km and 26 days on the ice.

The team, who posted an update on their incredible journey on blog exicemaiden.com, said: “Hello from the bottom of the Earth!

“It was the middle of the night when we arrived and there was not a soul to be seen.

“This really added to the poignancy of the moment as the Pole was ours alone – cue a flood of tears from almost every team member!"

Read more here.

‘SAVE Halesowen’s Countryside’ campaigners who hope to stop the area’s green belt land from being used for future development have received backing from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.

From January, contractors appointed by the four Black Country borough councils will search for sites – both brownfield and green belt – where a possible 22,000 properties and 300 hectares of industries can go to meet the region’s growing population by 2036.

Conservative mayor Mr Street has written to the Tory-led Dudley Council to urge the local authority to commit itself to a ‘brownfield first’ policy – a major pledge he made in his bid to become mayor earlier this year.

Read the full story here.

HUNDREDS of lanterns filled Bromsgrove's high street on Sunday night, as part of the town's first Festival of Light.

The community came out in force for the parade, organised by Artrix, NWedR and Bromsgrove District Council, as schools and youth groups joined the procession and crowds gathered along the route.

Someone at the Door samba band launched the event by awakening a 20-foot giant puppet, which then led the 250-strong lantern parade down the street, searching for Bromsgrove's community spirit.

For the full story, pictures and video, click here.

NATIONAL Express West Midlands is giving Black Country pensioners a special gift this Christmas.

The bus operator is introducing a £1 single fare for senior citizens to travel by bus before their OAP free bus pass becomes valid at 9.30am.

National Express has worked with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) – to make the single fare deal possible.

Tom Stables, managing director, said: “National Express West Midlands buses are for everyone. So I’m delighted to offer this £1 single fare to our senior citizens.”

Click here to read more.