Community News

St Ann’s Library has celebrated its 80th anniversary, with residents attending a celebratory event with flamenco guitar playing, photography and poetry.

The event started with a welcome speech by Madam Deputy Mayor, Councillor Shelia Peacock. Visitors also heard a reading from local poet Abe Gibson, and there was face painting for younger guests.

The era the library was opened in Tottenham was evoked with a 1930s photographic exhibition, book display and a 1938 film screened.

Cllr Zena Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Civic Services, attended the event. She said:

Libraries play a vital role in the community, and it was fantastic to see residents coming together to celebrate 80 years of St Ann’s. We can all enjoy our libraries, whether it is attending craft, singing or poetry sessions, joining free computer training classes, or picking up your favourite book. Haringey has some wonderful libraries and we had a fantastic day celebrating St Ann’s.

St Ann’s was built to a high standard of design and encouraged readers and literacy in the 1930s. All these years later in the 21st century, it is still providing a wonderful public service - and shows the value of public services more than ever.

Sandwell Council is well-prepared for winter, with more than 5,000 tonnes of salt in stock and a new fleet of gritters ready to tackle snow and ice.

The council’s fleet of gritter lorries have been replaced with new vehicles ready to treat Sandwell’s roads with more than 55 tonnes of salt every time they leave the depot.

The nine new gritting trucks will also be maintained in-house rather than by an outside company. The new arrangement is slightly cheaper than leasing the vehicles over seven years.

Among the new trucks are three 4x4 gritters, which will be more effective in hilly areas.

The investment follows a survey of residents who overwhelmingly supported the council’s winter maintenance efforts and prioritised its funding above many other council services.

The National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey also put Sandwell in the top five of all metropolitan borough councils for resident satisfaction with winter gritting.

And the council came at the very top of the list for effectively informing residents about gritting and winter road maintenance – thanks to its hugely popular Sandwell Facebook page and @sandwellcouncil and @sandwellroads Twitter accounts.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment Councillor David Hosell used to drive a gritter lorry himself for West Bromwich Council in the 1970s. He said: “We know that keeping the roads moving in winter is a really high priority for our residents.

“When we talked to people about budgets a couple of years ago, our winter maintenance plan was one of people’s top priorities and something where people desperately didn’t want to see any cuts in service.

“We’ve invested in a new gritting fleet, which is slightly cheaper than hiring them out every year which is what we’ve done previously. It also means we can use our own fleet services team to maintain them, instead of contracting this work out.

“The long-range forecast is still uncertain, but we are preparing for the potential for a colder than average winter, but as with anything, it’s difficult to predict.

“The main thing is that we are well-prepared and our staff are able to do the fantastic job they always do each winter - especially in case we get another winter like the last one.”

Sandwell’s gritting crew will go on 24-hour standby from November 1 until the end of April, available to go out whenever roadside temperatures fall close to freezing.

Last winter, (2017/18) Sandwell Council’s gritting crew completed 91 gritting runs covering 23,660 miles (the distance from Sandwell to Christ Church in New Zealand and back), putting down more than 5,000 tonnes of rock salt.

Remember, remember with Treasure Trails this Bonfire night. Explore the area that famously survived Guy Fawkes' attempt at explosion with the Westminster Spy Mission Trail and discover the city that foiled an infamous plot of gunpowder and treason!

Start your mission at Westminster Underground Station and follow the clues on a circular route discovering the secrets of iconic London locations including Parliament Square, St James Park, Pall Mall and Whitehall.

Lasting around two hours the aim is to solve a set of fiendish clues on a circular route of around two miles and takes you past some of London's most memorable royal scenes including; palaces, parks and statues. It ends with a trip down Whitehall, the home of British Government and Defense, and scene of a most memorable event on 5 November, 1605.

Clues are set using historical plaques, signs, statues, monuments, images, engravings and anything else that the Trail writers can make use of.

Trail Booklets can be downloaded directly from the website and printed immediately or they can be ordered online and sent in the post. Personalised versions are also available online which can include your own photographs and text.

In London alone there are over 40 different trails to choose from with enticing titles like 'The Missing Royal Wedding Ring Trail' in St James' Park, 'The Muswell Hill Menagerie Murder' and 'Lion Hunting in Stoke Newington'.

Kellogg’s in the UK has launched a raft of measures to help make its packaging greener including a new sustainable packaging commitment, a new solution to allow people to recycle Pringles cans and the introduction of recycle-ready cereal pouches.

The cereal and snack giant will work towards 100 per cent of its packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by the end of 2025.

This goal, which is being rolled out to all Kellogg’s global markets including the UK, builds on its current sustainable packaging commitment to continue to ensure 100 per cent of all timber-based packaging is either recycled or certified as sustainably sourced.

People in Britain will also now be able to recycle their Pringles’ cans thanks to a new deal struck in the UK between the Kellogg’s owned crisp brand and recycling company, TerraCycle.

From December 2018, empty Pringles cans can be sent into TerraCycle using freepost labels, with the sender rewarded with a charitable donation for each can which can be redeemed for the school, charity or non-profit of choice. The cans are then recycled and the resulting pellets used to create new products such as benches and fence posts.

Within the complex Local-Authority-based public recycling infrastructure in the UK, Pringles cans are not currently recyclable, so the Pringles and TerraCycle partnership provides a consistent nationwide solution for people.

In a linked moved, Kellogg’s has launched a project to change its cereal pouches to a recycle-ready material by late 2019.  This action will remove an estimated 480 tonnes of non-recyclable packaging from its British and European supply chains each year.  This development comes on the back of work the company is undertaking with suppliers to identify packaging designs that minimse waste while ensuring the quality and safety of its foods.

“As a company with a caring legacy and a foundation of strong values, we’re committed to playing our part to safeguard the future of our planet. While most of our packaging in the UK is sustainably sourced, made from recycled materials and fully recyclable, we feel it’s our responsibility to continue to develop new creative packaging formats that answer the needs of our consumers and customers,” said Oli Morton, managing director, Kellogg’s UK.

Kellogg’s has already taken steps toward making its own facilities more sustainable.  In April, the company announced the transition to compostable and paper food service products in all its factories and offices globally by end of 2018, fully removing all remaining single-use foam and plastic catering ware, plastic straws and plastic water bottles.

“Nurturing our planet is a foundational value of Kellogg,” said Steve Cahillane, Kellogg Company chairman and CEO. “It’s imperative we are part of a solution that ensures a healthy and sustainable planet for all people around the world.”

All these actions contribute towards Kellogg’s support of U.N. SDG #12- Sustainable Consumption and Production, including 12.5, to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. It also helps towards Kellogg’s commitment against SDG #12.3, to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer level, and to reduce food losses along the production and supply chains including post-harvest losses by 2030.

Baggies legend, Brendon Batson, officially opened a new charity shop, as it starts raising vital funds for a local hospice close to his heart.

The former West Brom defender cut the ribbon to Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice’s latest store, which is located in the middle of Bearwood’s busy high street.

Along with staff and volunteers, Brendon welcomed shoppers from across the community to the launch event, who enjoyed fizz and cupcakes whilst browsing for bargains.

Brendon – who became a patron of Birmingham St Mary’s last year – is showing his support for the Hospice after doctors and nurses cared for his wife Cecily in 2009. He said: “I’ll never forget the care and support Birmingham St Mary’s provided to my wife and our family. We were treated with such kindness and dignity and it was a huge comfort that Cecily could be cared for at home.

“I’ve really enjoyed coming to Bearwood to officially open the Hospice’s new store and meet its wonderful shoppers. It’s heartening to know that the Hospice is continuing to increase its numbers of shops, as every penny raised goes towards supporting local people and their families during the most difficult of times.”

Birmingham St Mary’s new store in Bearwood is the Hospice’s only shop in Sandwell. All funds raised will go towards providing care and support to people living with life-limiting illness across Birmingham and Sandwell.

Tina Swani, Chief Executive at Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, said: “I know we have a lot of Baggies fans in Bearwood, so it was a real honour to welcome Brendon to our shop to officially cut the ribbon. Our new store will not only be a valuable source of income for the Hospice but it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to grow our profile in Sandwell and hopefully educate more people about the vital services a hospice can provide.”

On any given day, Birmingham St Mary’s is caring for 400 people living with life-limiting in their homes, in their community, or at the Hospice.

Its shop is based at 523 Bearwood Road, Smethwick, B66 4BE. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

New research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) will study the damage caused to the smallest vessels of the heart following a heart attack.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a state-of-the-art imaging technique, which was funded by a previous BHF grant. This particular microscopy technique allows them to look in detail at microvessels in the beating heart.

Microvessels are so small that they cannot be seen when using standard scans for heart conditions, such as an angiogram or echocardiogram.

The BHF has now awarded £153,000 of PhD studentship funding to the university to study these tiny vessels, which play a crucial role in regulating blood supply to the heart. During a heart attack, microvessels become dysfunctional and contribute to organ damage.

The new funding will also allow researchers, using the University’s novel imaging technique, to assess the impact that a protein called IL-36 has on the heart’s microvessels following a heart attack.

Previous work by researchers at Birmingham has shown that this protein could play a leading role in damaging microvessels, particularly in older hearts. This is because a receptor that this protein uses, which generates its damaging effects, is found at higher levels in older hearts than in younger ones.

Using mice, the research will characterise and compare the damage that a heart attack has on the small blood vessels within young and old hearts. The study will also test human heart tissue samples from heart patients to determine whether IL-36 and its receptor are present.

The three-year research project is set to get underway at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences later this year and will be led by Dr Neena Kalia, Senior Lecturer in Microcirculation Research and Director of Intravital Research at the University of Birmingham.

Dr Kalia said: “Problems with circulation in the smallest blood vessels of the body is a typical characteristic of many diseases. Our specialist imaging technique allows us to assess the larger problems these tiny vessels can cause, specifically in the heart.

“Importantly, this studentship will be the first to explore the impact of ageing on the heart’s microvessels in health and post-injury. Understanding these processes and the mechanisms contributing to them is essential if we are to devise and optimise treatments that will be effective in people affected by a heart attack.”

Dr Ross King, Research Advisor at the BHF, added: “This novel study will be the first to image and explore – in live, beating hearts - the role IL-36 plays in microvessels following a heart attack.

"Although further research will be needed to see how this is applicable to humans, this study could provide us with a better understanding of the changes that occur in health and disease to the heart’s microvessels as a result of the ageing process. This will be necessary to develop new strategies to protect the heart and improve outcomes for patients.

“This funding has only been made possible by the fantastic generosity of the public. We rely on their support so that we can drive forward research programmes in our mission to beat heartbreak forever and ensure that we keep hearts beating and blood flowing.”

Winter is just around the corner and, yes, that means skating, parties, hot chocolate, mulled wine and wood fired pizza at Bath on Ice! Bath on Ice will open this year on Friday 16th November with its biggest ever ice rink. This year's rink will be a whopping 1000 square metres, providing more space than ever for the visitors and residents of Bath to skate and have fun this Christmas. The increase in size (a massive 39% increase from last year) has been in the planning for a number of years and the Bath on Ice Team are delighted to announce it for 2018. The extra skating space will be made all the more enjoyable with the news that new, more comfy lace-up boots will also be available to hire.

Bath on Ice's magical Glow in the Dark Mini-golf will also be returning this Christmas, with the 18-hole course lit up in full splendour once again. With glow in the dark balls, mist and atmospheric lighting, families and friends can challenge each other to a festive game amongst beautifully lit surroundings within Victoria Park.

And finally, after a twirl on the ice and a round of festive mini-golf, skaters will be able to retreat to the warm comforting glow of the Moguls Alpine Bar. With hot mulled wine, wood fired pizzas, deluxe hot chocolates, log burners, warm rugs and a range of beers and wines, the Moguls Alpine Bar is back again! Parties, families and groups of friends will once again be able to enjoy the après-ski surroundings for which Bath on Ice has become famous. Pop open a bottle of prosecco and celebrate the festive period!

With only a few weeks to go before the big opening, the Bath on Ice Team have been busy preparing. Director Simon Smith commented, “we make improvements year on year and we're really excited about Christmas 2018. It will be our biggest rink yet and we hope everyone enjoys all that extra ice. Every year we love seeing families and friends come together to have fun and this year will be no exception. With loads of space to skate, comfy new skate boots, new skate aids, glow in the dark mini-golf and a wonderful selection of food and drink at the Moguls Alpine Bar, it will be an amazing experience. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for skating and hot chocolate!”

In 2013 the RSPCA received 367 calls regarding fireworks, which has steadily risen to a peak of 501 in 2017 - over the last five years this amounts to more than 2,000 calls.

The charities most up to date stats dating from 2013 to October 1 2018 show that people from Greater London make the most calls about fireworks (a total of 183), followed by Greater Manchester (140) and then the West Midlands (131).

The RSPCA now wants to see the private use of fireworks restricted to certain days; November 5, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali as new studies show 38%* of dogs feel fear at loud noises including fireworks.

The charity would also like to see the maximum permitted noise level of fireworks for public sale reduced from 120 decibels - above the human pain threshold for noise - to 97 decibels. This is likely to further reduce the stress to animals.

In January 2018, the UK Government set up the Office for Product Safety and Standards following two Parliamentary debates, about the negative impact of fireworks, many months on, there has been little movement on this issue.

A Change.org petition, set up by Julie Doorne from the FAB Firework Abatement Campaign has already generated tens of thousands of signatures since it was set up on October 16 and the RSPCA is joining calls urging people to email the UK Government.

RSPCA campaign manager Eloise Shavelar said: “Clearly there is widespread public concern about this issue as can be shown by the previous petitions backed by the RSPCA.

“There is current legislation in place but the RSPCA believes the Fireworks Act 2003 and the Fireworks regulation 2004 doesn’t go far enough.

“We want to see the UK Government take advantage of the public’s feeling on this by strengthening the existing acts and restricting the use of fireworks to traditional days of the year like bonfire night.

“To be clear we are not calling for a restriction to public displays but it is the unexpected noise which owners cannot plan for which we want to stop.”

Sadly it is not just cats and dogs and other household pets that are affected by fireworks. Horses and farm animals  can easily be frightened by loud noises and sudden flashes of bright light, which can startle them and cause them to injure themselves on fencing, equipment or, in the case of stabled or housed animals, on fixtures and fittings within their enclosures. Wildlife can also be burnt alive after making their home in bonfires.

Julie Doorne, who started the e-petition said: “"We are disappointed that after three Government petitions, collecting over 100,000 signatures on each, and two parliamentary debates we are still waiting for the UK Government to act."

The Fizz have teamed up once again with Mike Stock to produce their FIRST ever Christmas record: Christmas With The Fizz, out on MPG Records on 16th November 2018.

Since the band, formerly known as Bucks Fizz, returned with their acclaimed studio album, The F-Z of Pop last Autumn, the story of one of most loved bands entered a new chapter.

The new album reflects that time of year – one of hope, joy, cheer and celebration. But also of family and friendship – the things that really matter.

Jay recorded her vocal parts before undergoing treatment for mouth cancer – perhaps in its cruellest form for a singer. Now as a three-piece, former Eurovision winners Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan have created a deeply positive and joyful record.

Jay Aston - “This has been a very unusual time for me with my health issues developing during the recording of the album –I am happy to report things are much better now! We are so happy with the album and we hope you agree. Merry Christmas everyone ...now I realize every day is like Christmas”.

Cheryl Baker - “Christmas is without doubt my favourite time of year so to release a Fizz album at Christmas is a dream come true! My parents were married on Christmas Day and I was proposed to on Christmas Day so it has always been more than just Christmas to me. The best Christmas present this year is that Jay will be back on stage with us”.

Mike Nolan - “What a thrill it was to be in a studio singing White Christmas and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and it's 82° outside. What a great time we had doing it in shorts and T-shirts, and to have Jay fighting fit again is really the greatest present of all”.

With a track listing of seasonal classics –  I Believe In Father Christmas, Wonderful Christmas Time, Let It Snow, White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, What A Wonderful World, Fizz classics re-recorded with a festive flavour – The Land Of Make Believe, Home For My Heart, this is the essential album for the Christmas season. The album also includes the beautiful So Christmas, an original song written by Cheryl’s daughter Kyla and the joyful Don’t Start Without Me.

With production and arrangements from Mike Stock, their signature sound feels both instantly familiar and excitingly new.

“From our first meeting, I always thought a Christmas record would work wonderfully with the band” Mike Stock comments. “I think because they are such a positive bunch of people and so much fun, it just really translates into Christmas cheer! Despite the obvious challenges in making the record, Cheryl, Mike and especially Jay have really created an album that we are all very proud of”.

The Fizz have sold more than 50 million records worldwide.  They have collected countless music industry awards including, in 1982, Best Group at BPI Rock & Pop Awards (now known as the Brits), and an Ivor Novello Award, cementing their place in 80’s music history and a highly successful recording career.

Christmas lights switch-on events for all the family will light up City of Wolverhampton for the countdown to Christmas.

The city centre switch-on will take place in Queen Square on Saturday, November 24.

The fun starts at noon with a free screening of the singalong version of The Greatest Showman on the Signal 107 stage, Harry Jones Funfair, a festive market on Dudley Street, real reindeer, and much more. Get set for a full afternoon of entertainment that you won’t want to miss, with the lights switch on as the finale.

Stars from the Grand Theatre pantomime Sleeping Beauty, Debbie McGee and Richard Cadell & Sooty, will join the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Page, and Father Christmas to switch on the lights at 5pm.

Unfortunately, the decision has been taken to not include a fireworks display. This is due to the huge volume of people now attending the event each year making it increasingly difficult to clear pedestrians – mainly shoppers moving between the Mander Centre and Beatties - from the fireworks fallout zone required for health and safety reasons.

Anyone looking for their fireworks fix can get it at Wolverhampton Racecourse on Friday, November 2, at the city’s annual bonfire. Gates open at 5pm and the children’s display begins at 7pm. The bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm and the main event climaxes at 8.30pm with a spectacular firework display to light up the night sky. Ticket details are available at www.wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk.

The city centre fun is not the only festive Christmas lights celebration in Wolverhampton, as lights will also be switched on at Wednesfield, Tettenhall, Bilston and Bantock House with Father Christmas and the Mayor of Wolverhampton doing the honours, plus entertainment from Signal 107.

Councillor John Reynolds, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “Each year we get more and more families coming along to enjoy the lights being switched on to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas - they really are great free entertainment.”

All the below Christmas events are free:

• Thursday, November 22: Wednesfield, High Street - event 4pm – 7pm, lights switch-on 5.30pm.
• Friday, November 23: Tettenhall, Upper Green – event 5pm – 8pm, lights switch-on 6.30pm.
• Saturday, November 24 – Wolverhampton City Centre, Queen Square – event noon – 5.30pm, lights switch-on 5pm.
• Sunday, November 25: Bantock House, Finchfield Road – event 5pm – 8pm, lights switch-on 6.30pm.
• Friday, November 30: Bilston, Church Street – event 5.30pm – 7pm, lights switch-on 6.30pm

City of Wolverhampton late night Christmas shopping starts on Wednesday, November 28 and includes every Wednesday in December, with shops staying open late right up until Christmas.

Following the terrible crash following the Leicester City game last night, the thoughts and prayers of The Phoenix are with everyone affected by this news.

Students at Walsall College found out how they could keep themselves safe during a fair organised by the College’s Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Student Engagement Team, as part of Stay Safe Week from 16 – 18 October.

The event, which took place at the College’s Wisemore Campus, saw a wide range of organisations hand out information to students about personal safety, including The Beacon, West Midlands Police, Crisis Point and Bikers Against Child Abuse.

The bikers brought in a wide range of their motor vehicles to the event, including cruisers and retro models. Founded in 1995, Bikers Against Child Abuse empowers abused children and offers support to young people who have been affected by abuse.

The Beacon were also at the event to hand out information about drug and alcohol misuse, and YOTI had a stall that enabled students to apply for a citizen card, so they can prove their identity online and in person. The West Midlands Police brought in a metal detector to raise awareness of knife crime, and information was available on stalking and harassment, positive mental health, as well as early help.

Carol Egan, Director of Student Journey, said: “Our Stay Safe event was an opportunity for us to demonstrate to students how important it is for them to keep themselves safe, both physically and emotionally.

As a college, safeguarding remains our highest priority and it’s vital that our students are aware of the variety of services available in Walsall should they – or someone they know – needs help.”

A major project to re-connect Birmingham’s communities with the city’s Shakespearean heritage, re-establish the West Midlands as the world’s ‘go-to Shakespeare centre’, and recover Birmingham’s once proud reputation as the most democratic and progressive cultural centre in the world has won National Lottery support.

The University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Council are collaborating on a £1 million plan to revive the city’s almost-forgotten Birmingham Shakespeare Memorial Library (BSML) - the first, oldest and largest Shakespeare collection in any public library in the world and one of the UK’s most important cultural assets.

The ‘Everything to Everybody’ project unites the Shakespeare archive with the George Dawson Collection (GDC) - a wealth of documents relating to the nonconformist preacher, lecturer and activist, who founded the Library as part of a pioneering ‘Civic Gospel’ which helped make 19th-century Birmingham the world’s most progressive modern city.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has given the partners £32,700 of development funding to help progress plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant. The fullfour-year project aims to revitalise Dawson’s dream of creating a culture actively involving everyone in Birmingham.

A comprehensive programme of working with the Birmingham Commonwealth Association, Culture Central, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and other organisations and communities across the city will culminate in a major exhibition and festival celebrating Birmingham’s cultural ambition and innovation in the year of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham City Council cabinet member for education, skills and culture Cllr Jayne Francis commented: “Thanks to this great opportunity from the Heritage Lottery Fund, we’re developing an extensive programme of community-led activities which will help people of all ages and backgrounds rediscover Birmingham’s Shakespeare Library and reinvent it for the future.

“The project will transform the relationship between Shakespeare and the wider region in which he was born, confirming the West Midlands as a world-class Shakespeare centre, with Birmingham’s rich heritage and cultural diversity right at its heart.”

The project is led by Professor Ewan Fernie, from the University’s Shakespeare Institute, in Stratford-upon-Avon, who said:  “The vast majority of the Birmingham Shakespeare Memorial Library‘s publicly-owned treasures are unknown, their potential to excite new audiences untapped.

“Using modern digital technologies will allow us to realise Dawson’s radically democratic programme for sharing the Library, and working with Birmingham’s diverse communities will breathe new life into traditional English heritage and culture.”

A West Midlands healthcare charity will go head-to-head with the X-Factor winner – by releasing a debut Christmas single.

Your Trust Charity’s first ever musical offering O Holy Night will be recorded in conjunction with Bristnall Hall Academy, in an effort to raise vital funds – and budding singers from the region are being sought to feature on the single.

The money will go towards enhancing the experience of patients, visitors and staff at Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals, which are all run by the Trust.

The idea was conceived by Amanda Winwood, Fundraising Manager at Your Trust Charity and record producer James Callaghan will be working on the single.

Amanda said: “I’m urging as many people as possible to get involved with our charity single, ‘O Holy Night’ as it will be a fantastic way to raise funds for the charity whilst getting into the spirit of Christmas.

“Not only is this a lovely and unique initiative which brings the community together, but it would also be amazing if this record were to beat the X Factor winner or any other leading artist to the number one spot.”

She added: “It’s the first time we have decided to record a Christmas single and we wanted to work with Bristnall Hall Academy as we have been been their chosen charity for three years.

“We are very pleased to have James on board and we believe the final offering will be a real celebration of our community.”

James added: "As a former pupil of Bristnall Hall it was an honour to take on the challenge of composing an arrangement for this classic Christmas song.

“Working with Your Trust Charity and the school is both rewarding and uplifting. I hope the single can raise some funds to help the local community. Making people's lives more comfortable by providing good patient care is a cause I feel passionately about and with the help of the school we can all do our part."

The recording of the single will take place at Bristnall Hall Academy on 6 November.

Vince Green, Principal at the school, said: “The Bristnall Hall Academy community are excited to be working in partnership with Your Trust charity to release a joint Christmas charity single.

“We look forward to raising even more funds and contributing even more to the great work being done by our chosen charity.  This is the first time the academy has done something like this.  We are grateful to James, an ex-student of Bristnall, who has very kindly agreed to offer his guidance and support to make this single possible.”

Work to restore Smethwick's historic Council House is now complete. The Grade II-listed building, which dates from the early 1900s, has had its prominent clock tower refurbished and its stunning terracotta facade restored.

The clock tower's broken timberwork has been fixed, the metalwork on the clock face repainted and the tower itself has been returned to its original colour scheme.

The project also included the replacement of more than 100 damaged terracotta blocks, the pitched roof has been re-slated and flat roofs replaced. The building's ornate roof domes have been redecorated and railings have been repaired.

The building in the town's High Street has been used as council offices for more than a century and is visited by hundreds of people each week to access council services.

Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for core council services and culture Councillor Steve Trow said:  "It's fantastic to see this building restored to its former glory. Over the years, time and weather had caused the facade to deteriorate, lead had been stolen from the roof and the clock tower had been exposed to the elements.

"It's a stunning building used by our staff and residents week in, week out, and it is only right that we've done this work to preserve it for decades to come."

The building's clock is known as a rare “three-train Smith of Derby flat-bed with gravity escapement” and regarded as an important piece of horological history.

Clock enthusiasts have visited it to admire its workings – as most of its kind were converted with electricity many years ago.