Rural crime cost the Midlands £6.6m in 2015, up from £6m in 2014 – despite remaining broadly static at a national level. The figures form part of NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report, published today, revealing that the cost of rural crime to the UK economy has now reached £42.5 million a year. According to the leading rural insurer, the items most commonly targeted by thieves across the Midlands over the last 12 months were machinery, tools from farms and businesses and quad bikes (ATVs).

Severn Trent customers have been asked to look out for an illegal fitting on their toilets that could lead to their water turning bright blue. Customers should check to see whether their toilets feature an illegal inlet valve that, when combined with a blue toilet block, can result in the blue toilet water being siphoned back to the kitchen tap after a loss of supply. Dan Littlewood, Water Fittings Senior Technician at Severn Trent, said: “Essentially, the incorrectly installed valves are submerged in water in toilet cisterns and won’t cause a problem unless there happens to be a loss of supply.

The owner of a raucous rooster has been forced to fork out nearly £600 after the farmyard animal’s constant crowing kept neighbours awake at night for months on end. Magdalane Sylvester, of Effingham Road, Harringay, was forced to pay out £597 after she was convicted in her absence of breaching a noise abatement order. Neighbours had been complaining for 18 months about being kept awake by the bird and, despite many efforts from the council to resolve the problem, Ms Sylvester did not make any attempts to ensure other residents weren’t disturbed.

Two more parks in Haringey (Woodside and Tottenham Green) have been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy. Green Flag status means the parks have the highest standards in the country and are judged to be welcoming, safe and well managed with active community involvement. Haringey now has 22 council -maintained Green Flag parks, an increase of six in three years and the fourth highest in London.

Martineau Gardens in Edgbaston, Birmingham is one of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.  The therapeutic community garden is among a record-breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces that receive a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space. The award, now celebrating its 20^th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country.

In collaboration with the Black Country Growth Hub, the Black Country Chamber of Commerce held a unique networking experience to mark Black Country Day 2016. On 14^th July at the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, the free to attend event brought delegates together to celebrate the cultural heritage of the region. Local businesses participated in a range of themed activities, including games and competitions, as well as having the chance to view historic archive images and sample traditional Black Country food.