England plans to cut in half the number of highly skilled workers it lets into the country from outside the European Union, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said. Smith said the cuts would come from a tightening of entry requirements, The Times of London reported Sunday.

A CHILDREN'S charity is set to launch a new pounds 190,000 mechanics institute for young people in Redditch.

POWER station company Welsh Power Group has bought Redditch Power Plant for an undisclosed amount. The owner of Uskmouth Power Station in Newport acquired 100% of the shares from First Energy Redditch.

RAIL passengers faced rush-hour delays today after someone was hit by a train in the Midlands. Transport police and paramedics were called to the scene of the incident on the Cross City line at Alvechurch station, in Worcestershire, at around 7.40am today.

CANCELLED operations at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch were today branded inevitable by the town's Conservative leader.