26/12/2011 Midlands Today

Good evening. Shopping centres across the Midlands say there has

been brisk trading for the Boxing Day sales today with some customers

queuing for bargains from the early hours of the morning. Official

customer numbers will not be released until tomorrow but

managers at the Bullring in Birmingham say the run up to

Christmas has been their busiest week ever.

Recession? What recession? With the West Midlands still limping through

the downturn and, despite above average unemployment, Birmingham's

Bullring was thronged from early on. At 2pm this afternoon they were

still queuing. I have never been before. I hope I

get something. They were just as determined at the Merry Hill Centre

near Dudley, where queues started forming as early as 1am.

Everybody buys presents, you can get ity at a snip.

I won't be here long! But plenty were - enough perhaps to

rescue what many retailers feared would be a bleak Christmas.

One of the region's best-known children's hospices is launching

its biggest ever fundraising appeal. Acorns needs to raise �19 million

in order to secure the future of its three hospices until 2013. It

has suffered a 20% drop in income in the past three years, as

donations to all charities fall. Gloucestershire police are

reporting a rise in the number of people arrested for drink driving

offences this Christmas. 43 motorists failed breath tests last

week. Charities and the emergency services are on standby for extra

alcohol related calls during the festive break, while social

services have claimed some parents even put their children into care

so they can go out partying on New Years Eve. Ther are some parents

that see social care as an excuse for them to do other things.

Engineers at Birmingham New Street station have brought in a 700 tonne

crane to help lift a new section of bridge into place at the end of

Platform 12. The work is part of the �500 million redevelopment of

the �500 million redevelopment of the station. Phase one is due to

open at the end of 2012. Onto football, and in the

Premiership just one result so far, and a valuable point for West

Bromwich Albion, who held Manchester City 0-0. Stoke City's

match with Aston Villa kicks off at 7.45pm, Wolves go to Arsenal

tomorrow. In the Championship, Birmingham

have just kicked off against West Ham. And a rare victory for

Coventry. They beat Bristol City 1- 0, Gary Deegan with the goal.

While in League One a famous win for Walsall, two injury time goals

securing a 2-1 victory over second placed Sheffield Wednesday.

At the top of league Cheltenham versus Shrewsbury ended goalless.

Hereford United lost 2-1 to Port Vale. And Burton Albion won 3-2 at

Northampton. In the Blue Square Premier League

AFC Telford lost 2-0 at home to Wrexham. A far from merry Christmas

for Tamworth, beaten 5-2 at Alfreton, while Kidderminster beat

Forest Green 1-0. And a couple of rugby results -

Gloucester beat Wasps 39-10 in the Aviva Premiership, and in the

Championship Moseley lost to London Scottish 16-29.

Time to take a look at the weather. Tonight will remain cloudy with

some light rain and drizzle in places. It will still feel

relatively warm with lows of 8 Celsius. Tomorrow will be similar

to today with brighter intervals possible, but otherwise generally