People travelling on the West Coast Main Line are being urged to continue to check their journeys following damage to overhead line equipment in Warwickshire.  Following a routine track inspection on the railway through Polesworth on 6 December rail engineers discovered damage to an overhead line structure which carries the wires that provide power to electric trains engineers have successfully installed a temporary prop which has allowed passenger and freight trains to continue running safely London Northwestern Railway services travelling southbound are unable to call at Atherstone station Bus replacement services will be in place between Tamworth Atherstone and Nuneaton in the southbound direction only for customers travelling to/from Atherstone said: “We’re working hard to keep passengers and freight services moving through Polesworth while we complete urgent repairs to a damaged overhead line structure we’ve been able to safely increase the speed trains can run through the area however journeys are still being affected and passengers should continue to check before they travel.“I’m sorry for the ongoing disruption and want to assure passengers that we’re working on a plan to fully reopen the railway as soon as possible.” customer experience director at London Northwestern Railway said: “We apologise for the disruption caused to customers in Atherstone while Network Rail complete vital repairs to the overhead cables Rail replacement services will be in operation until southbound services are able to call at the station once again with timetables available to view on journey planners.” said: “We’d like to thank customers for their patience while Network Rail carry out vital repairs to the infrastructure near Tamworth we’d encourage those making journeys on the West Coast Main Line to check before they travel.” Engineers are working around the clock to prepare the railway embankment for work to replace the damaged structure A full repair plan is being developed which will see a four-track railway returned as soon as possible to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Our free Nuneaton & Bedworth email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters Fire crews were called out to tackle a blaze involving tyres and vehicles last night (October 18). Emergency services were just after 8 p.m. at Kisses Barn Lane in Polesworth in Warwickshire Large plumes of smoke filled the skies and local residents were advised to close windows 14 breathing apparatus' were used to tackle the fire with mainline branches during the first four hours A dam was also set up to provide a continuous water supply to the scene Crews will be in attendance today to damp down and turn over debris to tackle remaining hotspots Read more: Coventry man arrested and CCTV issued after man 'repeatedly punched' The full statement from Nuneaton Fire Station on Facebook said: "Crews had a busy night shift 5 appliances from- Polesworth, 2 from Nuneaton 2 Staffordshire and Coleshill's water bowser and Alcester's command support unit all attending a large Fire at Kisses Barn Lane Polesworth just after 8pm "Crews were faced with a high-intensity fully developed fire involving HGVs and tyres crews did their utmost to control the fire in the conditions and save three vehicles "Large plumes of acrid smoke filled the night sky and the environmental agency was informed local residents were advised to close windows." Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you - it’s FREE Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Passengers travelling to or from Atherstone station are being advised about disruption to southbound journeys while rail engineers plan repairs to damaged overhead line equipment One of four railway tracks through Polesworth between Tamworth and Nuneaton on the West Coast Main Line was closed to trains on Thursday (5 December) after engineers found damage to an overhead line equipment structure during a routine inspection of the railway The disruption means that trains running southbound towards London are unable to call at Atherstone station until further notice London Northwestern Railway is running a replacement bus service between Tamworth Northbound trains are still able to call at Atherstone and fast services on the West Coast Main Line will continue to run in both directions trains will run at slower speeds through the area and the affected section of track will remain closed until repairs have been completed The first phase of the repair will involve installing metal propping next to the damaged overhead line structure which is planned to take place over the weekend Once the structure has been successfully propped rail engineers will plan a permanent repair in Polesworth director of Network Rail’s West Coast South route said: “I’m sorry to passengers affected by a defect with our overhead line equipment between Nuneaton and Tamworth and in particular to those who are having to use rail replacement buses at Atherstone station “Our engineers are working as quickly as possible to plan repairs so that we can safely reopen the affected section of track. I want to urge passengers to check www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest travel information.” customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway said: “We are sorry to passengers at Atherstone who are temporarily impacted by cancellations as a result of this issue We are working closely with Network Rail as their teams carry out repairs as quickly as possible "Northbound trains are continuing to call at Atherstone as normal but for passengers travelling south rail replacement buses are in operation to connect customers to nearby alternative stations.” The Met Office has issued weather warnings for strong winds and rain across the country over the weekend so rail passengers are being advised to take extra care and plan their journeys in advance People should check before they travel with National Rail Enquiries Ongoing emergency work to complete repairs to overhead line equipment on the West Coast Main Line in Warwickshire means some early morning services between London and Scotland will take longer or be cancelled Passengers wishing to travel north and south-bound are being urged to check before they travel with nationalrailco.uk as all available services will be diverted via Birmingham while Network Rail engineers complete critical safety works to overhead line equipment at Polesworth Engineers are on-site and working to safely reopen the line as soon as possible Due to Network Rail engineers being required to attend multiple incidents to remove debris and make repairs to infrastructure along the route as a result of Storm Darragh emergency repairs at Polesworth has been affected Network Rail’s West Coast South route operations manager said: “Storm Darragh has wreaked havoc on the railway this weekend and we are very sorry to passengers for the disruption to train services this morning on the West Coast Main Line as frontline teams continue with emergency repairs and the clean-up “Our engineers are working as fast as we can to stabilise a critical piece of the overhead line equipment in Polesworth We are asking passengers to check before they travel as some morning journeys between London the North West and Scotland may take longer or have altered timetables.” Storm Darragh has brought many challenges across the rail network this weekend from flooding in Cheshire as well as debris and fallen down trees many of which are from third party land Passengers across the network are being asked to check their entire journeys at nationalrail.co.uk before setting out as storm-damaged infrastructure is causing disruption in other parts of the network including between Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford Some long distance services make take 45 minutes longer and some journeys may be bus replacement services the fourth named storm of the 2024-25 season has brought high winds and heavy rainfall across the British isles road and rail infrastructure towards breaking point an emergency bulletin was initiated at 1am for residents within the Met Office’s red warning zone which includes parts of Wales and south-west England This operational alert marks an unprecedented step in response to inclement weather urging the public to avoid travelling and to remain indoors if feasible The latest storm comes just two weeks after Storm Bert, which similarly caused disruption across transport networks and significant flooding The increasing frequency of major storms underscores the impacts of the climate crisis and should raise infrastructure resilience up the political agenda A run down of the infrastructure impacted by Storm Darragh over the weekend is below The ongoing flooding situation in North and East Yorkshire has prompted significant action and concern from local authorities particularly in areas adjacent to the River Ouse the regions most at risk span from Lendal Bridge to Millennium Bridge footpaths near the River Ouse at King’s Staith and Queen’s Staith experienced submersion affecting both pedestrian access and local infrastructure surpassing its normal operational range of 1.9m The Environment Agency has projected that the river is likely to peak at approximately 3.07m in the early hours of the following morning before beginning a gradual decline with expectations set for a return to normal levels by Tuesday In a statement regarding the emergency situation a spokesperson for the Environment Agency advised: “Please put your flood plan into action This caution is critical given that 11 additional flood warnings remain active throughout North and East Yorkshire impacting other areas such as Kirkby Mills which have already experienced flood conditions due to inclement weather a control centre has been established in Kirkbymoorside This facility aims to assist residents affected by the flooding incidents Reports indicate that several properties in and around Kirkby Mills were inundated overnight with some areas also experiencing power outages Officers from North Yorkshire Council are stationed at the Moorside Room offering guidance and support to those in need Parts of Cambridgeshire were put on alert as weather warnings were issued for the River Nene The Met Office designated two severe flood warnings indicating that flooding was expected in these areas which may lead to road closures impacting local infrastructure The primary area affected encompasses North Bank Road which runs alongside the River Nene to the east of Peterborough and west of the Dog-in-a-Doublet Sluice According to the government’s flood warning “High flows coming down the River Nene are causing levels to rise the River Nene will be unable to discharge into the sea This is likely to lead to localised flooding of the North Bank Road was also under threat due to the heavy rainfall experienced over 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday in the vicinity “We have seen heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours in the Peterborough area The Whittlesey Wash flood storage reservoir is being operated to protect nearby communities from flooding The rising levels in the Wash will result in flooding of the B1040 road the local authority may close the B1040 for safety reasons.” various flood alerts were issued across Cambridgeshire that denote less severe conditions These alerts encompass several watercourses including the lower River Cam from Stapleford to Waterbeach the River Great Ouse from Brampton to Earith Hundred Foot Washes in both Cambridgeshire and Norfolk as well as the River Rhee in Central Bedfordshire three flood warnings (“flooding is expected”) and 18 flood alerts (“flooding is possible”) remained in place for Cambridgeshire though the flood risk for the wider region was said to be low sewage was discharged into waterways at almost 3,000 distinct locations across England This alarming statistic shows Storm Darragh has resulted in significant strain on the sewage infrastructure compiled by the Rivers Trust based on reports from nine of England’s water companies reveals a staggering total of 1,524 discharge points operating on Saturday morning alone with an additional 1,391 locations reported to have dumped sewage in the two days leading up to that point Predominantly affected by these discharges is United Utilities the water provider for the North West of England The firm accounted for 36% (807) of the reported sewage spills leading the rankings for the number of overflow events during this period other companies operating in the western regions of England noted sewage dumping at 31% of their locations while the overall figure across the rest of the nation was reported at 18% Train services across several regions in England and Wales continue to experience significant disruption following the recent impact of Storm Darragh The severe weather has resulted in the closure of numerous railway lines due to fallen trees and general debris Passengers travelling on the West Coast Main Line between London and Scotland were told on Monday morning to prepare for delays and cancellations due to ongoing emergency repairs to overhead line equipment in Warwickshire stemming from damage inflicted by Storm Darragh Network Rail engineers are currently addressing critical safety works at Polesworth where the storm has caused significant disruption Early morning services are expected to face extended journey times or outright cancellations as all remaining trains are being diverted via Birmingham the storm has also created widespread challenges across the rail network including instances of flooding in Cheshire and debris from fallen trees some of which originate from third-party land engineers have been deployed to multiple sites to clear debris and restore infrastructure affected by the storm’s aftermath Great Western Railway has advised passengers against travelling between Swansea and Carmarthen for the foreseeable future recommending that travel should be deferred until at least noon today which were not expected to reopen until after 11 am Services on the Barnstaple and Okehampton branch lines in Devon remain closed until the afternoon at the earliest Westbury and Chippenham stations in Wiltshire have reopened alongside services on the Falmouth branch line in Cornwall the damage inflicted by Storm Darragh has left the railway line between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent closed indefinitely with this fallout affecting London Northwestern Railway services operating between Stafford and Crewe which connect Manchester Piccadilly with a range of destinations including Paignton and Birmingham New Street are also impacted Rail replacement transport is currently in service between Wolverhampton and Crewe to accommodate affected passengers Transport for Wales has reported that 11 routes are currently blocked including key connections between Swansea and Milford Haven Birmingham International and Shrewsbury and Chester and Holyhead National Rail Enquiries has issued warnings stating that services might experience increased congestion throughout the day with the potential for severe overcrowding West Midlands Railway has announced that it is unable to operate along the line connecting Bromsgrove and Lichfield Trent Valley due to damage to overhead electric wires The impact of Storm Darragh on rail infrastructure underscores the ongoing need for robust maintenance and swift recovery actions in the face of adverse weather conditions affecting vital transport links Rail services between Ely and Norwich have been severely disrupted due to a fallen tree obstructing the tracks The incident has prompted Greater Anglia to suspend train operations in this corridor with no clear timeline for resumption provided Railway engineers and maintenance crews from Network Rail have been alerted and are mobilising to the affected areas to execute clearance operations and assess the integrity of the rail infrastructure post-storm The ongoing inclement weather underscores the complexities and demands faced by railway engineers in maintaining operational safety during adverse weather conditions Storm Darragh has wreaked havoc across the UK triggering widespread disruptions to essential transport infrastructures With wind gusts soaring to a record 150km/h multiple roads and bridges have faced closures due to severe safety concerns amplified by the government’s “risk to life” warning A comprehensive review of impacted routes reveals substantial roadway closures over the weekend is below The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge has been shut in both directions altering travel plans for motorists heading into Wales National Highways indicated that alternatives such as the M5 and M50 should be utilised as the M48 Severn Bridge is also compromised The South West Regional Operations Centre is actively monitoring wind conditions to facilitate a safe reopening of the affected structures once conditions improve has similarly been rendered impassable due to dangerous winds advising users to consider alternate routes The M48 Severn Bridge in Gloucestershire faces permanent closure between junctions 1 (Aust) and 2 (Chepstow) as a precautionary measure against strong winds the A34 is shut for emergency works aimed at safely removing trees along the carriageway deemed at risk of falling during the storm which is inaccessible between the B5070 (Gledrid) and A483 (Halton) due to conditions threatening the Ceiriog viaduct’s safety has experienced changes in traffic management with diversion routes established for vehicles needing to cross southbound/clockwise on the M25 via the east bore tunnel Height restrictions are in effect for northbound traffic limiting passage to the west bore Dartford tunnel for vehicles exceeding 4.8m with strong winds and heavy rain forecasted for the area concerns were raised about potential power cuts and widespread disruptions to the electricity supply The National Grid Electricity Distribution has stated that while its distribution network is designed to be resilient the impacts of extreme weather can still pose challenges to power delivery roughly 95,000 properties in Wales were reported to have lost power due to high winds Hundreds of residencies in Cornwall also saw power lost due to high winds with the outage expected to remain in place until at least the evening of Monday Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Tagged with: Nuclear power station operators’ reactions to severe space weather could negatively impact… Transport services have been closed in key regions while thousands of homes… Wildfires are not a new concept across the world Storm Darragh has caused a significant amount of visible damage to a… Plan a full day out or pop in for a coffee and make the most of new short stay parking fees Pooley Country Park has recently been a hive of activity The new Pit Stop Pooley Coffee Shop has quickly become a popular spot for locals a reduced parking fee of £1.50 for stays of an hour or less provides a tempting option for those looking to nip in for a coffee or take their dog for a shorter walk Pooley Country Park offers a variety of sights and activities across its 62.5 hectares with one-third designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest Visitors can explore pools formed by mining subsidence and enjoy the scenic Coventry Canal and a stroll along the historic footpath once used by miners as far back as 1846 later known as North Warwickshire Colliery was the first mining site to generate its own electricity (using excess steam) in the early 1920s and introduce pit head baths in 1928 marking a unique place in local mining history The rich heritage of the site is celebrated by Pit Stop who proudly display mining artefacts and other items of historical interest which hosts regular events and offers a delicious seasonal menu the site has a recently refurbished play area with a range of equipment and lots of space to run around There is also an indoor soft play for under 5s within the coffee shop runs and cycles can be enjoyed both within the country park or using it as a starting point Pit Stop Coffee Shop is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Further information about the businesses’ competitions and events can be found on their Facebook and Instagram Culture and Climate at Warwickshire County Council “Pooley Country Park is a hidden gem in North Warwickshire offering both locals and visitors a wonderful space to connect with nature and discover our county's rich mining heritage With the new short-stay parking option and the Pit Stop Coffee Shop whether you’re planning a full day out or just stopping by for a coffee It’s fantastic to see the park thriving as a hub for the community with something for everyone to enjoy.” The new parking fees are in force as of 1 November 2024. The cost for a full day’s parking is £3.30. Learn more and plan your visit here. Warwickshire County Council Libraries is celebrating a huge milestone this summer at Polesworth Library and Information Centre.. Warwickshire County Council Libraries is celebrating a huge milestone this summer at Polesworth Library and Information Centre which has now been open for over 70 years and continues to provide a range of valuable library services to the people of North Warwickshire To mark this milestone year for Polesworth Library library staff will be hosting the following celebratory events throughout the week that cater for a variety of ages: Polesworth Library originally started life as a mobile library that opened on 5 February in 1952 Following regular use by people in the north of the county the library progressed to become a static room full of books in the building next to ‘Polesworth Chippy’ in 1956 and in 1964 moved to the site that it still occupies today along Bridge Street in Polesworth The library also received a major building extension in 1994 to become the building full of great services Portfolio Holder for Customer and Transformation “I would like to extend my congratulations to the Warwickshire Libraries team on achieving this important milestone at Polesworth Library and Information Centre “Our libraries across the county provide vibrant and safe spaces for people to enjoy books helping us to better connect with each other and feel a part of our local communities “I encourage people of all ages to explore your local Warwickshire library – our staff are very friendly and welcoming and will be more than happy to talk you through the great range of free activities and support services available.” To find out more, visit Polesworth Library and Information Centre. To keep-up to date with Warwickshire Libraries latest activities, information, and events, you can: Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayohits radiocoventrynewsAppeal after serious collision in Polesworth It happened in the early hours of this morning Warwickshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a blue Seat Ibiza collided with a tree and caught fire in Grendon Road Polesworth at around 3.35am today (Thursday 13 June) Following the collision the driver – a teenage boy – was taken to hospital with a serious head injury Anyone with information or who saw the vehicle before the collision First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to design and build the new Bramcote Building a specialist teaching block for The Polesworth School in Tamworth The school is a mixed gender secondary school with pupils aged 11-18 and it is part of the Communities Academies Trust – a multi-academy trust comprising 17 schools in the West Midlands region The Bramcote Building replaces five existing teaching blocks which are nearing the end of their usable life and will be demolished by G F Tomlinson following completion of the new building Construction on the new three-storey 2,479m2 teaching block started back in June and the steel frame and roof are now complete with works progressing on the external envelope and internal partitions the building will cater for Design and Technology teaching spaces allowing the school to continue delivering the curriculum in a safe and quality environment The project also includes the resurfacing of an existing 2,135m2 multi-use games area (MUGA) with new fencing and lighting marked out in accordance with Sport England specifications for five-a-side football the works are being undertaken within a live school site and have been carefully planned to minimise disruption to ensure the school is able to maintain continuity of the curriculum and extra-curricular delivery for students The project team is ensuring that all COVID-19 working guidelines are adhered to to ensure safe working and social distancing on site the site is located in a built-up residential area the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and Polesworth Sports Centre and close liaison with all neighbours has been paramount to agree shared access routes through to the construction site to minimise the impact on the surrounding area and maintain access at all times In line with G F Tomlinson’s commitment to social value the project will maximise opportunities for training and skills for local young people and five apprentices have already benefitted from being engaged during the design and pre-construction stage This will be the first project that G F Tomlinson has completed for The Polesworth School and Community Academies Trust and the 12th project for the DfE framework said: “We are delighted to have commenced works at The Polesworth School to deliver much needed modernised teaching spaces which will enable the school to continue providing an excellent standard of education This project is part of the DfE framework’s schools investment programme which aims to address urgent requirements for the replacement of buildings to provide improvements to the quality of teaching and learning environments “The buildings being demolished and replaced were nearing the end of their usable life and the planned works will allow for the school to continue teaching in certain buildings whilst we construct the new facilities ensuring there is no disruption to the day-to-day curriculum optimised teaching and learning spaces for staff and students improving the overall educational experience of children at the school “It has been an honour to engage with DfE again for another project taking our total projects for the framework to 12 in six years.” G F Tomlinson is working alongside Bond Bryan (architect) BSP Consulting (engineer) and Anderson Green (M & E services) to deliver this project volunteers were able to explore this Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) using their newly-developed archaeology skills.  Finds such as decorative tiles and Bellarmine pot fragments were interpreted through a range of writing drawing and poetry-based activities; encouraging local people to share their experience of the heritage Volunteers also organised tours of the site and delivered presentations to school children and the wider public A DVD and leaflet were created at the end of the project to enable people to access the heritage far into the future Read the results of the dig and see project findings on the Polesworth Abbey website said: “This community archaeology project has been a unique amazing opportunity for local people to explore their heritage and make history the whole project added to our sense of place and enabled local people to be involved in decisions about the abbey's future."  If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team We urge you to read our privacy policy which gives you more control over your information and clearly explains how we use it © Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund A steep fall in visitors during the last financial year has impacted heavily on donations By Daniel Newbould · 17 February 2021 Shoppers at a village food store have provided Polesworth Abbey with a much needed cash injection said receiving a cheque for £853 from the Tamworth Co-operative Society’s Community Dividend Fund was a ‘blessing’ as the abbey’s finances have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic The abbey’s coffers have also been affected by a significant reduction in its normally popular plant sales Customers at Tamworth Co-op’s Polesworth convenience store generously donated the dividends earned on their purchases to raise the cash Fr Philip revealed the money is being spent on producing YouTube videos of its twice-weekly services along with a series of short films charting the abbey’s history It has a rich heritage having been founded in the ninth century by St Modwena and King Egbert Fr Philip said: "We have been able to post videos of Sunday and Wednesday services on YouTube "We also realised that there are quite a few people who are unable to access them online "Thanks to this donation we are also able to put them on DVDs and deliver them into the community “I would like to thank Tamworth Co-operative Society and its customers for making this donation possible The money was very warmly received and has also helped us to produce videos on the Abbey’s history which are available on our website too.” Store manager Karl Vyse said it proved to be a very popular choice He said: “Every year a dozen or so Tamworth Co-op branches are allied to separate community groups Everyone in this village values Polesworth Abbey – it’s what the village is famous for "As well as being an inspirational place of worship it hosts various groups including an art class It’s been an excellent cause for our branch to support especially as the abbey’s finances have been hit by the Covid situation churchgoers are permitted to attend socially distanced services at the abbey with around 30 to 40 people regularly turning up Fr Philip said people have been drawn to the abbey even when services are not taking place and when the refectory and gardens have remained closed “Some have even taken comfort from just physically touching the outside of the building which is very moving," he added For more information on Polesworth Abbey visit polesworthabbey.co.uk LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Residents across Warwickshire turned out for two remembrance events this weekend Armistice Day on Saturday and Remembrance Day on Sunday to honour the brave heroes who have made significant sacrifice Armistice Day on Saturday and Remembrance Day on Sunday to honour the brave heroes who have made significant sacrifices for our nation during times of war People from across the county came together in large numbers participating in various remembrance services to express their gratitude and respect Whether through the symbolic act of wearing a poppy or attending special remembrance gatherings thousands took the opportunity to reflect on Many County Council representatives and local dignitaries also attended remembrance events across Warwickshire who is the King’s representative for Warwickshire He alternates his attendance at Remembrance Sunday events around the county each year and on Saturday 11 November attended the annual Bedworth Armistice Parade along with Chief Executive of the County Council "It is always a privilege to attend the county’s remembrance events each year and this weekend included a visit to The Polesworth School where I laid a wreath as part of the school’s service to remember those who lost their lives I visited Bedworth to witness the town’s annual Armistice Day Parade and Service The parade was attended by dignitaries like the High Sheriff of Warwickshire and the Mayor as well as many from the general public paying their respects while the poignant 'Poppy of Honour,' adorned with a million names “I also attended the Remembrance Sunday service in St Mary’s in Warwick before the laying of wreaths at Warwick’s war memorial it is important that we come together to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that we still experience today.” “To witness people of all generations turning out to show their respect for those who tragically fell in the two World Wars Watching the march past by those few veterans of WW2 still able to attend and more recent veterans fire and ambulances services to the youngest of the Cadets Cubs and Brownies demonstrated that as a nation we have not forgotten the sacrifice they gave for our tomorrows “It was an honour to attend and lay wreaths on behalf of the Members and Staff of Warwickshire County Council at both the Armistice Day service in Bedworth and the Remembrance Day Service in Warwick.” also attended a Remembrance Sunday Service in Stratford-Upon-Avon: "It was heartwarming to witness so many people gathering at events throughout the weekend The profound observance of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday touched me deeply as people joined in unity to express gratitude and reflection paying tribute to the immense sacrifices made by those who dedicated everything for our freedom This shared moment allows our community to unite and commemorate the courage of so many." Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service crews also paid their respects at different locations across the county and all crews held a two-minute silence at their respective fire stations in the county To see more photos of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service from the weekend, visit their Facebook page. Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Tim Cox (centre) in attendance at the Bedworth Armistice Day Parade with the Lord Lieutenant’s cadets Firefighters outside a local fire station station taking a two minute silence laying wreaths at the Remembrance Day Service in Warwick You are in: Birmingham > School Report 2009 > Polesworth International Language College preparing to make the news This Thursday 26th March 2009 pupils from Polesworth International Language College will be joining up with around 500 schools from across the UK The pupils will be taking part in BBC School report Day which is project designed to engage 11-14-year-olds in the news Ex-teacher and BBC News presenter Huw Edwards is lending his support: He says: "I'm involved because I want to give young people the chance to make the news themselves and I want to share the principles of good journalism." Over the past few months the students in Years seven to ten have been working hard carrying out interviews and producing reports." Project organisers Michelle Borders and Jan Kasperczyk said "This is the first time we’ve taken part in BBC News School Report The pupils involved have already demonstrated a keen interest in the world of journalism as they produce the school’s ezine “Big Mag” Taking part in this project seemed to be the next logical step to encourage their interest in journalism In their brief journey to the March 26th deadline the group has taken part in a practice news day they’ve participated in a workshop run by BBC Midlands and they’ve interviewed Suzanne Virdee and discovered what sort of cocktail she would be We would recommend anyone wanting to give their pupils a real taste of what it’s like to be a journalist to get involved with this project The pupils have had a fantastic time making producing and presenting real news on issues that matter to them You don’t have to be a teacher to run the project either Headteacher Mr Hamilton said "Encouraging young people to understand how the world is represented to them through the media is crucial and we are extremely proud to be part of this national project" On Thursday at 2pm the students will be broadcasting their news covering the stories of the day as well as their special reports on Healthy Eating Bullying and our superstar trampoline display team Our favourite bit so far has been going to the Mailbox to see how BBC Midlands today is put together sitting on the famous red sofa and presenting the weather  We can’t wait for the big day though it’s a bit scary to see if we’ll be ready in time." You can find more reports from school reporters on the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport last updated: 25/03/2009 at 11:58created: 25/03/2009 A team of volunteer archaeologists is investigating the origins of an ancient Midland abbey this forgotten corner of the grounds of a historic Midland abbey was covered in nettles and brambles But now a team of volunteers is on the verge of cracking a thousand year old riddle after discovering bodies which may date from Roman times “We are discovering at the moment whether we are old very old,” says Father Philip Wells at Polesworth Abbey near Tamworth have been uncovering treasures of the past The team at Polesworth know the abbey dates back to the 1300s but have found items that appear to date back 200 years further.While there are theories that the abbey was first founded in 827 (which would make them “very old”) the latest findings could began at the ancient scheduled monument in 2011 as part of a necessary reconnaissance mission before the abbey embarks on a new building plan In the first summer these “Time Teams” made up of volunteers from a 20-mile radius unearthed magnificently preserved tiles and jewellery dating back to the Saxon period But they didn’t yet realise then what discoveries lay ahead says: “Usually if you find three whole tiles you’re doing well but we found 1,000 “There were nine known Warwickshire Medieval varieties of floor tile and here we found ten.” But as last summer’s dig was drawing to a close the team struck upon human remains in a patch of land west of the Abbey buried under layers of Medieval floors and foundations and today they are drafting in an osteologist from York University who will study the bones in-situ but also hoping to find key facts about who these people were and how they came to be here Father Philip already has his own theory and struggles to contain his excitement that these remains could be Roman He says: “A building dating back to 1300 means we’re old but underneath that was a post-Norman building and beneath that there are Saxon buildings “Underneath that we seem to have a burial ground the Saxons wouldn’t have built on a known graveyard so this must be a lost graveyard from before that time.” But Coventry-born professional archaeologist Jonathan Elston isn’t yet convinced by Father Philip’s Roman hopes He’s putting his money on the seven bodies – found with arms crossed over their chests their skulls pointing to the west and their feet to the east – being early Medieval or late Saxon He says: “I don’t think they’re earlier than that because of the east-west alignment There are no grave goods and that would be quite typical of Roman burials They could be Roman – but I don’t think they are.” He adds: “Living history isn’t that long in that period [the 1100s] because you’re only living to 30 or 40 years old so chances are that in 100 years you’ve gone through three generations and things go out of living memory quite quickly They wouldn’t have had big gravestones marking them in 50 to 100 years a burial ground like this could be lost.” The team are all hoping the osteologist will fill in the blanks deterioration and wearing of the teeth she should be able to decipher their age Jonathan says: “You can get a fair amount of information from a skeleton “Just by looking at the wearing of the teeth you can sometimes tell what they’ve been doing and whether they’ve been making things using their teeth Sometimes you’ll find clean breaks in bones and be able to tell if people have been riding horses or doing heavy manual labour “Some bones you find are really slender and you think it’s a female body but then you find out it’s a male and they’ve been a cleric or equally you can find bones that are twice the size and really heavy and that person has been working out in the field “The attachments of the muscles to the bone itself get larger just from strength.” The carbon dating process will take three months to shed more light on the age of the remains Once the bones have been studied at the site they will be lifted from the ground and given a commemoration ceremony at the abbey on September 8 “The volunteers get very attached to their find and their ‘person’,” says Father Philip who has watched the skeletons uncovered one-by-one “Each person will be able to take theirs back up the churchyard in a procession and put them in a grave “It will be a 2013 burial for these people Specialist firearms officers were called to Polesworth Nethersole CE Academy after teachers raised the alarm at 9.30am on Wednesday. The school, in High Street, Polesworth, was evacuated as firearms officers raced to the scene. But the grenade was found to be an empty shell, so no explosion was necessary. A spokesman for Warwickshire Police said: “Specialist firearms officers attended the school and established that it was an empty shell, so there was no controlled explosion and the item was seized. “There was no malicious intent, it was just a case of children being curious.” Polesworth Nethersole CE Academy was evacuatedA spokesman for Birmingham Diocesan Academies Trust told the Tamworth Herald: “An item that caused concern was brought into The Nethersole CE Primary Academy by a child. "As a matter of precaution the police were alerted and the school was evacuated whilst the police attended. "All children and staff remained calm during the evacuation. The police confirmed that the item, a deactivated stun grenade, was safe. "The school promptly contacted all parents to reassure them that the item was not harmful, that the evacuation was managed as a normal fire evacuation practice and that their children were not made aware of any concerns during the incident. "The police are following regular procedure and are in contact with the child’s parents.” The Abbey building and site are a Scheduled Monument and a focal point for the local community A new visitor entrance was constructed between the church and the refectory to provide access to the rebuilt cloister wall Existing doorways were modified to provide inclusive access and toilet facilities were installed for visitors A range of educational activities were funded including promotional and learning materials and the Monks & Nuns educational programme Our grant also provided the initial funding to support the construction of a sensory garden in the Cloister area for visitors who are blind and partially sighted Working with local partners and Historic England the sensory garden was designed to provide educational opportunities and improve the wellbeing of visitors Home   Sport   Article 100m - 1st Toby Baldwin (Rugby School); 2nd Jonathan Knox (KES); 3rd Abenash Kanagasingam (KES) 200m - 1st Harry Allwood (Warwick School); 2nd Jonathan Knox (KES) 800m - Cian Hutton (Lawrence Sheriff); 2nd Rhys Mahon (Alcester Grammar) High jump - 1st Jasper Kraamer (Rugby School); 2nd Will Eadon (Southam College) Triple jump - 1st Jasper Kraamer (Rugby School) Javelin - 1st Will Eadon (Southam College) 100m - 1st Cole Williams (St Benedict's); 2nd Alex Powell (Kineton High); 3rd Callum Findlay (Warwick School); 4th Tim Cort (Lawrence Sheriff); 5th Jevayd Linton (Avon Valley); 6th Matt Ashbourne (Myton); 7th Callum Pinto (St Thomas More) 200m - 1st Gabriel Ball (Myton); 2nd George Hendy (KES); 3rd Callum Findlay (Warwick School); 4th Conlan Boyle (Lawrence Sheriff); 5th Callum Pinto (St Thomas More); 6th Bradley Bates (St Thomas More) 400m - 1st James Sheriff (Polesworth); 2nd Stephen McKenzie (Ashlawn); 3rd Ty Adkins (Alcester Grammar); 4th Owen De Souza (Southam College); 5th Remo Volpe (Princethorpe College); 6th Jack Bower (Myton); 7th Tom Andrews (St Thomas More) 800m - 1st Jai Sispal (North Leamington); 2nd Dan Carey (Harris School); 3rd Josh Goodman (Shipston High); 4th James Kiley (Kenilworth School); 5th Ben James (Polesworth) 1,500m - 1st James Mucklow (Studley High); 2nd Sam Chalmers (Rugby School); 3rd Jonathan Masters (KES); 4th Tom Chesters (Polesworth); 5th Harry Barlow (Polesworth) 100m hurdles - 1st Cole Williams (St Benedict's); 2nd Jai Sispal (North Leamington); 3rd Luke Gosling (Lawrence Sheriff); 4th Harry Sugden (Alcester Grammar); 5th Owen De Souza (Southam College); 6th Harry Jackson (Polesworth) 400m hurdles - 1st Edward Faulds (Harris School); 2nd George Foxe-Rowe (Alcester Grammar) High jump - 1st Steve Bates (Higham Lane); 2nd George Foxe-Rowe (Alcester Grammar); 3rd - Dan McKeown (Shipston High); 4= Sam Ravenscroft (Polesworth) & Nick Butler (Alcester Grammar) Long jump - 1st Alex Powell (Kineton High); 2nd Sam Smith (Kenilworth School); 3rd Dan McKeown (Shipston High); 4th Tim Cort (Lawrence Sheriff); 5th Bradley Bates (St Thomas More) Triple jump - 1st Nick Butler (Alcester Grammar); 2nd Jack Bower (Myton); 3rd Ollie Wear (Alcester Grammar); 4th Josh Beeson (Kenilworth School) Discus - 1st Oliver Nilsson (Rugby School); 2nd Adam Fasko (Aylesford); 3rd Adam Farrow (Alcester Grammar); 4th Harry Lewis (Higham Lane) Javelin - 1st Ollie Wear (Alcester Grammar); 2nd Adam farrow (Alcester Grammar); 3rd Tom De Souza (Kenilworth School); 4th Tom Andrews (St Thomas More); 5th Matt Ashbourne (Myton) Shot put - 1st Gabriel Ball (Myton); 2nd Ardal Yallop (Kenilworth School); 3rd Harry Sugden (Alcester Grammar) Hammer - 1st Ardal Yallop (Kenilworth School); 2nd Tom De Souza (Kenilworth School) 100m - 1st Ben Hardy (Princethorpe College); 2nd Dara Falope (Rugby School); 3rd George Phillips (KES); 4th Alex Williams (North Leamington); 5th Oscar Albanese (St Benedict's) 200m - 1st Joe Talbot (Higham Lane); 2nd Marco Cigolea (Higham Lane); 3rd William Burns (Myton); 4th James Killpack (Kineton High) 300m - Rhys Bennett (Southam College); 2nd Robert Marlow (Myton); 3rd Sam yates (Higham Lane); 4th Oscar Mooney-McKenna (Lawrence Sheriff); 5th Myles Hill (Polesworth); 6th Harrison Wain (Polesworth); 7th Gianluca Gladden (Alcester Grammar) 800m - 1st Jake Minshull (Kenilworth School); 2nd Ben Carroll (Lawrence Sheriff); 3rd Caleb Spriggs (Alcester Academy); 4th Austin Turner (Southam College); 5th Jamie Robinson (Alcester Grammar); 6th Aedan Mason (Kingsbury School); 7th Mark Dunkley (Princethorpe College); 8th Jack Hiatt (Hartshill) 1,500m - 1st Henry Woodward (Rugby School); 2nd Sam Yates (Higham Lane); 3rd Matt Robinson (KES); 4th Dominic Evans (Avon Valley); 5th Oliver Sandhu (Southam College); 6th Matthew Leek (Kenilworth School); 7th James Stretton (Kingsbury School); 8th Theo Skirvin (KES) 80m hurdles - 1st Freddie Clemons (Shipston High); 2nd Isaac Bogle (Myton); 3rd Joe Talbot (Higham lane); 4th David Leng (Rugby School); 5th Josh Roberts (Alcester Grammar); 6th Ed Sharpe (Princethorpe College); 7th James Richardson (Polesworth); Elliot Coop (Kenilworth School) High jump - 1st Freddie Clemons (Shipston High); 2nd Lewis Gurney (Ashlawn); 3rd Isaac Bogle (Myton); 4th Alex Winning (Alcester Grammar); 5th= Ryan Sweeting (Rugby School) & Myles Hill (Polesworth); 7th Elliot Coop (Kenilworth School) Long jump - 1st Freddie Clemons (Shipston High); 2nd William Burns (Myton); 3rd Lewis Gurney (Ashlawn); 4th Oscar Albanese (St Benedict's); 5th Lee Rourke (Higham Lane) Triple jump - 1st Rhys Bennett (Southam College); 2nd Seb Steven (KES); 3rd Zac Cale (Alcester Grammar); 4th Dominic Ash (Myton); 5th Luke Hussel-Bee Orwin (Polesworth); 6th Ed Mitchell (Princethorpe College); 7th Matt Watson (Higham Lane) Discus - 1st Sam Carnevale (Higham Lane); 2nd Austin Turner (Southam College); 3rd Gianluca Gladden (Alcester Grammar); 4th David Rowe (Henley-in-Arden High); 5th Alex Skirrow (Kenilworth School); 6th Tom Phillips (Princethorpe College); 7th Charlie Bell (Higham Lane); 8th Cameron mac (Avon Valley) Javelin - 1st Joshua Roberts (Alcester Grammar); 2nd Tom Manning (KES); 3rd Cameron Aitchison (Ashlawn); 4th Sean Lafferty (aylesford); 5th Samuel Wilson (Kenilworth School); 6th Adam Cope (Ash Green); 7th David Menzies (Higham Lane) Shot put - 1st Dara Falope (Rugby School); 2nd Saul Hulland (Polesworth); 3rd Archie das Gupta (Rugby School); 4th Jake Minshull (Kenilworth School); 5th Sean Lafferty (Aylesford); 6th Seb Steven (KES); 7th Austin Turner (Southam Colege) 100m - 1st Imogen Sheppard (Stratford Grammar); 2nd Olivia Hackney (Rugby School) 200m - 1st Imogen Sheppard (Stratford Grammar); 2nd Olivia Hackney (Rugby School) 800m - 1st Beth Sykes (St Benedict's); 2nd Daisy Musk (Stratford School); 3rd Alice Hilary (Nicholas Chamberlaine) 400m hurdles - 1st Georgina Woodward (Rugby School) Long jump - 1st Georgina Woodward (Rugby School) Triple jump - 1st Maddie Bromwich (King's High) 100m - 1st Olivia Webber (Henley-in-Arden High); 2nd Tia Lynch (Ashlawn); 3rd Jasmine Williams (St Benedict's); 4th Faith Tozer (Myton); 5th Amy Carr (Kenilworth School); 6th Jess Sadler (Polesworth) 200m - 1st Olivia Webber (Henley-in-Arden High); 2nd Tia Lynch (Ashlawn); 3rd Catherine Reynolds (King's High); 4th Hannah Cooper (North Leamington); 5th Joy Obiajunwa (Polesworth); 6th Amy Carr (Kenilworth School); 7th Eve Howard (Princethorpe College) 300m - 1st Holly Pater (Kenilworth School); 2nd Ellie Bryan (Henley-in-Arden High); 3rd Alice Smith (Higham Lane) 800m - 1st Rosie Cale (Stratford Grammar); 2nd Sian Lewis (Queen Elizabeth); 3rd Sophie Hill (Rugby High); 4th Georgia Everson (Southam College); 5th Molly Minshull (Princethorpe College); 6th Rosie Cherry (North Leamington); 7th Lauren Sykes (St Benedict's) 1,500m - 1st Georgia Campbell (Henley-in-Arden High); 2nd Gigi Thomas (King's High); 3rd Eve Littlehales (Higham Lane) 3,000m - 1st Anna Lovett (Southam College) 80m hurdles - 1st Georgia Mcunn (Kenilworth School); 2nd Izzy Fairhurst (Southam College); 3rd Zoe Gardner (Bilton High); 4th Maddie Clarke (Alcester Grammar); 5th Alex Murgatroyd (Rugby School); 6th Eve Littlehales (Higham Lane) 300m hurdles - 1st Millie Leighton (Stratford Grammar) Steeplechase - 1st Emily Lovett (Southam College) High jump - 1st Faye Gourlas (St Benedict's); 2nd Evie Lowe (St Benedict's); 3rd Zoe Gardner (Bilton High); 4th Izzy Fairhurst (Southam College) Long jump - 1st Megan Burge (Bilton High); 2nd Lili Oravecz (Hartshill); 3rd Maddie Clark (Alcester Grammar); 4th Faith Tooze (Myton); 5th Emily Wild (Henley-in-Arden High); 6th Emily Wild (Polesworth); 7th Eve Howard (Princethorpe College) Triple jump - 1st Millie Leighton (Stratford Grammar); 2nd Megan Burge (Bilton High); 3rd Rosie Cale (Stratford Grammar) Discus - 1st Charlotte Booth (myton); 2nd Alys Clarke (Kingsley); 3rd Lucy McNee (Rugby School); 4th Eirinn Newcombe (Etone); 5th Rachel Dell (St Thomas More); 6th Emma Jones (Henley-in-Arden High) Javelin - 1st Lydia Mitchell (Alcester Grammar); 2nd Amy Cook (Kingsbury School); 3rd Lauren Haywood (St Thomas More); 4th Maddie Smith (Myton); 5th Nicole Beard (Kineton High) Shot put - 1st Alys Clarke (Kingsley); 2nd Hannah Ford (Henley-in-Arden High); 3rd Daisy Gill (Higham Lane) 100m - 1st Emily Knox (Kenilworth School); 2nd Caitlyn Buckley (Shipston High); 3rd Madison Norton (Southam College); 4th Ciara Doherty (Ashlawn); 5th Sofia Wood (Alcester Grammar) 200m - 1st Emily Knox (Kenilworth School); 2nd Milly Woodman-Booth (Coleshill); 3rd Caitlyn Buckley (Shipston High); 4th Lucy Lane (King's High); 5th Molly Wincott-Thomas (Princethorpe College); 6th Sofia Wood (Alcester Grammar); 7th Bethany Blundell (Rugby High) 800m - 1st Poppy Foxe-Rowe (Alcester Academy); 2nd Olivia Williams (Rugby School); 3rd Leah Bowen (Shipston High); 4th Anna Farrow (Rugby High); 5th Eloise Dunning (King's High); 6th Libby Price (Polesworth); 7th Rosie Dillon (Southam College). 1,500m - 1st Grace Golinski (Alcester Grammar); 2nd Elspeth Unitt (Southam College); 3rd Emma Dobson (King's High) 75m hurdles - 1st Charlotte Rattley (Myton); 2nd Ella Bower (Myton); 3rd Holly Newton (Stratford Grammar); 4th Issy Newton (Stratford Grammar); 5th Ellie Lane (Hartshill); 6th Gracie Adams (Polesworth) High jump - 1st Lucy Lane (Kingsley); 2nd Freya Dalrymple (King's High); 3rd Anna Farrow (Rugby High); 4th Sophie Smart (Shipston Community Colllege); 5th Ella Ashley (Stratford Grammar); 6th Ellie Lane (Harsthill) Long jump - 1st M.Strachan (Polesworth); 2nd Molly Wincott-Thomas (Princethorpe); 3rd Lauren Healy (Kenilworth School); 4th Annabelle Wolverson (King's High); 5th Fatima Dambatta (Stratford Grammar) Discus - 1st Emma Bowen-Williams (Stratford Grammar); 2nd Vienna Green (Higham Lane); 3rd Imogen George (Stratford Grammar); 4th Danielle Johnston (King's High); 5th Leia Gonzales-Lee (Rugby High); 6th Jess Mackenzie (Princethorpe College); 7th Molly Tonks (St Thomas More); 8th Megan Marsh (Kenilworth School) Javelin - 1st Lucy Randall (Rugby High); 2nd Ruby Spencer (Polesworth); 3rd Hollyes Newton (Stratford Grammar); 4th Megan Marsh (Kenilworth School); 5th Freya Dalrymple (King's High); 6th Mia Evan-Cook (Stratford Grammar); 7th Molly Tonks (St Thomas More) Shot put - 1st Imogen George (Stratford Grammar); 2nd Leia Gonzalez-Lee (Rugby School); 3rd Mille Vyskocil (Higham Lane); 4th Charlotte Bowers (Rugby Free); 5th Issy Newton (Stratford Grammar); 6th Georgia Murray (Campion School); 7th Eloise sunderland (Keniwlorth School); 8th Abigail Beverley (Higham Lane) Hammer - 1st Eloise Sunderland (Kenilworth School); 2nd Charlotte Bowers (Rugby Free); 3rd Monica Davidson (Kenilworth School) Blue Poles is on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts in London Link copiedShareShare articleThe balance between cultural and financial value is in the spotlight with Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson arguing iconic Jackson Pollock painting Blue Poles should be sold off to help pay down the national debt The controversial artwork was snapped up in 1973 with the approval of then-prime minister Gough Whitlam for a record amount of $1.3 million dollars It has been housed at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, but is currently on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts in London. Senator Paterson said it had proven to be a very good investment, massively increasing in value over the last four decades. "It's estimated for insurance purposes recently to be worth up to $350 million," he said. "But my view is that it's not appropriate for the Federal Government to own a single piece of art worth $350 million, it would be one of the most expensive paintings in the world. "It'll only be worth something to taxpayers when we sell it. "Some people feel like they've got a real attachment to Blue Poles, and I understand that, but I don't think it's a good enough reason for the Australian Government to tie up such a significant amount of money in a single painting which is hung in a gallery in Canberra most of the year, and which most Australians won't ever see face to face in their lifetimes." Senator Paterson said there was also the possibility some of the funds could be spent on other artwork, and conceded there was a need to protect assets of cultural significance to the country. "Think about the Australian work that we could buy if we just quarantined half of that money to be reinvested in a current Australian artist, or Australian art for the gallery. "It's certainly a significant painting, but it's not one that's particularly tied to Australia's cultural heritage, and it's not one that particularly speaks to our cultural experience." Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Sky News he was pleased Senator Paterson was looking for ways to improve the budget bottom line. "It's a matter for the board of the National Gallery to determine how they manage their portfolio," he said. "It is a national treasure, and I can't see it being sold." Blue Poles was purchased for $1.3 million in 1973. (NGA, purchased 1973 © Pollock-Krasner Foundation/ARS.) Topic:Food and Beverage Processing Industry CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)