A West Bromwich father is thanking his lucky stars - after his pet dog saved his life.Mr Roy Jones f...

1. Labrador's lick in time saves owner.
A West Bromwich father is thanking his lucky stars - after his pet dog saved his life.
Mr Roy Jones fell asleep at his home in Wattle Road and was unaware his lounge was full of choking
smoke caused by a faulty TV set.
But his faithful Labrador cross, Jasper, saved his life by licking his face to wake him up.
Mr Jones, aged 40, said: "My wife, Pam, had gone out shopping leaving me alone in the house.
"I must have fallen asleep watching the television and was completely unaware that smoke was
billowing from the set.
"Luckily Jasper was in the lounge with me and he managed to wake me up by licking my face -
without the dog I would have been a goner," he added.
Mr Jones said he would be buying Jasper some special toys and treats as a "thank you".
Surgeon's mercy mission
A retired hospital consultant is about to embark on a mission of mercy to help mothers in one of the
world's poorest countries.
Mr John Kelly, who was a consultant gynaecologist at the Women's Hospital for more than 30 years,
will work in rural Pakistan helping women who need surgery after childbirth complications.
A special field hospital will be set up in the grounds of a local hospital in the Sindh region.
Mr Kelly, who has carried out similar work in Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Malawi and the Sudan, will
also train doctors to carry out the specialised surgical procedures. He will also carry out routine
operations.
Van blaze ordeal
Residents in Stafford were evacuated from their homes after a gas cylinder was discovered in a
burning van.
Fire crews from Cannock and Stafford were called to deal with the seven-and-a-half ton box van
which was ablaze in Falmouth Avenue, Weeping Cross, Stafford,
A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said the van contained playground equipment and
containers of resin.

2. Hospital staff awards
A record number of medical staff in Walsall have
received long service awards.
Thirty-nine workers have clocked up more than 25
years service with Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust.
They were presented with certificates and pounds
100 worth of gift vouchers at a special ceremony to
mark their achievements.
Mr John Rostill, chief executive of Walsall Hospitals
NHS Trust said: "We now have more than 230
workers who have 25 years service or more and we are very proud of them."
Weather blamed for crash
A motorist was taken to hospital after his sports car crashed into a tree at an accident black spot.
Firemen said a combination of wet weather and changing road conditions were responsible for the
crash on the Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common.
The driver had climbed out of the wreckage of his TVR sports car, believed to be brand new, by the
time emergency services arrived.
Station Officer Paul Sadler, of Bickenhill fire station, said: "There have been quite a few accidents
along there because you come off quite a nice straight road into twists and turns."
Castle prices up
Entrance price rises above the rate of inflation at Tamworth Castle have been given the green light
after councillors claimed the attraction offered value for money.

3. The move was agreed at a meeting of Tamworth
Borough Council's policy and resources committee.
Members decided five per cent increases for next year
were acceptable.
Admission will now cost pounds 4.20 for adults and
pounds 2.10 for children, students, the unemployed
and the disabled.
A report said the rises would bring castle prices into
line with other similar attractions.
Post Script
A team of Worcestershire firemen will be presented
with certificates of merit for helping to rescue 25 cattle
from floods.
Members of the Worcester Fire and Rescue Service Red Watch, along with Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals inspector Simon Dix and student inspector Andy Shearman, will be
honoured at a ceremony on Tuesday.
The cattle were discovered standing in rising floodwater at Hawford, near Worcester, on October 27.
The nearest dry land was 200 yards away.
The rescue team drove the cattle through flooded fields to the dry area by surrounding the animals
and keeping them together as they moved.
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