Central Bearwood News

Carol singers have been entertaining Christmas revellers in Bearwood this afternoon, as part of the annual festivities funded by Sandwell Council.

• UK
• Birmingham
• Christmas

Police are investigating after thieves hit a jeweller over the head, twice, with a sledgehammer.

It happened at Davand Jewellers at around 4.30pm on Saturday in Bearwood, in Birmingham.

The jeweller escaped with minor injuries after the four offenders got away with tens of thousands of pounds worth of stock.

The thieves smashed down the front door to the shop and used sledgehammers to break into a glass cabinet in order to gain access to 17 trays of gold.

During the raid, the 52-year-old shop owner pressed a panic alarm, the offenders then struck him twice with the hammer. His wife was also present but was not attacked.

“The victim was lucky to have got away with relatively minor injuries following what was an extremely nasty attack, there was no need for the level of violence used.

“I’m keen to hear from anyone who witnessed any of what happened or anyone who has any information about who may be responsible.”

• Business
• Bearwood
• Birmingham

• Business
• Bearwood
• Mary Portas

David Holt, Butcher

"All the help we can get with this fund that's coming through is a welcome response really but we're looking for a response from the government to help us out not just our high street but everybody's"

• Business
• high street
• Bearwood

Richard Marshall, Bearwood Traders Association.

"We've got lots of old traditional retailers that have been here for years and years so we are obviously doing something right. It's just the little bits around the edges we need to tighten up on.

I think the Midlands in general has lost out on lots of government funding over the years and I think small communities like this on the outskirts of big centres like Birmingham actually deserve to get noticed. I think we really deserve to get some money"

• Business
• Bearwood
• Mary Portas