A cute little black-and-white kid is the latest member of the rare Bagot goat family in the Sandwell Valley – the latest newcomer to a project to save the species from extinction.

The female has been born at Sandwell Council’s Forge Mill Farm at West Bromwich and is now available to be seen by visitors.

Melissa Underwood-Grattage, the farm manager, said “She is a cute little thing and is the latest introduction to the farm’s breeding stock and will play a part in helping to increase the number of these rare animals for years to come."

Staff at the Valley are supporting a scheme run by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to breed the rare goats as there are fewer than 200 registered breeding females left.

The Bagot family of goats are a popular attraction for visitors to  Forge Mill. The Bagot is believed to be Britain’s oldest breed of goat with records of them being around in 1389 at Blithfield, the Staffordshire home of Sir John Bagot.

The exact origin of the Bagot goat is unknown - one theory is that they were brought to Britain during the Crusades in the Middle Ages, while others believe they originated from native goats in medieval times.

The first elected Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, visited the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham, to meet the families of seriously ill children staying at the ‘home away from home’ accommodation.

In 2017, over 1,000 families stayed at the House, free of charge, while their children were being treated in nearby Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Mr Street met current residents and the team at the Ronald McDonald House, who work around the clock 365 days a year to provide vital accommodation for the families.

The Mayor said: “It was great to see the fantastic work done by the brilliant volunteers and fundraisers at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. They give a first class welcome to the West Midlands to all the families that use the House every day of the year.”

Doug Wright, Chair of the Board of Governors at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham said: “We are delighted that the Mayor has taken the time to visit us so he could see the great work and passion of the team here at the House. The House is heavily funded by donations from the community, from kids raising a few pounds for their sponsored PJ Day at school, to large corporate donations.  This House is vitally important and gives all our families the peace of mind they need.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities provides free accommodation to families of children receiving treatment at specialist Children’s Hospitals across the UK. The 14 Houses across the UK offer somewhere for families to cook their own meals, sleep in their own ensuite bedrooms, and to get valuable respite whilst being able to remain close to their children who are being treated in specialist hospitals.

This year marks the 128th Crufts event, the most hotly anticipated dog show of the year which brings together top dog breeders and trainers from across the globe, all competing to take home one of the prestigious awards.

Every year thousands of dog owners, trainers and enthusiasts mark their calendars for the biggest doggy event of the year, and get ready to celebrate the coveted “Best in Show” pooch. To get into the spirit Lintbells, a Crufts’ event sponsor and manufacturer of premium natural pet supplements, which will be attending for the 11th time, is sharing some of the ways dog owners can celebrate their very own best in show at home.

1. Pamper time

2. Healthy treats

3. Cosy cuddles

4. Walkies

5. Try supplements

If you would like to find out any more information or advice about the health and wellbeing of your dog you can head to the Lintbells stand at Crufts (Stand 121 in Hall 3) to chat to the friendly team.

The team will also be asking “What makes your dog’s tail wag?” encouraging customers, both new and existing, to share thoughts and experiences about their own canine companions, and adding stories to the Lintbells #tellyourtail wall. With one lucky visitor winning a dog friendly UK holiday worth up to £750 with Forest holidays. A Lintbells hamper and discount code for 2018 will also be up for grabs.

A host of Lintbells’ products will be on offer to purchase from the stand including a brand new product, YuMOVE PLUS for dogs which is exclusively available through Lintbells only. This is an extension of their already popular joint supplement YuMOVE, packed with even more ActiveEase® Green Lipped Mussel providing extra strength for older and much stiffer dogs. There will be some fantastic offers available including up to 50% off RRP on selected products. The experienced team will be on hand to offer tips and advice on any of the products.

Alethea Maillard, Marketing Manager for Lintbells, said: “We are so excited to be returning to Crufts this year, and are thrilled to be one of the sponsors for the event for the first time. The health and wellbeing of dogs is at the heart of everything we do and we can’t wait to meet lots of fellow dog lovers and let them know about the benefits of our products. We are also looking forward to hearing everyone’s ‘tails’ about their own best friend  and invite everyone to come along to your stand and share their stories.”

A new campaign has been launched urging people to play their part so that, “Together, we can tackle child abuse”.

It encourages members of the public to help protect children and young people by reporting any concerns they may have about the possible abuse or neglect of a child to the City of Wolverhampton Council, the NSPCC or West Midlands Police.

The City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board are backing the campaign which was launched by the Department for Education amid fears that some people are failing to report their concerns because they are not certain of the signs of child abuse, don’t know where to report it, or are worried about being wrong.

As well as highlighting how people should go about reporting their concerns, the campaign also urges people to look out for the signs that could suggest a young person is being abused. These include changes in their ABC – their appearance, their behaviour and the way they communicate.

Councillor Val Gibson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse and neglect.

“Anything you notice can help a child at risk. If you’re concerned in any way that a child is being abused or their safety is at risk, please speak to someone as keeping quiet could mean that the authorities miss out on vital information they need to keep children safe from harm.

"Information about a child's welfare is gathered from many sources, and your report will form part of a bigger picture. You don’t have to be absolutely certain, but by speaking to the council, the NSPCC or the police you could provide the missing piece of the jigsaw – and ultimately keep a child safe."

To report concerns in confidence, please call the City of Wolverhampton Council's children's social care team on 01902 555392 or 01902 552999 outside normal working hours. If the child is at immediate risk, call the police on 999, or 101 if you think a crime has been committed. Trained counsellors are available via the NSPCC helpline 24 hours a day on 0808 800 5000 or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Councillor Gibson added: “Anyone can make contact with the authorities if they are worried or have concerns about a young person, including children and their families, relatives, friends and neighbours and professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses and health visitors. Whoever you are, the message is clear – if you think it, report it."