Visitors to Wolverhampton city centre will now see streets, public features and open spaces brought to life by new LED lighting throughout the year.

Phase one of the Lighting Up the City project got underway in August and is already helping create a brighter and more inviting environment that feels safe during both day and night.

The focus of the scheme is on a 1.5-mile walking route through the city centre.

It has so far seen the dressing of the Dudley Street and Cheapside trees with lights along with other locations, as well as a light curtain in Exchange Street.

The Queen Square fountain and steps, and St Peter’s Gardens have had new lights installed, while uplighters now showcase the Lady Wulfruna statue outside St Peter’s Church and Lock Street open space.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “This project aims to showcase some of the many architecturally interesting features and buildings in the city, create a more interesting and attractive environment throughout the night and day, and create a greener and more inviting environment.

“The lighting up of selected areas of trees across the city centre and public features has already significantly enhanced the city centre environment.

“In creating a more inviting and safer environment it is anticipated that footfall will increase within the city resulting in economic benefits for the area. In addition, the inclusion of a walking route within the city is anticipated to contribute towards healthier lifestyles by increasing physical activity participation levels.

“The scheme is of course being carried out with the environment in mind by using LED lighting to reduce energy demand.”

Prior to phase one work to upgrade existing lighting schemes within the city, including the Cenotaph at St Peter’s Square, and the Ionic Order at Wednesfield, was completed.

Long-term plans include the introduction of pocket parks - small green spaces in an urban setting.

A number of buildings and structures have also been identified across the city centre for enhanced lighting and will require agreement and support from a number of different partners.

The council has had discussions with partners such as the University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, House of Fraser, and the Mander Centre, as the final proposal is developed.

The council is also looking to introduce lighting schemes as part of new developments, such as the £55 million Westside project, and within forthcoming public realm improvement and connectivity projects that are being developed as part of the Connected Places Strategy delivery plan.

Efforts will also be made to introduce planning conditions that require developers to bring forward lighting schemes as part of any future city centre sites.

The council intends to lead by example by proposing a specific lighting scheme to enhance the main entrance of the city’s art gallery to showcase the many architectural aspects of the building.

Wolverhampton will come together remember the victims of Nazi persecution, the Holocaust and other genocides around the world when the City marks Holocaust Memorial Day later this month.

The Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Elias Mattu will lay a wreath during a service led by Inter-Faith Wolverhampton at the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square on Friday 26 January, 2018.

Mayor Councillor Mattu said: "Holocaust Memorial Day represents an opportunity to remember the millions of people who were murdered or whose lives were changed beyond recognition as a result of the Holocaust, persecution or genocide.

"It is hugely important that we do not forget what happened during the Second World War and that we educate future generations about the Holocaust, because everyone has a responsibility to fight the evils of discrimination, racism and xenophobia."

The service in St Peter's Square starts at 11am and will be attended by representatives from various faith communities, Trade Unions and pensioners’ organisations, Civic leaders and members of the public.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January – the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkena – and is organised by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

This year's event will focus on the power of words. It will recognise that spoken and written words from individuals, corporations, community organisations or the state can have a huge impact, whether good or bad, and explore how language was used in the past and is being used today.

British parents will spend an average of £4,886.28 on birthdays through primary school according to new research from Barclays. This is despite a third (33%) admitting that they buy more presents than their children need and 31% admitting they should spend their money in more intelligent ways.

In a survey of 1,000 British parents with children aged eight or below, it was revealed that the average parent will spend £164.65 on presents, £433.39 on parties and £100.06 on presents for other children every year. In addition to this high expense, parents also revealed they will spend as much as £223.05 on party bags. And with parents expected to have to fork out an average of £60,000 on the expenses children’s school years bring, from school uniforms, to trips, to extra-curricular activities, the strain on savings is only going to deepen in later life.

Looking at the regions in the UK most guilty of overspending on their children’s birthdays, London came out on top – the average Londoner set to spend £5,047.72 through primary school. This was followed closely by the North East and North West regions, with inhabitants set to spend an average of £4,313.72 and £3,532.01 respectively.

The research showed that parents feel immense financial strain due to the amount they spend on birthdays, with half (50%) admitting to having sacrificed other financial commitments such as saving and investing to afford extravagant birthday costs.

• The people of Scotland are most aware of their overspending, with almost half of people surveyed (42%) thinking that they buy their children more presents than they need
• Londoners are most guilty of dipping into their savings to pay for birthdays, with almost a quarter (24%) admitting to dipping into their rainy day fund
• The research found that the people living in the West Midlands are the most remorseful, with over a third (38%) believing  they could have used the money spent on presents in better ways
• Those living in East Anglia are most likely to sacrifice their own needs to throw their children the perfect party, with almost a quarter (23%) admitting this.
• Londoners admit that their children are the most spoilt due to the amount of presents they receive (27%)

Clare Francis, Savings and Investments Director at Barclays, said: “As a parent, it’s easy to understand why people spend so much money on their children on their birthdays, but the money you spend on this one day adds up and ultimately can end up having quite an impact on the savings you might have otherwise put aside for your child’s future, especially since many of us are juggling just to make ends meet each month already.

For anyone spending more than they think they should, it’s perhaps time to reassess the amount you’d typically spend on birthdays and take a longer term view. Although it seems worthwhile now, there are plenty of moments later in their lives when having that bit of extra money will help, whether it be funding items for school or a trip abroad. So make the decision to not get carried away and hold firm in not bowing down to peer pressure for their next birthday – it could make a big difference in the future.”

Naughty naughty

The research also revealed some of the misbehaviours of children at birthday parties, which included anecdotes about children blowing out candles on the birthday cake, eating the sweets they brought as gifts and stealing the birthday money.

Looking at the most common misbehaviours, a fifth (20%) of parents have said they have witnessed a bust up between children at their child’s party. One in five have endured a child’s guest having a tantrum and one in 10 have had a child turn up uninvited.

Parents ranked their home as the most stressful place to host a children’s birthday party, followed by a swimming pool and a restaurant – completing the top three.

A £6.49 painting kit could follow in the footsteps of fidget spinners by becoming 2018’s first new toy craze.

Online marketplace OnBuy says it has seen demand for the simple painting package soar as a fad for pebble-hunting gathers pace up and down the nation.

The game, often driven by Facebook and Instagram, sees people painting pebbles and hiding them around their local area for others to find, photograph and share on social media before re-hiding them for someone else to find.

It started in America and is now sweeping Britain, with reports of coloured rocks being found everywhere from Devon, Dorset and Hampshire to Yorkshire, Norfolk and Scotland.

With the strangely addictive fidget spinner the fourth most searched term on Google in 2017 after Meghan Markle, the iPhone 8 and Hurricane Irma, the thirst for the next new trend has never been greater. Pebble painting kits could take up one of Google's top spots next year, says Cas Paton, Managing Director of OnBuy.

He said: “We think this creative craze looks set to continue and be the next big thing for 2018.

“It’s so much cheaper than some of the things we’ve seen catching the imagination in the past – anyone can go out and pick up pebbles from the beach, or even their own back gardens, and parents love it because it gets the kids away from their phones and tablets.

“It’s something that appeals to every generation, and the creative possibilities with the designs are endless.”

OnBuy’s rapidly-growing online marketplace is the perfect one-stop shop for all your favourite toys, with thousands of product lines from registered sellers.

Based in the UK, low fees for sellers mean savings for customers, making OnBuy the better value alternative to Amazon.

Latest figures released by the National Custom & Self Build Association reveal that 33,000 people have already signed up to the Right to Build register since October 2017, which means that at least half of the demand for serviced plots will have to be authorised by October 2019. To support more people in their desire to build homes in the region and inspire remodelling projects, The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show is returning to the NEC, Birmingham from 22-25 March 2018. Over four packed days, visitors will benefit from more than 500 exhibitors and 16 free daily seminars and masterclasses in the extended venue.

The event is a best-in-class marketplace for all the latest products and services provided by specialist companies in industries ranging from kitchens; bathrooms; doors and windows; heating; energy efficiency; architecture; design; financial services; planning permission and much more. Aside from providing advice and guidance, real case studies will be at the show to discuss the dilemmas they faced during their self-build/renovation experience, helping visitors with similar problems.

On site, visitors will be able to book bespoke consultations with celebrity experts who present their favourite TV property programmes. Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and presenter of Channel 4’s ‘Best Laid Plans’, will be on-hand to discuss homes of the future, new architectural ideas and eco living. Julia Kendell, interior design expert for BBC’s ‘DIY SOS The Build’ and ITV’s ’60 Minute Makeover’, will also be there to meet with visitors and talk about trendy interior adaptions and offer inspiration to anyone who wants to revamp their home.

The Advice Centre, a drop-in hub for one-on-one impartial guidance, is open to people who are interested in running ideas past property specialists with years of experience in their field. This show area will see the return of the Ask the Builder zone, where visitors will be given tips on locating approved construction workers from members of the Federation of Master Builders.

Visitors who are interested in free one-on-one appointments with chartered specialists from RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) will want to stop by the Ask the Architect area, which will cover a wide array of topics such as extensions, new builds, internal alterations and much more.

For objective tailored advice, the Ask the Expert zone will provide 15-minute consultations via interactive sessions with some of the UK’s leading property specialists. Visitors will be able to talk through their plans with Michael Holmes (director of content and product development for Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Jason Orme (editorial director of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine; Mariana Pedroso (interior designer and architect); Hugo Tugman (chair and founder of Architect Your Home); Tim Pullen (eco-expert of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Bob Branscombe (building expert of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine); Allan Corfield (self-build expert of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine) and Sally Tagg (an expert on planning permission).

The voluntary organisation, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, based in Birmingham, UK, has agreed to develop Sheetal Kund near the Rajgir Gurdwara in India into a tourist spot.

On the request of Nitish Kumar, the chief minister, GNNSJ took on the initiative. The foundation stone was intended to be laid by Nitish in December last year but the programme was deferred.

Chairman of GNNSJ Bhai Shahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh mentioned that the blueprint for the development of Sheetal Kund Gurdwara is already drawn up.

"The Jattha will bear whatever funds are required. Sheetal Kund gurdwara is the first project taken up by the Jattha after Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib in Patna City," said Mohinder.

Sheetal Kund is associated with Guru Nanak, and is believed that Guru Nanak visited the Kund at Rajgir in Nalanda district with two disciples about 450 years ago.

"Mardana, a Muslim, suddenly felt thirsty. After taking permission from Sri Guru Nanak Dev, he went to a nearby kund (waterhole) which was hot. Unable to quench his thirst, he returned and requested the Guru to help him. After repeated requests, the Guru visited the waterfall. When Guru Nanak Dev's feet touched the water, it cooled down, earning its name Sheetal Kund," said Trilok Singh Nishad, chairman of Shree Sanatani Sikh Sabha.