Children’s charity Barnardo’s has celebrated the 35th anniversary of its longest-established store in the West Midlands. The store in Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre was opened in 1983, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and breakfast television was just beginning.

Since then it has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to support vulnerable children and young people across the UK. In the last year alone the team received more than 7,700 bags of donations from more than 3,150 supporters.

The team of dedicated staff and volunteers celebrated the anniversary by cutting a specially-decorated cake on Tuesday. Barnardo’s manager Robyn Phillips said: “We were amazed when we realised just how long the store has been fundraising for the charity. It’s a major milestone and we wanted to do something to mark the occasion and to thank all of our volunteers.

“We have a fantastic team aged from 20 years old up to 74 years old, and the longest-serving supporter has been with us for an astonishing 30 years!

“Over the last 12 months they’ve donated more than 2,400 hours of their own time to help with sorting the stock and serving the customers. Their dedication is unbelievable.

“They all work incredibly hard, but they’re very proud of what they do and we always have a laugh and a joke together.”

Robyn added: “No two days are ever the same and we never know what we’re going to find inside a bag of donations. We’ve received all sorts of items ranging from tins of dog food and a used toothbrush to Tiffany bracelets worth several hundred pounds.

“People offer whatever they can to help us and we wouldn’t be able to operate without their support. Thanks to all of our donors and customers, we’re able to raise much-needed funds to continue the charity’s life-changing work.”

An artist’s impression has been revealed to show what Wolverhampton’s new £4.9 million city centre market will look like.

Work on the new Southside site, fronting Cleveland Street, started last month and the new image will now feature on the surrounding hoardings.

It is anticipated the traders will move to their new home in spring 2018.

It will boast 20 cabins and 48 stalls, and will offer the flexibility to trade from bigger cabins, event space, a secure site with measures in place to combat hostile vehicles while still allowing access for traders to load and unload, CCTV, integrated lighting and power, free WiFi, canopy-covered walkways, offices, customer toilets, and comprehensive parking and storage facilities.

The new market will also provide increased footfall from the Wulfrun Centre and transport Interchange, as well as situating the market in a student catchment area.

As well as the existing traders securing stalls, a number are set to be snapped up by new traders, including a bakery, and discussions are also underway with several street food vendors.

Applications are currently being assessed and the window remains open.

Councillor Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “This artist’s impression shows what a huge asset the new market will be to the city centre.

“We are consulting regularly with the current traders over the relocation – and we are delighted with the interest we have had from new applicants.

“Their addition will provide a more varied range of sales lines to differentiate it from a traditional market offer.

“The new market, partly funded by the sale of Market Square as part of the Westside scheme, has loads of potential – and we want this to be the people’s market, where events are also encouraged.”

The former Netto store and adjoining buildings were cleared from the Southside site last year and the land converted into an interim car park, which is now boarded off for the works to begin.

The market move will see 48 tented stalls and 16 purpose-built cabins transferred from Market Square in phases.

The Market Square location is to be absorbed into the new £55 million leisure-led Westside development by developer Urban&Civic.

This will deliver a multi-screen cinema, restaurants, bars, hotel, multi-storey car park, apartments, and public realm to the heart of the city centre, in two phases, over five years.

A temporary market has been in place since April last year when the indoor traders joined the outdoor traders in Market Square to enable the demolition of Heantun House and the old indoor market.

The city centre market is one of three markets in Wolverhampton, with Bilston and Wednesfield markets also popular places to shop.

This Christmas, luxury island resort Essque Zalu Zanzibar is filling the island with music and festive joy with an exciting programme of family activities, unforgettable experiences and delectable gourmet treats. Starting from 23 December and continuing through into 2018, this one-of-a-kind festivity is guaranteed to create precious moments for everyone.

Kicking off the programme, guests are invited to explore the resort's very own Christmas Market. Showcasing local artwork, handmade decorations, bespoke jewellery, local crafts and accessories, there is a unique gift waiting to be found for friends and family. Adding to the festive atmosphere will be the warm and wholesome chorus of Essque Zalu's very own angels, a local carol choir who last year performed on celestial swings under the resort's spectacular and iconic Makuti roof.

Despite an absence of chimneys, the much anticipated visit of Santa for the hotel's younger guests on Christmas Eve will not be forgotten, with kids waking-up to find a unique, personalised gift waiting on their doorstep. Throughout the day, a fun-packed programme of festive activities, from spice-infused cookery classes to craft making, ensures families have a Christmas filled with laughter and lasting memories.

As Christmas Eve draws to a close, food lovers will be spoilt for choice as the resort's chefs prepare a culinary programme. Choose between an intimate family meal or a traditional gastronomic feast with a spectacular Gala Dinner featuring speciality dishes by award-winning Executive Chef Ramkalawon Anuraag such as sweet-spiced duck breast with saffron mash; cured Red Snapper with Zanzibari spices and pineapple compote; the catch-of-the-day marinated in Gunpowder spices and roasted pumpkin; and poached mango in cardamom syrup with a refreshing lime sorbet.

On 31 December, guests can embark on a gourmet journey via numerous culinary stations in the resort's World Food Market.  With locally sourced, deliciously winter warming food showcasing the best of European dishes, Asian delicacies and local favourites, the Food Market will be the perfect place to soak up the festive atmosphere.

Bidding farewell to 2017 and welcoming in 2018, the island resort is transformed for a grand New Year's Eve party. Spectacular acrobatic performers, live cooking stations, and music from some of the island's finest musicians and DJs will make this a night to remember.

Waddle into the festive season at SEA LIFE London and chill out with their Gentoo penguins, Santa's Antarctic helpers! With the arrival of their eight newest Gentoo penguins, this Christmas is shaping up to be the biggest celebration yet. Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with these fascinating birds, with floor-to-ceiling windows and special 'pop- up' viewing dome.

Their penguins also have an important job to do this Christmas; during the festive period visitors will be have the opportunity to send Father Christmas a letter via their Penguin Post. Thanks to their new snowy 'South Pole Post Box' (which has sprung up in the chilly Penguin Point area) it connects directly to Father Christmas at the North Pole - making sure that everyone can send a letter to Santa this season. Parents can also visit their website to find out how to receive a reply for their little ones from the big man himself!

Other penguin festivities will include 'Sing-to the Gentoo' carol services with their special Marie Curie choir. Listen to festive songs as the birds settle down for their own 'Silent Night' – check our website for confirmed dates and times.

Penguin Point offers visitors a state-of-the-art viewing and learning experience complete with a colony of inquisitive Gentoo penguins. All these 'cool' encounters are included in the entrance price to the aquarium and visitors can also enjoy getting up close to over 10,000 colourful aquatic inhabitants representing over 600 species in 56 immersive displays.

Assistant coroners were sworn in at an official ceremony at the Coroners Court in Jack Judge House, Oldbury.

The new Assistant Coroners Ms Laura Nash, Ms Emma Serrano and Ms Emma Whiting have received the consent of the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor, and will support the Senior Coroner Mr Zafar Siddique in serving bereaved families in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

Deputy leader of Sandwell Council, Councillor Syeda Khatun said: “Following the retirement of existing assistant coroners, we recognised it is important  that we ensure the Senior Coroner has sufficient resources.

"The council understands the importance bereaved families place on a service such as the coroners.

"Along with the recent investment into the excellent court facilities at Jack Judge House in Oldbury, the new assistant coroners will ensure families from across the Black Country have access to what has been described as a centre of excellence by the Chief Coroner of England and Wales."

Property services company Romans are supporting not just one, but a total of nine local charities, each nominated by members of the team. One of the nine charities they are sponsoring is Naomi House and Jacksplace a local children’s hospice in Winchester.

Over the last few months, the team in Winchester and the wider Romans network have been clearing out their closets and de-cluttering their homes to fill up 234 yellow bags which have all been donated to the charity. The donated stock will be sold in the hospice’s stores to raise funds for the children who rely on their care and support.

John Egan, Head of Retail at Naomi House and Jacksplace: “This has to be one of the largest one-off stock donations we’ve ever had! We’re so grateful to the staff at Romans for their incredible support. Our shops need more and more stock over Christmas and this will really make a difference.”

It is estimated that the donation could be worth up to £6,500 – which is enough to fund two months nursing care for a child at Naomi House. After visiting the hospice in Sutton Scotney, the team from the Winchester branch were inspired to continue their fundraising and have since supported the charity by taking part in a quiz night and sponsoring their Christmas Carol concert. And, they aren’t stopping there…

“We are hoping to do a second drop off within even more bags and have called upon our landlords and tenants in Winchester to help us top this fantastic total of 234 bags” explains John Maslin, Lettings Manager of Romans’ Winchester.

With nine charities to support, the group has a busy calendar of charity events covering everything from sky dives to bake sales, and even a trek along the Great Wall of China!

Vanessa Foot, Culture and Community Manager at Romans adds, “Working with local charities is extremely rewarding and is one of the best parts of my role. Having listened to our employees and partnered with a range of charities nominated by them, we’ve really hit the ground running – watch this space for more updates!”

Along with working with the chosen charities, Vanessa and Romans’ Community and Culture team have also been working with local schools and sports clubs continuing to offer not only sponsorship but mentoring opportunities, careers guidance and incentive schemes.