Residents in Birmingham are being reminded of this year’s Christmas waste collection arrangements with one month until festivities begin. As is normally the case, the council’s crews, who work on all other Bank Holidays, will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day (or any Bank Holidays staged when either of those two days are at the weekend).

The borough’s brightest sporting talent took centre stage on Wednesday at the Haringey Celebrating Sport Awards. Gongs were given out in a host of categories as the glitzy event enjoyed its ninth year at Tottenham Green Pools and Fitness. The awards – backed by the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Haringey Sports Development Trust; Tottenham Grammar School Foundation; Fusion Lifestyle and Haringey Council – recognise sporting excellence, top quality coaching, volunteering and performance through 12 categories.

Haringey “will become London’s first zero-carbon borough” as it bids to lead the way in tackling climate change. The ambitious pledge was made as the fifth annual Haringey Carbon Report was presented to Full Council. Haringey remains the only borough to track and publish its record on reducing local carbon emissions.

Christmas comes around just once a year, but by joining in with ActionAid’s brand new fundraising initiative Faux Ho Ho, the festival fun can be doubled while raising money to  help change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable women and children. 

A wonderful seasonal start to Christmas will sound out when Sandwell’s mayor hosts the 126th annual Civic Carol Concert at West Bromwich Town Hall. And there'll be plenty of mince pies to tempt the taste buds during the interval. The popular concert, compered by the BBC’s Mike Wyer, features the Langley Band, Sandwell & District Scouts Choir and well-known singer Maggie O’Hara.

The RSPCA is searching for the owner of a cat which is thought to have travelled more than 250 miles trapped inside a car engine. The furry stowaway, who has been nicknamed Phileas Mogg, was rescued by the RSPCA and an AA patrol after pitiful mewing was heard from under the bonnet.