Audi Q4 S line 45 e-tron By Bill McCarthy Audi's enduring popularity is a tribute to a strategy developed over recent decades, built on premium quality, a comprehensive vehicle range and clever marketing. Who has never heard of the phrase “Vorsprung durch Technik”, even without understanding its meaning? Many EVs lose their brand character, particularly with the disappearance of the traditional grille, but Audi remains an aspirational brand for many customers looking to move upmarket.

Mazda CX-80 Takumi 3.3D By Bill McCarthy In an era where the powertrain is increasingly seen as either electric or petrol, the diesel – or oil burner to many – powers this Mazda with the unmistakable hum of a straight-six 3.3-litre unit. Mated to standard four-wheel drive, the CX-80 has huge road presence in Mazda's march upmarket, offering space, quality finish and practicality with a towing capacity of 2.5 tonnes – all built around an engine many rivals have abandoned.

Honda Civic e-HEV By Bill McCarthy The iconic Honda Civic is one of the world’s best-selling cars, with more than 27 million sold worldwide since 1974. There’s a reason for that success. This mid-life revamp of the 11th generation demonstrates why, with slick design, sophisticated hybrid technology, and SUV-like practicality. I t makes a persuasive case for the smart, safe, and stylish family hatchback as others abandon that sector because of the rise in popularity of SUVs and crossovers, and the economic and regulatory pressures that make building small, affordable cars less profitable.

A Sutton Coldfield care home resident has celebrated her remarkable 102nd birthday by sharing her timeless advice for a long and happy life. Joyce McCliskie, affectionately known as Joy, marked the milestone at Care UK’s Mercia Grangeon Lichfield Road, surrounded by her loving family and the care home team. To honour the special occasion, the team decorated the home with banners and balloons, and the head chef prepared a bespoke birthday cake.

The festive season is officially aglow in Royal Sutton Coldfield. This year's display features 230 energy-efficient LED lights across the town, providing brighter illumination while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional bulbs. You can see the sparkling Christmas lights in the following locations: Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Boldmere High Street Mere Green Walmley Wylde Green Falcon Lodge Minworth Whitehouse Common…

Mini Cooper S Exclusive By Bill McCarthy The MINI Cooper remains an iconic brand, a world away from the original Alec Issigonis-designed Minis of the mid-60s, which became a cultural icon. However, it still brilliantly leverages its 1960s heritage and updates it with modern technology and style. Not cheap, but still aspirational, it comes in many forms: from the huge (relatively) Countryman for family practicality, to the iconic Cooper, with the extra driving appeal that harks back to its rally success and winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times.

SEAL 6 DM-i Saloon and Touring By Bill McCarthy Stepping on the accelerator – or perhaps charging up the battery – in the UK, Chinese car maker BYD's models are arriving thick and fast. The brand is rapidly expanding its line-up and has now introduced the SEAL 6 DM-i, a plug-in hybrid designed to offer the best of both worlds. …

Audrey Smithem, Alan Blakeley, and Jean Greaves with artist Peter Forbes From brushstrokes to baritones home hosts artful evening Care UK’s Mercia Grange care home recently hosted its first-ever art exhibition, creating an unforgettable evening that blended visual art with live opera music for residents, their families, and the local community. The event at the Lichfield Road, Four Oaks venue, showcased the remarkable artwork of 

Join Sutton Coldfield PCSO Gill Whittingham for a friendly, informal chat about local matters in the Four Oaks area. Residents are invited to an upcoming Police Community Surgery. This is your chance to speak one-to-one, about any concerns or issues you may have in your neighbourhood. When: Thursday, 27th November 2025Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 amWhere: The Cosy Coffee Shop, Clarence Road…

Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra Volvo EX30CC (Cross Country) Ultra  By Bill McCarthy The Volvo EX30 Cross Country takes the award-winning formula of the standard EX30 and injects it with a dose of rugged adventure. While its sharp, urban styling – featuring signature 'Thor’s Hammer' headlights – doesn't scream traditional off-roader, this pumped-up variant is engineered to tackle gravel tracks and muddy trails without compromising its city-friendly usability.

BMet (Birmingham Metropolitan College) which includes Sutton Coldfield College, James Watt College and Matthew Boulton College, honoured the outstanding achievements of its graduates, students, and staff at its annual graduation ceremony, held at the iconic Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. The celebratory event was attended by graduates, their families and friends, and BMet staff. It featured special guest appearances from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, MBE, JP, and award-winning athlete Jamie McAnsh, who delivered an inspiring keynote speech to motivate the new graduates.

Hyundai Ioniq 9 Calligraphy By Bill McCarthy There’s an old saying that good things come in small packages, which is often true. But the same can apply at the other end of the scale. In the case of the Ioniq 9, it isn’t just large – it’s huge, at over five metres long and nearly two metres wide. And yes, it’s very good indeed.

Sutton Coldfield visitors afre in for a magical Victorian-themed Christmas Market on The Parade in Sutton Coldfield, when it returns for its second year across two festive weekends in December. After listening to visitor feedback, this year's market has been condensed into two vibrant, four-day weekends to ensure a fantastic atmosphere and a bustling, fully occupied artisan marketplace. Market dates and opening times…

Honda HR-V e:HEV By Bill McCarthy Honda produces some stylish cars. The Civic, and particularly the thrilling Type-R, springs to mind. While the new HR-V may not share that model's glamour, it is a good-looking, practical vehicle featuring a new colour palette, more technically advanced options, and improved economy. This mid-range Advance model adds LED headlights with cornering and adaptive beam functions, a power tailgate, and a heated leather steering wheel.

Music and community spirit at Sutton Coldfield retirement community The unforgettable sounds of the 1960s and 70s filled a retirement community in Wylde Green, as residents enjoyed a special performance from singer Jane Francis and her ‘Golden Grooves’ show. The event perfectly captured the vibrant, community-focused lifestyle enjoyed by homeowners at Broadleaf House Retirement Community.

Hyundai Inster 02 Tech Pack By Bill McCarthy The Inster is eye-catching electric city car. Combining quirky charm with practical features, it offers a surprisingly spacious interior, advanced tech, and an attractive and competitive starting price of £23,550. Sometimes, when describing a product – be it a car, a kitchen gadget, or a piece of furniture – as 'quirky' can be code for cheap and nasty. 

Lexus RZ 450e current and upgrade Lexus has long built a reputation on quality, refinement and bulletproof reliability. So, when it introduced its first ground-up electric vehicle, the RZ SUV, it was a serious statement of intent from this premium arm of the Toyota empire. The current model blends a striking design, impressive performance and desirability, but its range is by no means class-leading.

Mazda2 Homura hybrid By Bill McCarthy I have mentioned having a soft spot for the Mazda2 before, following a Spanish adventure with the little car. It performed so well it saved me the embarrassment of having to be rescued after getting lost in the hills near Barcelona. Back in the early 2000s, a fellow journalist and I got hilariously lost, ending up on a dirt track.

Shoppers and visitors to Royal Sutton Coldfield are set for a major festive boost, as a popular scheme offering free parking, discounted bus travel, and free cycle hire returns this November.. While the scheme will be welcome, residents are reminded that it only applies to council run car parks at certain times and not private car parks in the town.

As the nights draw in and the air grows colder, Sutton Coldfield Town Hall is offering a warm welcome this November. The town centre venue says it is offering a month-long extravaganza of comedy, live music, theatre, and festive cheer. Here’s your essential guide to what’s on this November. A month of special music Get ready for a tour through the greatest sounds in music history, with tributes that feel as good as the real thing.

Suzuki S-Cross hybrid Ultra By Bill McCarthy In the crowded and highly competitive world of compact SUVs, the Suzuki S-Cross has always carved out a sensible space. It has a loyal customer base who are confident in the product. It may not feature some of the bells and whistles and luxurious touches of rivals, but this latest version, with a series of upgrades, offers very great value for money in a tight market.

Omoda 9 SHS PHEV By Bill McCarthy The arrival of Chinese brands continues so rapidly that a brand like Omoda already feels established, despite launching only in the summer of 2024. Now, its new flagship, the all-wheel drive Omoda 9, is challenging the premium market. It arrives as a single, comprehensively equipped model, with all its hi-tech bells and whistles and premium features as standard.

Sutton Coldfield will be hoosting Inspire Activity's Company Christmas Games this year. Inspire Activity is a Birmingham-based organisation promoting well-being through various programs and events, including Company Games, Party Games, and school initiatives. The games will take place at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall on Thursday, 27 November, starting at 3pm and finishing at 6pm. Teams can participate in festive challenges such as sprout slaloms, tinsel tosses, indoor curling, and more—guaranteed to spark laughter and camaraderie.

The popular Boldmere Christmas Festival, including its popular lights switch-on event, has been officially cancelled for this year. The organisers, Boldmere Futures, cite severe funding shortages after their grant from Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council was dramatically reduced. A History of declining funding The community interest company has seen a steep decline in financial support from the council over recent years.

Suzuki Vitara Hybrid By Bill McCarthy Suzuki’s smart SUV has always been a popular model, commanding customer loyalty with its keen pricing and reputation for reliability. Ahead of the launch of the all-electric e-Vitara this year, the hybrid model has received a comprehensive facelift.  It now features two model names – Motion and the range-topping Ultra – bringing it in line with the rest of the Suzuki brand.