Just the ticket...

Christmas is a time of giving … and there can be few better examples of that spirit than in the Village Voice area.

Local charities have been huge beneficiaries of people’s fund-raising over the festive period, none more so than Melbourne Community Care. Their appeal for help to buy a new minibus saw a terrific response and the organisation says it can now take delivery of a new vehicle. Community Care say they are still a few thousand pounds off their final target, so more fund-raising is needed. But chairman Brian Dollamore told Village Voice: “Thank you very much to the village – you have been terrific.”

And patrons of the White Hart pub in Aston showed just what the festive season is all about by giving piles and piles of food and toiletries for the homeless. Landlord Jon Key said of the appeal for donations: “We thought we’d get a trolley-full - we got something like eight to 10 trolleys full.”

Meanwhile Kings Newton’s DG Light Haulage raised more than £3,000 for the Glenfield Cardiac Unit by hosting wreath-making workshops at Staunton Harold Hall.

You should all give yourselves a huge pat on the back.

Local businesses have been given a boost with the arrival of 20 more limited time spaces in the car park behind the Melbourne Inn. The move is a result of a survey by Cllr Martin Fitzpatrick which showed that at many times of the day the car park is full, making it difficult for shoppers.

The January edition also carries news on two large new housing applications, with one getting the green light and the other being rejected for a second time.

Christmas and New Year festivities are wrapped up by our photographers while the sports pages include two martial art black belt successes which are thought to be a first for people with disabilities.

Happy new year to you all.