pounds 1m haul from counterfeit CD-ROM market raid.

Counterfeit computer discs worth at least pounds 1million have been seized following a raid at a Black Country market.

The CD-ROMs were seized in a joint operation by police, trading standards officers and the Federation Against Software Theft following a three-month undercover operation.

Three stalls at Bilston Market and a number of houses were raided which led to the discovery of a counterfeit software factory.

Four people from Willenhall, Wolverhampton, Sparkbrook, Birmingham and Oldbury were helping police with inquiries.

Appeal over sex attack

Police yesterday issued an urgent appeal for public help following a serious sex attack on an 18-year old woman in a Wolverhampton park.

The woman was in Phoenix Park, Parkfields when the attack happened between 8pm and 10.30pm on Sunday.

Det Chief Insp John Smith, of Bilston Street CID, said: "She was approached by someone who dragged her into the bushes. A serious sexual assault then took place.

"It is important we speak to anyone who was in the park that night as they may have seen the attacker."

Shop closure blow

Ailing West Bromwich town centre has been dealt another blow with the closure of a clothing store.

The Fosters Trading Company shop in the town's Sandwell Centre is closing at the end of the month making eight staff redundant.

The Shoe Express shop, in the same centre, closed a few days ago putting seven staff on the dole.

Freeman, Hardy and Willis and Marks & Spencers have been among other major stores to close in West Bromwich in recent years.

Fears for job loss man

Police are concerned for the safety of a 38-year-old man who has been missing since Friday night.

Mr Paul James Holder, of Haden Crescent, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, rang his pregnant wife Lisa at 11.45pm on Friday saying he would be home shortly but failed to return.

He had recently been made redundant.

Paul is white, 5ft 9in, stocky, with mousy brown hair, tattoos on his arms and a scar on the left side of his face. When last seen he was wearing a blue fleece top, black jeans, red T-shirt and black shoes.

Family hunt plea

Sandwell's mayor Coun Brian James has received a plea from the other side of the world to find a "missing" family.

Mr Ken MacGroucutt, of Orewa, Auckland, New Zealand, contacted Coun James to try to find his grandfather's family and their descendants.

His grandfather Harry Groucutt was born in West Bromwich in 1901 and had a sister Louie, who married a Sam Bibb. In 1914, at the start of World War, Harry ran away to sea, jumped ship in New Zealand and put "Mac" in front of his name.

He married Ellen May Mooney and had four children - one being Ken's father Henry who died in 1969.

Pedestrian injured

A pedestrian was taken to hospital with a broken leg after he was in collision with a Rover car in Walsall.

The accident happened at 5.20pm on Monday in Teddesley Street at its junction with Upper Forster Street, and the injured man was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital for treatment.

Bypass vote due

Moves are being made tomorrow Thursday to pave the way for the building of a pounds 6million bypass in one of the Black Country's most congested towns.

Sandwell councillors are expected to give the go ahead for the compulsory purchase order of land to enable the Blackheath East bypass to be built.

ps Post Script

Members of a gardening club are recreating a corner of the Chelsea Flower Show in Solihull to display the courtyard design which won them a gold medal.

Wythall Gardening Club will reconstruct the courtyard garden which took top honours at the country's most prestigious flower show, at Ambleside Garden Centre in Norton Lane, Earlswood.

Article Details

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Publication:	The Birmingham Post (England)
Date:	Jul 1, 1998
Words:	628
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