City news in 250 words: Friday 29 January

CONSERVATIVES REVIEW PLANS TO AXE NORTH WEST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY after a backlash from business groups. Weeks before the election manifesto is finalised, Ken Clarke, the party's business spokesman, admitted the current policy was “not clear”, and ordered a review. The move follows criticism from the CBI and British Chambers of Commerce that scrapping the Regional Development Agencies would fail to deliver the "strategic infrastructure which business thinks is so important".

COUNCIL ASKS PARENTS AND SCHOOLS TO JOIN FORCES TO STAMP OUT TRUANCY in a bid to cut down on the city’s colossal figures of school days lost each week through absence. The Council’s campaign will include radio adverts and billboard posters that remind parents it is just not acceptable to keep their children off. ‘Truancy blitzes’ will also take place at schools, with fines and court appearances for parents who regularly allow their children to bunk off.

TATTOOED CITY FAN IS LEFT FEELING BLUE AFTER ROBINHO LEAVES and leaves him with the Brazilian’s name tattooed on his chest. Chris Atkinson, who also got ‘Kaka’ tattooed on his chest despite never putting on the blue shirt, said, “Now Robinho's moved on as well as Kaka. I'm gutted.”

SUSPICIOUS SUBSTANCE AT AIRPORT IS IDENTIFIED AS…DRIED COW BLOOD. The substance sparked a security alert on Saturday leading to Terminal 3 being evacuated and delaying passengers for six hours. Now it has emerged that the substance was Bovine Serum Albumin, a protein made from cow’s blood and used in lab tests and medical research.

Life’s little American instruction of the day: Throw away uncomfortable shoes, too-tight underwear and expired chicken salad.