Summary

  • Man charged with murdering six-month-old son in Walsall

  • Stolen van set alight causes rail chaos

  • Scammers target dying woman

  • IPCC probes crash after car fails to stop for police

  • Two lorry drivers deny M1 crash death charges

  • West Midlands businesses "negative" over Brexit

  • Updates on Friday 27 October 2017

  • Click Related Stories for updates from your area

  1. Sheep killed in 'deliberate' dog attackspublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Lucy King
    News Editor, BBC Radio Stoke

    Five sheep have been killed by dogs in a field in Stoke-on-Trent in what is believed to be deliberate attacks.

    The RSPCA says sheep on Caverswall Common field were targeted in the past two weeks after surrounding fencing and stiles was damaged.

    Quote Message

    It is really shocking that this has happened and we do believe that someone has been deliberately targeting the sheep in this field. The fact that entry to the field has been forced leads us to believe this is a deliberate act.

    RSPCA, Spokesperson

    All the attacks have happened at night. The RSPCA is urging anyone with information to come forward.

  2. 'Argos doll taught my daughter to swear'published at 16:03 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    The plastic toy was supposed to say "mama" and "papa" but instead appears to say a rude word.

    Read More
  3. Fire could affect Wolves fans' journeys to Etihadpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Alice Rosenthal
    BBC WM

    People travelling to Wolverhampton Wanderers cup match against Manchester City tonight are being told to leave extra time to get there.

    It's because there's been a large fire near the Ethihad stadium.

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  4. Fatal crash fire engine not on 999 callpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    James Sarson, 26, who was driving a silver BMW car died in hospital at the weekend.

    Read More
  5. Food bank helps 'changes lives'published at 15:39 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Jennifer Meierhans
    BBC Midlands Today

    Imran Hameed remembers his mother helping a lost stranger to find her way home.

    She died when he was 17 and Imran was determined to continue her legacy of helping others.

    When people call his food bank in crisis he tells then “Don’t worry you’re my brother…you’re my sister”.

    People I spoke to say the charity is "life changing," he said.

    Imran Hameed

    When he founded the Salma FoodBank, external, named after his mother, he hoped to feed a few hundred people.

    Eighteen months later he has helped thousands of people and has no intention of stopping there.

  6. Riot murder mum 'begs' for informationpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Isaiah Young-Sam was stabbed to death in 2005 during a three-day riot in Lozells, Birmingham.

    Read More
  7. Family's pet pygmy goat decapitated in possible 'satanic' ritualpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    A pet pygmy goat has been killed in what a family fear may have been a "satanic ritual".

    Nine-year-old Licorice was found decapitated in the Coates' paddock at Tillington, Herefordshire, and her head had been taken.

    The family are devastated at the brutal slaying.

    Don Coates and goats

    Don Coates said he first thought it was the work of wild animals, but now fears it could have been used in "some sort of satanic ritual".

    West Mercia Police says it is looking into last week's attack.

    Quote Message

    Why really, just why? I've got children, I've got great-grandchildren and Licorice was the great-grandchildren's favourite because she stuck out... They'll want to know where she is when they come."

    Don Coates

  8. Police name man who died in fire engine crashpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Maryam Qaiser
    BBC Local Live

    A 26-year-old man who died following a crash involving a fire engine has been named by police.

    James Sarson from Attleborough in Nuneaton was driving a BMW when it was involved in a collision with a fire engine on Sunday.

    He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where he died shortly afterwards.

    CrashImage source, CRAIG THORPE/LEICESTER MEDIA

    His passenger, also 26, sustained non life-threatening injuries and remains in hospital.

    The crash happened on the southbound carriageway of the A563 Lubbesthorpe Way in Leicester.

  9. Attacker had history of drug abusepublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    An "inspirational" university lecturer was stabbed to death in a random attack by a mentally ill man with a history of drug abuse and violent behaviour, a court has heard.

    Daniel Young, 30, was mortally wounded by Mark Loveridge near Morden Tube station in south London as he made his way to work at Coventry University London Campus on January 19, 2016.

    Daniel YoungImage source, Met Police handout

    Consultant forensic psychiatrist Philip Joseph told the court Loveridge, who has paranoid schizophrenia, had a history of amphetamine abuse which made his condition worse and could trigger it.

    His condition could be managed but, before the killing, Loveridge had stopped taking his medication routinely.

    The sentencing continues...

  10. Football: Midfielder wants Hughes to get more time at Stokepublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    BBC Sport

    Stoke midfielder Joe Allen says the club should not make a rash decision when it comes to the future of manager Mark Hughes.

    The Potters have lost five of their last six games in all competitions, a run of form which has left them just one place above the relegation zone.

    Mark HughesImage source, Getty Images

    But Allen said the club's managerial stability was one of the reasons he chose to join Stoke last year.

    Quote Message

    They do things right here, without making rash decisions. Over time these things work out for the best."

    Joe Allen, Stoke City midfielder

  11. Football: Parrish sees improvement in Telford performancespublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    James Bond
    Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire

    AFC Telford United could climb up into the National North promotion places with a win away to Gainsborough tonight.

    They're on a run four wins in a row in all competitions and assistant boss Sean Parrish says he thinks fans should be seeing a gradual improvement in their performances.

    Players in huddleImage source, Tim Roberts

    Parrish is also a coach at Wolves' academy and has been working to develop the Bucks new-look squad.

    Quote Message

    It's hugely rewarding, frustrating, challenging, but you can't change everything in one hit and you've got to make little changes as we go and hopefully everybody is seeing the little changes we make along the way."

    Sean Parrish, AFC Telford United assistant manager

  12. New footbridge to railway station plannedpublished at 14:03 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Bromsgrove is going to get a new footbridge helping people get to and from the railway station.

    The crossing will be paid for with a £3.4m grant from the Department for Transport.

    Bromsgrove Station

    The money will also pay for a number of other footpaths and cyclepaths in the town, linking the station to the town centre and other parts of Bromsgrove.

    Worcestershire County Council said the work would encourage people to give up their cars for short journeys and reduce congestion.

    Quote Message

    This will help to promote active travel and provide businesses with improved access to markets and employees and encourage economic growth in Worcestershire."

    Cllr Ken Pollock, Worcestershire County Council

  13. Firefighters to remain at industrial estatepublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Fire engines are expected to remain at the Firs Industrial Estate in Kidderminster for the rest of the day.

    Over 50 firefighters and ten fire engines were involved in putting out a fire at the DMS car parts business overnight.

    Kidderminster fireImage source, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
    Kidderminster fireImage source, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

    Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said it had "significant issues" with hazardous materials involved in the fire when if first arrived, but that nobody was hurt.

    The industrial estate has now reopened and the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

  14. Citizens arrest for have-a-go thiefpublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    Chris Blakemore
    BBC WM

    Members of the public who helped foil an armed robbery at a mini supermarket in Dudley last night have been praised.

    Two men were seen carrying a machete and a baseball bat into Spar on Abbey Road in Lower Gornal at about 22:00.

    One of the men jumped over the counter to take cigarettes and cash while the second threatened workers and demanded they open a safe.

    Spar on Abbey Road in Lower GornalImage source, Google

    He then fled the shop with money, leaving the man with the bat behind the counter - but passers by saw what was going on and held the door shut, preventing him from leaving.

    Although he did eventually get out, he was detained by residents until police arrived.

    The second man fled in a silver Rover.

    A 31-year-old from Tipton has since been arrested on suspicion of robbery, says West Midlands Police.

  15. Rocky Balboa phone could help trace missing manpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    An unusual mobile phone cover could help police trace a Stourbridge man who has been missing for the last two weeks.

    Matthew Gill,who worked at Kidderminster's B&Q store, owns a Galaxy S5 with a distinctive Rocky Balboa cover.

    Matthew GillImage source, West Midlands Police

    Police say the phone was switched on for a few hours last week.

    No calls were made, but the police are hoping somebody might have seen it being used.

  16. Bowling alley siege suspect in courtpublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    David Clarke, of Nuneaton, is charged with false imprisonment and possession of a samurai sword.

    Read More
  17. Pair jailed for 'barbaric' child crueltypublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    The neglected girl developed trench foot after being "forced" to sleep in an outhouse.

    Read More
  18. Girl found in 'dirty clothing' after sleeping in outhousepublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 24 October 2017

    A 12-year-old girl who was forced to sleep in an outhouse in a back garden was found by the police wearing dirty second-hand clothes of a seven-year-old.

    A court heard she had been singled out from her siblings and denied food, clean clothes and a bed.

    She also had a skin infection and a severe case of head lice.

    Her mother and step father have been jailed after they both admitted child cruelty at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

    Outshouse where the girl sleptImage source, West Midlands Police