Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

Summary

Updates from Monday 6 to Friday 10 November
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Live Reporting

On BBC One: Telford boxer on Victorian mining disasterpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Ayo Akinwolere
Presenter, BBC Inside Out
On BBC One this evening, you'll be able to see the story of a mining disaster which has been explored by Telford boxer Richie Woodhall.
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At the height of the Industrial Revolution, in 1864, nine men and boys died as they were being hauled to the surface in Madeley., external
The former boxing champion used to run up and down the old pit mound while he was training for his bouts, but admits he had no idea about the tragedy hidden underground.
You can see the full story by watching Inside Out West Midlands, tonight at 19.30 on BBC One, or on iPlayer afterwards.
In photos: Stunning autumn scenes at Symonds Yatpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Allen Cook
BBC News
These stunning photos of autumnal trees have been taken today at Symonds Yat in the Wye Valley, Herefordshire.
If you've got a great photo taken in the West Midlands to show autumn, get it to us on email or tweet it to @bbcmtd, external.
Image source, PA
Image source, PA
Man seriously hurt in two-vehicle crashpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
BBC Shropshire
A man suffered serious injuries in a crash between a car and pick-up truck on the outskirts of Shrewsbury. , external
Image source, Google
West Midlands Ambulance Service says it happened this afternoon on Roden Lane, near the junction of the A49.
The car, a Peugeot, suffered "considerable" damage in the crash and the driver, a 69-year-old man, was trapped.
He was cut free and flown to hospital with a broken leg and dislocated hip - the pick-up driver wasn't hurt.
Football: West Brom boss vows to continue despite poor runpublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Rob Gurney
BBC WM Sport
The West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has vowed to keep going as the Baggies' boss despite the side being on one of the worst runs he's overseen as manager.
Image source, Reuters
They're without a win in the past nine Premier League games following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield.
West Brom have also only won two of their past 20, leading to more calls for Pulis to go with the Baggies just a point outside the relegation zone.
Quote Message
The aspirations at the beginning of the season were higher than 10th and you can't stop that. And because we've had such a bad run then it becomes worse for the people with those expectations. It is a poor run, I think one of the worst ones I've ever been on as a manager, but you have to keep going
Tony Pulis, West Bromwich Albion manager
Concerns as funding withdrawn to support defibrillatorspublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
BBC Hereford and Worcester
Concerns have been expressed in Leominster over the withdrawal of funding for some of the town's defibrillators.
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has donated three of the potentially life-saving pieces of kit to the town's volunteer Community First Responders.
Image source, PA
However, it says it will no longer pay for replacement batteries and pads, which need to be changed every five years at a total cost of nearly £1,000.
WMAS says withdrawing the funding brings it into line with common practice at other ambulance services while the town council's looking for alternative sources of funding.
Quote Message
We've got three people being trained at the moment, they will be ready to go into action in about two or three weeks time. We have the defibrillators for them but we haven't got the batteries or pads
Clive Thomas, Leominster councillor and former paramedic
In photos: Before and after images of roundabout revamppublished at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
BBC Shropshire
Image source, Shropshire Council / WSP
New photos have been released of a major overhaul of one of Shrewsbury's busiest junctions.
Work on the Meole Brace roundabout, part of a wider £12m project, finished in July, but new photos released today by Shropshire Council show the scale of the work, external.
Image source, Shropshire Council / WSP
Council 'regrets' 'remove and destroy' homeless flyerpublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
A homeless man in Crewe says his sleeping bag and mattress were taken away after an official notice warned him his belongings would be “removed and destroyed”.
The notice was issued by Cheshire East Council’s street cleaning company with its homelessness team.
Kevin had been sleeping rough in Crewe for the last year and says he came back from a walk to find his sleeping bag and mattress gone. , external
The authority says today that its aim was to give any homeless people a chance to remove their belongings before they cleaned the area.
However it now "regrets the wording of the flyers" and has cancelled the cleaning planned for today.
First look at Bear Grylls attractionpublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Indoor skydiving and climbing, as well as the highest free-roam high ropes in Europe, will all feature at The Bear Grylls Adventure when it opens at the NEC next year Merlin Entertainments has announced.
Image source, Merlin Entertainments
Visitors will also be able to choose different climbing routes "from the face of El Capital to the steps of Mount Everest", it said.
The company said the large-scale attraction would be the first of its kind, with the adventurer being central to its design and development.
Police officer sick days 'double' for mental health issuespublished at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Phil Maiden
Newsreader, BBC Hereford & Worcester
Increasing numbers of West Mercia Police officers are calling in sick with mental health problems.
A BBC Hereford and Worcester investigation has found 7,000 working days were lost over 2016-17, because of problems like anxiety, stress or depression.
The figure has doubled over the last six years - just under 3,500 sick days were taken for the same reason in 2010-11.
The force says it is offering "health clinics" to staff in a bid to tackle the problem.
Watch: Tonight and tomorrow's weather forecastpublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter
It's been a chilly day for much of the West Midlands and here is how the rest of the day and tomorrow is looking.
You can also get the latest forecast for your part of the region by going to the BBC Weather website.
Media caption,
Charlie Slater
'I've never stopped feeling like I'm part of your life'published at 18:09 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Monica Rimmer
BBC News
We told you earlier about Josh Smith, who has thanked his foster parents Bill and Jane Aiton for taking him in aged 11 after living with an abusive father.
On the 10th anniversary of being taken into care, Josh has written an emotional letter thanking them for helping him to learn to eat, talk and "believe" in himself.
Josh left school with good grades and still keeps in touch with the family.
"I've never stopped feeling like I'm part of your life."
The 21-year-old lives with his girlfriend in Leicester, has learned to drive and has a full-time job as a team leader at a supermarket.
There's more about Josh's story on BBC Midlands Today at 18:30.
Goalkeeper Vaughan exits Solihull Moorspublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Solihull Moors goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan, who scored against Torquay in August, leaves the National League club.
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Warriors plan to stay put in Worcesterpublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Worcester Warriors stipulate that any proposed sale of the club must involve them remaining in the city.
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Councillor in WhatsApp probe steps downpublished at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Labour's Richard Marshall allegedly made sexually offensive comments about colleagues in a WhatsApp chat.
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Football: Shrewsbury look for home tie in FA Cup drawpublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
James Bond
Sports Producer, BBC Shropshire
Shrewsbury Town's manager and players say they're hoping for another home tie in this evening's FA Cup draw. , external
They booked their place with a 5-0 thrashing of Aldershot Town at the weekend.
Shrewsbury will be ball 12 in the draw for the second round which takes place from 19:00 on BBC Two.
Rugby union: Warriors leaving Worcester 'a long shot'published at 17:46 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
BBC Sport
The chairman of Worcester Warriors says the idea of the club leaving the city is a "long shot" but hasn't categorically dismissed a move elsewhere.
Image source, David Rogers/Getty Images
The owners of the club, which is currently bottom of the Premiership, are looking for a buyer.
Chairman Bill Bolsover told BBC Hereford & Worcester that they haven't discussed "in any detail" a move but "until I have got an offer on the table I don't know whether it's in or out".
The club's reported total market value is £26.7m, made up of the 50-acre Sixways site, valued at £17m, and the club itself, at £9.7m.
You put me back together, says Walsall foster boypublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Monica Rimmer
BBC News
A boy placed in care aged 11 after suffering years of abuse has penned a moving letter to his foster parents thanking them for "putting him back together".
Josh Smith, 21, from Walsall, was placed with Bill and Jane Aiton following years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father.
Image source, Family picture
Josh's father used to beat him if he "stepped out of line" using an "ashtray, TV remote or pool cue", and would say "horrible things".
In his father's "final act", he "tipped my dead mother's ashes over me as punishment for not eating my tea" and that prompted Josh to go to the police.
Within hours, he found himself in the care of Jane, now 54, and Bill, 58 where he spent five "fantastic years".
Defeats hurt us more than fans - Deanpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Birmingham City defender Harlee Dean says that losing hurts the Blues players even more than it does the fans.
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Man in hospital after two-car crash on A5published at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Allen Cook
BBC News
A man's been taken to hospital after a two-car crash near Lichfield shut the A5 for about four hours today., external
Staffordshire Police says officers were called to the road in Glascote Heath at about 08:00.
Image source, Google
They say a Chrysler Cruiser and a Honda Civic had collided on the eastbound side of the roundabout for the M6 Toll.
The force says three people were hurt with one, a male driver, having to be taken to hospital with back pain.
Birthday treats for special Dudley Zoo residentpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2017
Dudley Zoo is celebrating a special resident's 40th birthday today.
Image source, Dudley Zoo
A party for Benji the Bornean orangutan took place over the weekend, complete with cake.
Keepers surprised the birthday boy today with a pinata for his big day, which he discovered hanging from his outdoor climbing frame.